Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

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5 from 15 votes
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My family loves it when I make these air fryer chicken cutlets for dinner. The chicken is perfectly seasoned and crispy on the outside while being juicy and moist in the middle. Ready in 20 minutes.

air fryer chicken cutlets.

If you ask my family what their all-time favorite weeknight dinner is, they’d say it’s my air fryer chicken cutlets. The chicken is lightly breaded in the most incredible seasoning mix and then air-fried until crispy outside and juicy in the middle.

It’s easy to prep and can even be made in advance. I like to pair it with a big green salad for a healthy meal, but it also pairs well with potatoes and greens for a balanced meal.

Table of Contents
  1. Why I love this recipe
  2. Key Ingredients
  3. How to make air fryer chicken cutlets
  4. Arman’s recipe tips
  5. Storage instructions
  6. Frequently asked questions
  7. More easy air fryer dinners
  8. Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets (Recipe Card)

Why I love this recipe

  • No oil needed. Did you know that my air fryer chicken cutlets recipe is 100% oil-free? Yet you still get golden, crunchy, and delicious results!
  • Quick and easy. Like air fryer chicken bites, the entire dish comes together in around 20 minutes.
  • Versatile. I love serving chicken cutlets with a simple green salad, sliced on top of pasta, or lightening up my chicken parmigiana.

If you love crispy chicken in the air fryer, try my air fryer chicken parmesan, air fryer chicken nuggets, air fryer chicken drumsticks, and air fryer fried chicken next.

★★★★★ REVIEW

“I loved this recipe. I didn’t have Italian seasoning, so I used fresh chopped rosemary, dried oregano, and dried thyme in its place. So tender and delicious” – Holly

Key Ingredients

  • Chicken breasts. I used four boneless, skinless chicken breasts, which makes four large servings. If you want to save on prep time, feel free to buy pre-sliced chicken cutlets instead.
  • Salt and pepper. To season the chicken breasts.
  • Eggs. Dipping the chicken breasts in eggs helps the dry mixes stick better.
  • All-purpose flour. When air-fried, the flour coating transforms into a golden brown crust around the outside of the cutlets.
  • Panko parmesan mixture. Panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning. Standard breadcrumbs will work, but they will not be as crispy.

How to make air fryer chicken cutlets

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

flattened raw chicken cutlets.

Step 1Pound the chicken filets with a meat mallet or rolling pin until they’re about ¼ inch thick.

raw chicken breast cutlets dipped in breading.

Step 2- Season the chicken filets with salt and pepper. Dip them first in the flour, then the eggs, and finally, the breadcrumb mixture. 

breaded raw chicken cutlets in the air fryer.

Step 3- Place the breaded chicken cutlets in the air fryer basket. Air fry until they’re golden and crispy on both sides.

air fried chicken cutlets on a serving tray.

Step 4– Garnish the cooked chicken with fresh parsley and sliced lemons.

Arman’s recipe tips

  • Air fry in batches. Giving the cutlets room in the air fryer basket is essential because they won’t crisp as nicely if they’re crowded. Cook two or three at a time if they don’t all fit comfortably. 
  • Use frozen chicken breasts. Thaw the chicken entirely in the fridge first. This makes seasoning and breading the meat so much easier.
  • You’ll know the chicken is fully cooked once it reaches an internal temperature of 165F. Use a meat thermometer to double-check.

Storage instructions

To store: Wrap the leftover chicken cutlets in plastic wrap before storing them in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

To freeze: Once cooled, place the cutlets in a ziplock bag or airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months. Remember to let them thaw overnight before reheating.

crispy air fryer chicken cutlets.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bake the chicken?

Yes! Bake the breaded chicken cutlets on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a 400ºF oven for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.

More easy air fryer dinners

If you tried this Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets recipe or any other recipe on The Big Man’s World, please rate the recipe and let me know how it went in the comments below. It really helps others thinking of making the recipe. 

air fryer chicken cutlets.

Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

5 from 15 votes
These air fryer chicken cutlets feature chicken breasts coated in a parmesan and Italian seasoning bread crumb coating before being air fried to crispy perfection. Watch the video below to see how I make this in my kitchen.
Servings: 8 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 14 minutes
Total: 19 minutes

Video

Ingredients  

  • 4 chicken breasts boneless and skinless
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups panko bread crumbs
  • 6 tablespoons parmesan cheese
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

Instructions 

  • Preheat the air fryer to 200C/400F.
  • Slice each chicken breast lengthways until you have 8 thin fillets.
  • Place a sheet of plastic wrap on a chopping board, add two chicken fillets, then add another sheet of plastic wrap. Pound the chicken until around 1/4 inch in thickness. Repeat the process with all the chicken.
  • Add the flour to one bowl, beaten eggs to another bowl, and in the final bowl, the panko, parmesan cheese, and Italian seasonings.
  • Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper. Moving quickly, dip each chicken fillet in the flour, shake off excess, followed by the eggs, shake off any excess, then to the panko parmesan mix, ensuring all sides are well coated.
  • Place a single layer of the breaded chicken cutlets in a greased air fryer basket. Spray the chicken cutlets, then air fry for 8 minutes, flip, spray more oil, then cook for another 6-8 minutes, until golden and crispy. You can also check the internal temperature and ensure it reaches 165F.
  • Remove the chicken cutlets from the air fryer and serve with fresh lemon.

Notes

TO STORE. Wrap the leftover chicken cutlets in plastic wrap before storing them in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
TO FREEZE. Once cooled, place the cutlets in a ziplock bag or airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months. Remember to let them thaw overnight before reheating.
TO REHEAT. It’s best to reheat the cutlets in the air fryer or oven at 350°F for 5 to 7 minutes or until they’re crispy again.
Recipe variations
  • Make them extra savory. Feel free to add more herbs and spices to the bread crumb dredge, like onion powder, garlic powder, red chili flakes, or dried parsley.
  • Consider marinating the chicken. Marinating the chicken breasts in a simple Italian dressing for 30 minutes before breading can give them extra moisture and flavor. Remember to pat the chicken dry before breading and cooking.
  • Instead of chicken, try this method using veal cutlets or turkey cutlets instead!
  • Gluten-free chicken cutlets. This recipe works just as well with gluten-free flour and gluten-free bread crumbs.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 260kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 31gFat: 7gSodium: 619mgPotassium: 493mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 174IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 98mgIron: 2mgNET CARBS: 16g
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Author: Arman Liew
Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Arman Liew

I’m a two time cookbook author, photographer, and writer, and passionate about creating easy and healthier recipes. I believe you don’t need to be experienced in the kitchen to make good food using simple ingredients that most importantly, taste delicious.

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5 from 15 votes (14 ratings without comment)

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  1. 5 stars
    I loved this recipe, I didn’t have Italian seasoning so I used, fresh chopped rosemary, dried oregano and dried thyme in its place. So tender and delicious.
    Thank you for posting it.