Air fryer Chicken Cutlets

These air fryer chicken breast cutlets or thin sliced chicken breast in air fryer are so tasty and crunchy.

I have to make a large batch for my family because we can’t stop eating them. 

These chicken cutlets are what I ate in an Italian place that is so easy to adapt to the air fryer.

I love juicy chicken breast with a crispy breading. 

You can use these to make chicken parmesan for a more lavish meal.

The trick in getting this right is by pounding chicken breast to an even thinness, breading it and air frying.

All of it done in under 15 minutes. Isn’t that spectacular?

You may also like: air fryer chicken kabobs, air fryer fried chicken drumsticks, air fryer teriyaki chicken, air fryer chicken tikka, air fryer tandoori chicken and Air fryer chicken thighs.

Ingredients

1. Chicken Breasts: Thin sliced chicken breasts are cooked in air fryer for this recipe.

You can use presliced ones or slice them yourself.

2. Italian Breadcrumbs or regular breadcrumbs with seasoning are needed for the crunch.

3. Seasonings: A simple blend of salt and black pepper along with Italian seasoning and paprika are my favorite to use.

3. Eggs are needed to help adhere the breading to the chicken breasts

4. Olive oil: It is used for spraying or brushing the breading.

Variations and Substitutions

1. Gluten Free Option: Swap the breadcrumbs used here for a gluten-free variety.

You can also try crushed cornflakes or almond meal for a crispy coating without gluten.

2. No Eggs: If you're out of eggs or don't use them, you can try other options.

Try using buttermilk or Greek yogurt in its place.

3. Vary the seasoning: Cajun seasoning, peri peri seasoning, BBQ seasoning, try any seasoning mix of choice here.

Expert Tips

1. Slice each boneless chicken breast into 3 horizontal steaks.

Then pound them using a mallet or a heavy object to a nice thinness. This is very important.

2. Use nice breadcrumbs. Panko work well. Italian breadcrumbs are already seasoned so they work well.

But I mostly prepare my own breadcrumbs and season them, so you can work with whatever you have.

3. Use beaten whole eggs for the breading. I don’t season the eggs.

4. Preheat air fryer: This way the chicken gets into a hot air fryer and the breading adheres better and gets crisper.

5. I use just a tiny bit of oil for brushing the air fryer basket and you can spray some on the chicken though it is not really needed.

6. There is no need to flip the chicken cutlets during cooking time.

I feel that they cook evenly even otherwise.

7. Enjoy these air fryer breaded chicken breast with a dip of choice.

Sriracha mayo works so well. You can also pair with a salad or even pasta or fried rice.

Instructions

Take 2 chicken breasts and cut into thin slices.

I cut each breast into 3 slices and then pound them lightly till they were vey thin and even.

Make sure they are dry.

Assemble the breadcrumbs. Take the spices in a bowl.

Take two eggs and beat them. 

Set up a breading station. Take eggs and seasoned breadcrumbs in a shallow plate. 

Dip each chicken breast in the egg wash.

Then in the breadcrumbs so as to evenly coat them all around.

Repeat this process with as many chicken breast slices as you can fit into your air fryer at one go.

My XL size can fit 3 at one go.

Preheat air fryer at 200 C or 390F for 5 minutes.

Brush oil lightly on the air fryer basket. This is to prevent the chicken from sticking.

Now place the breaded chicken breast slices in the air fryer.

Air fry at 200 C or 390 F for about 6-8 minutes till the breading is golden and chicken is cooked.

The chicken stays moist while the breading gets golden and crunchy. They do shrink a bit after cooking.

Your sliced chicken breast in air fryer is ready to eat.

Serve hot with gochujang aioli or any dip of choice and a side salad for a delicious meal.

It truly is very tasty and super easy to make.

I did two batches for 2 breasts.

FAQs

Here's the recipe card:

📖 Recipe Card

Air fryer Chicken Cutlets

Rachna Parmar

These chicken cutlets in air fryer are super easy to do. You can have them ready in under 15 minutes. So delicious and filling. A family favourite.

5 from 49 votes

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Prep Time 4 minutes mins

Cook Time 14 minutes mins

Total Time 18 minutes mins

Course Main

Cuisine American, Italian

Servings 4

Calories 379 kcal

Equipment

• Air fryer
• Chef's knife

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• 2 Chicken Breasts 8 oz. or 225 gm. each
• 2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp. Salt
• 1 tsp. Paprika
• 1 tsp. Garlic
• 1 Egg beaten

Instructions

 

• Take 2 chicken breasts and cut into thin slices. I cut each breast into 3 slices and then pounded them lightly till they were vey thin and even.
• Make sure they are dry.
• Assemble the breadcrumbs. Take the spices in a bowl. Take two eggs and beat them.
• Set up a breading station. Take eggs and seasoned breadcrumbs in a shallow plate.
• Dip each chicken breast in the egg wash. Then in the breadcrumbs so as to evenly coat them all around.
• Repeat this process with as many chicken breast slices as you can fit into your air fryer at one go.
• My XL size can fit 3 at one go.
• Preheat air fryer at 200 C or 390F for 5 minutes.
• Brush oil lightly on the air fryer basket. This is to prevent the chicken from sticking.
• Now place the breaded chicken breast slices in the air fryer. Air fry at 200 C or 390 F for about 6-8 minutes till the breading is golden and chicken is cooked.
• The chicken stays moist while the breading gets golden and crunchy.
• Serve hot with a dip of choice and a side salad for a delicious meal.
• It truly is very tasty and super easy to make.
• I did two batches for 2 breasts.

Notes

1. I slice each boneless chicken breast into 3 horizontal steaks. Then I pound them using a mallet or my mortar (from mortar and pestle) to a nice thinness. This is very important.
2. Use nice breadcrumbs. Panko work well. Italian breadcrumbs are already seasoned so they work well. But I mostly prepare my own breadcrumbs and season them, so you can work with whatever works for you.
3. Use beaten whole eggs for the breading. I don’t season the eggs.
4. Preheat air fryer: This way the chicken gets into a hot air fryer and the breading adheres better.
5. I use just a tiny bit of oil for brushing the air fryer basket and you can spray some on the chicken though it is not really needed. But it does make the chicken look more golden.
6. There is no need to flip the chicken cutlets during cooking time. I feel that they cook evenly even otherwise.
7. Enjoy with a dip of choice. Sriracha mayo works so well. You can also pair with a salad or even pasta or fried rice.

Nutrition

Calories: 379kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 33gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 113mgSodium: 804mgPotassium: 594mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 721IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 141mgIron: 4mg

Tried this recipe?Let me know on Instagram @rachna.parmar or tag #rachnacooks

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