Tiffany Haney
Chicken cutlets are a staple in many Italian-American homes, usually fried in oil until golden brown. However, you can recreate this delicious dish with less oil using an air fryer. Chicken cutlets are a great, versatile option for a quick and easy meal, perfect for a busy night. They can be served as a main course with vegetables or a side salad, or in a sandwich or wrap. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about cooking chicken cutlets in an air fryer, from preparation and cooking to serving suggestions and reheating instructions.
How to cook a chicken cutlet in an air fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chicken cutlet | Thin slice of chicken breast |
| Marinade | Buttermilk, Italian dressing, or none |
| Seasoning | Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, rosemary, cayenne pepper, Italian seasoning |
| Breading | Breadcrumbs, flour, egg, Parmesan cheese |
| Cooking spray | Olive oil, cooking spray |
| Air fryer temperature | 390–400°F |
| Cooking time | 10–15 minutes |
| Internal temperature | 160–165°F |
| Garnish | Parsley, honey mustard sauce |
| Sides | Salad, roasted vegetables, potatoes, rice pilaf, pasta, sandwiches |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the chicken cutlets
Once the chicken is sliced and pounded, it should be seasoned. A simple seasoning of salt and pepper is common, but other seasonings can be used as well, such as garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, or cayenne pepper. The chicken can also be marinated in buttermilk or Italian dressing to add moisture and flavour. If marinating, the chicken should be submerged in the marinade and refrigerated for at least an hour, or even overnight.
After seasoning or marinating, the chicken cutlets are ready to be dredged and breaded. This is typically done by setting up an assembly line of sorts, with a shallow bowl of flour, a shallow bowl of beaten egg, and a shallow bowl of breadcrumbs. The chicken is first dredged in the flour, then dipped in the egg wash, and finally coated in the breadcrumbs. The egg wash helps the breadcrumbs to adhere to the chicken, and some recipes call for seasoning the eggs with salt and pepper for extra flavour. It is important to ensure that the chicken is dry before dredging and that the breadcrumbs are pressed into the chicken for a complete coating. Some recipes also suggest double-dredging the chicken for a thicker coating.
Once the chicken is breaded, it is ready to be placed in the air fryer. It is important to not overcrowd the air fryer basket, as this can hinder proper airflow and lead to uneven cooking. The air fryer basket should be sprayed with cooking spray or olive oil to prevent sticking, and the chicken cutlets should be arranged in a single layer with space around each piece. Depending on the size of the air fryer, two to three cutlets can typically be cooked at once.
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Marinading the chicken
If you're short on time, you can opt for a quicker marinade, such as Italian dressing, which will make the chicken moist and flavourful. Simply place your chicken in a shallow bowl and cover with Italian dressing and seasonings such as salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Leave to marinate for at least an hour, but the longer the better.
Once your chicken is done marinating, it's important to pat the cutlets dry with a paper towel before moving on to the breading step. This will ensure that your breading doesn't end up soggy.
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Breading the chicken
Breading chicken cutlets for the air fryer is a simple process. First, pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. This helps the egg and breading to stick to the chicken. Next, season the chicken with salt and pepper, or other spices of your choice, such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or rosemary.
Then, prepare your dredging station. You will need three shallow bowls or containers. In the first bowl, place flour. In the second bowl, whisk eggs until smooth, and season with salt and pepper if desired. In the third bowl, combine breadcrumbs and any additional seasonings. You can use traditional breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs for a lighter, crunchier texture, and add Parmesan cheese to the breadcrumb mixture for extra flavor if you like.
Now, it's time to dredge the chicken. First, coat the chicken in the flour, shaking off any excess. Next, dip the chicken in the egg wash, ensuring it is fully coated. Finally, lay the chicken in the breadcrumbs and use your fingers to press the breadcrumbs into the chicken, making sure it is completely covered. Place the breaded chicken on a piece of wax paper or a plate while you bread the rest of the chicken.
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Cooking the chicken
Chicken cutlets are a great, quick and easy meal to make in an air fryer. They are a family favourite and can be served with a variety of sides or in sandwiches or salads.
To make chicken cutlets in an air fryer, you will need thin slices of chicken breast. You can buy cutlets or slice a chicken breast in half and pound it to an even thickness. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel, then season with salt and pepper. Next, prepare a dredging station with a shallow bowl of flour, a shallow bowl of beaten egg, and a shallow bowl of breadcrumbs and seasonings. You can add Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, white pepper, and cayenne pepper to the breadcrumbs for extra flavour. You can also add red pepper flakes or paprika for a spicy kick.
Dredge the chicken first in the flour, then the egg, and finally the breadcrumb mixture. Make sure the chicken is thoroughly coated. Place the breaded chicken on a piece of wax paper and repeat with the remaining cutlets. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or olive oil, then lay the chicken cutlets inside in a single layer, leaving space between each piece. Set the air fryer to 390-400°F and cook for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying with cooking spray or olive oil again. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
You can serve air fryer chicken cutlets with a variety of sides, such as roasted vegetables, potatoes, or a salad. They can also be used in sandwiches or wraps.
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Storing and reheating the chicken
Storing your chicken cutlets
You can store your leftover chicken cutlets in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you want to keep them for longer, you can freeze them. First, let the cutlets cool, then wrap them individually in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag.
Reheating your chicken cutlets
If you're reheating the cutlets from the fridge, preheat your air fryer to 375º F. Place a cutlet or two in the air fryer basket and heat for about 5 minutes, or until heated through. If you're reheating frozen cutlets, preheat your air fryer to 375º F and heat the cutlets for 4-5 minutes per side, or until heated through.
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Frequently asked questions
First, pat the chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Next, dip the chicken into a mixture of eggs and, if you like, buttermilk. Then, dredge the chicken in flour and breadcrumbs. You can add spices to the breadcrumbs for extra flavor. Finally, lay the chicken in the air fryer basket and cook at 390-400°F for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
It takes 10-15 minutes to cook chicken cutlets in an air fryer. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chicken and the model of your air fryer. It is recommended that you cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
To make chicken cutlets crispy, ensure that the chicken is dry before breading and that the air fryer is preheated. Also, make sure that the basket is not overcrowded, as this will prevent proper airflow and even cooking. You can also spray the chicken with oil or cooking spray to help achieve a crispy exterior.
