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Close-up of sliced, golden-brown breaded chicken pieces on a wooden board, garnished with herbs, with lemon slices in the background.

Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

When my daughters were younger and always asking for some sort of chicken nugget, I would fry chicken cutlets in panko breadcrumbs in a pan. If I could go back in time with my air fryer, this is the better way I would cook those chicken cutlets. I'm confident this will become your go-to recipe for making crunch, delicious chicken breasts in under 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 23 minutes
Course chicken dinner, Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 248 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 2 chicken breasts
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup golden breadcrumbs
  • cooking spray

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your air fryer to 380 F (190 C) for 3-5 minutes.
  • Slice each chicken breast horizontally to create 4 thinner pieces.
  • Set up three shallow bowls: one with whisked eggs, one with flour, and one with mixed breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper.
  • Dredge each chicken piece in flour, then egg, and finally the breadcrumb mixture.
  • Place breaded cutlets in the air fryer basket without overlapping.
  • Spray lightly with cooking oil.
  • Cook at 380 F (190 C) for 23 minutes, flipping halfway through. The cutlets should be golden brown and cooked through when done.
  • Let the cutlets rest for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

You can experiment with various breading options to add flavor and texture to your chicken cutlets.
  • Mix in grated Parmesan cheese with your breadcrumbs for a cheesy twist.
  • For a gluten-free version, use almond flour or crushed gluten-free crackers.
  • Seasoned breadcrumbs, such as Italian-style, can add extra flavor.
  • Mix in dried herbs and spices with regular breadcrumbs.
  • Add a hint of heat with crushed cayenne pepper.
Serve your crispy air fryer chicken cutlets with a variety of sides, such as mashed potatoes, roasted or steamed vegetables or a cold pasta salad.
You can also slice the cutlets and use them in sandwiches or wraps for lunch the next day.
Cooked cutlets can be refrigerated for 3-4 days in an airtight container or frozen for up to 2 months, also in an airtight container.
Reheat in the air fryer at 350 F (175 C) for 3-5 minutes to make them crispy again.

Nutrition

Calories: 248kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 30gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 154mgSodium: 899mgPotassium: 492mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 169IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 2mg

Disclaimer

Please note that nutrient values, if included with the recipe, are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability/substitution and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.

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