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Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets – How To Make Chicken Cutlets In The Air Fryer

The air fryer has been my secret weapon for a ton of recent recipes. The reason I love air frying so much is two reasons:

1) The air fryer produces really crispy results, like Crispy Churro Waffles or Crunchy Bagel Chips.

2) Cooking in the air fryer retains a ton of moisture in food, especially chicken.

Plate of air fried chicken cutlets

That’s why for this recipe, we’re whipping up a batch of delicious chicken cutlets in the air fryer!

These air fried chicken cutlets are incredibly juicy and require just minutes to prepare.

 

What are chicken cutlets?

Chicken cutlets are simply thin, flattened-out chicken breasts. I grew up in New York, and I used to call any piece of chicken a chicken cutlet.

Now, living in the Midwest, I don’t hear the term used nearly as much, but that’s not stopping me from making them!

To make these chicken cutlets, we’re going to take regular chicken breasts, slice them up thin, and coat them in bread crumbs before air frying to perfection.

Closeup of chicken cutlet

These chicken cutlets are perfect for chicken sandwiches, pasta dishes, chicken parmesan stuffed peppers, or served over rice or salad. Or, you can get creative and serve these any other way you see fit!

 

How to make air fryer chicken cutlets

To make chicken cutlets in the air fryer, we’re going to start out with regular skinless chicken breast.

I didn’t weigh the chicken breasts, but I estimate that each was between 8-10oz in size.

Two large chicken breasts will yield 4 chicken cutlets since we are going to be slicing each down the middle.

First, trim the fat off each chicken breast, then slice each chicken breast across the center. My cuts are never perfect, so don’t stress if the chicken is uneven when you slice it.

Once sliced, lay a piece of plastic wrap over the chicken and use a meat tenderizer to flatten each out into a chicken cutlet. Flattening the chicken will help each chicken piece cook evenly in the air fryer.

Prepping chicken cutlets

Once flattened, it’s time to make the breaded chicken.

To keep this recipe simple, I used Italian-style breadcrumbs, which are pre-seasoned breadcrumbs you can find at any grocery store. If you only have plain breadcrumbs, you can easily season them up yourself! Here is a recipe I found to make your own.

Add the bread crumbs to one bowl, and whisk up 2 eggs in a separate bowl. I added a small amount of hot sauce in with my eggs, but that part is totally optional.

Chicken cutlet breading

Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel, then add to your breadcrumbs.

Dip the breaded chicken into the eggs, allowing any excess egg to run off before fully coating in the bread crumbs once more.

Chicken cutlets in egg mixture

Lightly spray your preheated air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray, then add 2 of your breaded chicken cutlets. Note that the amount of air fryer chicken breast cutlets you can cook at one time will be dependent on the size of your air fryer, but I was able to fit 2 at a time.

Chicken cutlets in the air fryer

Spray the top of the breaded chicken cutlets with nonstick cooking spray to moisten the breading, then air fry at 380 degrees for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.

The exact cooking time will vary based on the size of your chicken cutlets, but 10 minutes ended up being the perfect time for me!

Juicy air fryer chicken cutlet

Continue until all of the air fryer chicken has been cooked, which was 2 batches for me, then serve and enjoy!

I served this air fryer fried chicken over rice, but you can serve this alongside any other side dish you’d like!

 

Other ways to prepare air fryer chicken

Chicken cutlet over rice

I love this air fryer recipe, and the chicken cutlets are an incredibly versatile main dish that can be paired with a wide variety of sides.

But if you’re in the mood for something a little different, I have a few other air fryer fried chicken recipes for you to dig your teeth into.

If you’re a fan of chicken and waffles, I highly recommend giving my Maple Waffle Popcorn Chicken recipe a shot. This air fryer chicken recipe is the perfect combination of sweet and savory that makes a great appetizer!

Or, you can go with my personal favorite: The Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Sandwich.

This chicken sandwich is not only one of my favorites, but is one of the readers’ favorites, too. The panko breadcrumbs and shredded parmesan cheese combine to create the most unreal crunch to this fried chicken. If you love crispy chicken, you need to try this recipe.

And last but not least, I also have a Meatless Crispy Chicken Sandwich. That’s right: if you follow a plant-based or vegan diet, you can still enjoy a delicious fried “chicken” sandwich!

 

Air Fryer Chicken Cutlet Recipe

Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

Yield: 4 Chicken Cutlets
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Making juicy chicken cutlets in the air fryer is easier than you think, and only takes 20 minutes! Serve these chicken cutlets over rice, with pasta, or turn into a delicious chicken sandwich.

Ingredients

  • 2 Large Chicken Breasts (8-10oz in size)
  • 1 Cup (112g) Italian Style Breadcrumbs
  • 2 Eggs
  • Optional: Hot Sauce

Instructions

  1. If needed, trim the fat off of your boneless skinless chicken breasts.
  2. Butterfly the chicken breasts by slicing them in half across the center, giving you 4 thinner chicken breasts.
  3. Cover with plastic wrap, then use a meat tenderizer to flatten the chicken breasts into chicken cutlets. You want the chicken to be as uniform as possible so it cooks evenly.
  4. Preheat your air fryer at 380 degrees F for a few minutes while you coat the chicken. You can get away without preheating the air fryer, but it really helps to achieve a juicy result.
  5. Add your breadcrumbs to a wide bowl, and whisk up the 2 eggs in a separate wide bowl. I added some hot sauce in with my eggs for extra flavor, but that is optional.
  6. Pat the chicken cutlets with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture, then dip into the breadcrumbs to fully coat. Add to the eggs, allowing any excess egg to run off, then add back into the breadcrumbs.
  7. Spray your air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray and add your chicken cutlet. Continue for all 4 chicken cutlets. Note that I could only fit 2 chicken cutlets in my air fryer basket, so I made 2 batches, but I prepped all of the cutlets at once.
  8. Lightly spray the tops of the chicken cutlets with your cooking spray to wet the breadcrumbs, then air fry at 380 degrees for 10 minutes.
  9. Flip the chicken cutlets halfway through, spraying the tops once more with cooking spray before allowing them to finish cooking for the final 5 minutes.
  10. Remove from the air fryer and let the chicken cutlets cool for a few minutes, then serve and enjoy!

Notes

If you only have plain breadcrumbs, you can season it up to create your own Italian-style breadcrumbs. Add 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning to your breadcrumbs and you should be good!

Depending on how thick your chicken cutlets are, the cook time in the air fryer may vary slightly. For mine, 10 minutes was the perfect amount of time, but you can cut into one of your chicken cutlets to be sure it is fully cooked through.

If you wanted to save some calories, you can skip the initial breadcrumb dip and add your chicken cutlets directly into the eggs, then into the breadcrumbs. However, the difference will be very minimal, and skipping that step will make it harder for the breading to stay adhered to the chicken breast.

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Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1 Chicken Cutlet
Amount Per Serving Calories 255Total Fat 7gCarbohydrates 19gProtein 29g

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About Matt Rosenman

With over 15 years of experience in health and fitness, Matt Rosenman is the expert voice behind Cheatdaydesign.com. Matt’s philosophy is simple: no foods are off-limits, and a healthy lifestyle shouldn't be complicated or restrictive. As a former certified personal trainer with a bachelor’s degree in Health Behavioral Sciences, Matt brings well-rounded expertise to his blog. From revamping classic recipes with a nutritious twist to breaking down fast food menus, his goal is make healthy living less confusing for everyone. Featured in major publications and with a strong following on social media, Matt is committed to making “healthy” uncomplicated—no matter where you are in your health journey. Join Matt on his mission to simplify health without sacrificing flavor. Learn More

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