Ella Walter
Chicken Milanese is a classic Italian dish that traditionally uses veal or beef. However, chicken has become a popular alternative, resulting in a tender, juicy, and more economical meal. The term 'Milanese' refers to coating thin slices of meat in flour, eggs, and seasoned breadcrumbs before frying until golden brown. This cooking method is typically healthier than traditional frying as it requires less oil, reducing the calorie and fat content. Air-frying also eliminates the mess of frying and ensures the chicken is perfectly crispy. The dish is often served with a fresh squeeze of lemon juice and greens such as arugula or Mediterranean salad.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preparation time | 5 minutes |
| Cooking time | 6-7 minutes per batch, 20 minutes total |
| Chicken breast thickness | 1/4-1/2 inch |
| Cooking temperature | 400°F |
| Salad | Arugula, Mediterranean, or baby greens |
| Salad dressing | Lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, garlic, vinegar, salt |
| Salad cheese | Parmesan, feta |
| Other toppings | Parsley, lemon wedges |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the chicken
First, you will need to cut and pound the chicken breasts to create thin, uniform cutlets. Place the chicken breasts flat on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to slice horizontally into the thickest part of the breast, creating two halves from each breast. This process will give you four thinner cutlets, which you can then place between two sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Using a meat mallet or rolling pin, pound the chicken gently until it reaches the desired thickness of about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. This tenderizes the meat and prevents shrinking during cooking.
Next, season the chicken cutlets with salt and pepper on both sides. You can also add other seasonings of your choice, such as garlic powder or onion powder, to enhance the flavour. This step ensures that your chicken is well-flavoured before it goes into the breading process.
Now, it's time to set up your breading station. You will need three shallow bowls or plates. In one bowl, whisk an egg with a teaspoon of water (some recipes suggest scrambling the egg). In the second bowl, place some flour, and in the third bowl, combine breadcrumbs with Parmesan cheese (you can also use panko breadcrumbs). If you want a gluten-free option, use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs. You can also add seasonings to your breadcrumbs for extra flavour, such as granulated garlic, onion powder, or fresh grated Parmesan cheese.
The breading process is straightforward. Take a piece of chicken and dredge it in the flour, making sure it is lightly coated, and shake off any excess. Then, dip it into the beaten egg, allowing the excess to drip off. Finally, coat the chicken with the breadcrumb mixture, gently pressing to help it adhere. Repeat this process for each piece of chicken, ensuring they are fully coated.
Once your chicken is breaded, you can give it a final spritz with cooking spray or brush it with a thin layer of olive oil. This step will help the chicken achieve a beautiful golden colour and crispiness in the air fryer.
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Coating the chicken
To coat the chicken, start by slicing each chicken breast horizontally into two thinner cutlets. Place the cutlets between two pieces of plastic wrap or parchment paper and use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound them out until they are about 1/4-1/2 inch thick. This process not only tenderises the meat but also helps prevent shrinking during cooking. Season both sides of the cutlets with salt and pepper.
Next, prepare three separate shallow bowls or plates. In one bowl, whisk a raw egg. You can add a teaspoon of water to the egg if you like. In the second bowl, place some flour, and in the third, put your breadcrumbs. You can use regular breadcrumbs or panko, and you can also add parmesan cheese to the breadcrumbs for extra flavour. If you like, season the breadcrumbs with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, or granulated garlic.
Now it's time to dredge the chicken. Dredge each cutlet in the flour first, shaking off any excess. Then, dip it into the egg, letting the excess drip off. Finally, coat the chicken with the breadcrumb mixture, gently pressing to help it adhere. Make sure all sides of the chicken are coated.
Once all the chicken pieces are coated, you can start cooking them in your air fryer!
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Preheating the air fryer
Preheating your air fryer is a crucial step in the cooking process for chicken Milanese. It ensures your chicken cooks evenly and efficiently, achieving that desirable crispy texture on the outside while remaining juicy on the inside. Here is a detailed guide on preheating your air fryer for chicken Milanese:
Firstly, ensure your air fryer is clean and dry before preheating. Set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, a consistent temperature across many recipes. This temperature is ideal for cooking the chicken Milanese thoroughly without burning the exterior coating. Depending on your air fryer model, it may take a few minutes to reach this temperature.
While the air fryer is preheating, you can prepare the chicken. This involves slicing and pounding the chicken breasts to create thin, uniform cutlets. A thinner cutlet ensures the chicken cooks quickly and evenly in the air fryer. Place each chicken breast on a cutting board and hold it steady with one hand. Carefully slice horizontally into the thickest part of the breast, creating two cutlets from each breast.
Next, place these cutlets between sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Using a meat mallet or rolling pin, pound the chicken to a thickness of approximately 1/4 to 1/2 an inch. This process not only tenderizes the meat but also helps prevent shrinking during cooking, ensuring a consistent texture and size for each cutlet.
Once your air fryer has reached the desired temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit, you can proceed to the next steps of coating the chicken in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs before placing it in the air fryer. This preheating process is key to achieving the perfect chicken Milanese texture and ensuring your meal is cooked safely and thoroughly.
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Cooking the chicken
To cook chicken Milanese in an air fryer, start by preparing the chicken. Place your palm flat against the top of each chicken breast and carefully slice each piece in half horizontally so that you now have 4 thinner chicken cutlets. Then, place the cutlets in a large plastic bag or between two sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Pound with a meat mallet or rolling pin until they are about 1/4-1/2 inch thick. Season with salt and pepper.
Next, bread the chicken. You will need three shallow bowls. In one bowl, whisk a raw egg. Put flour in the second bowl. In the third bowl, put breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese, and add seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, or Italian seasoning. You can also use gluten-free flour and gluten-free breadcrumbs if you prefer. Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour, shaking off any excess. Then, dip it into the beaten egg, allowing the excess to drip off. Finally, coat the chicken with the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to help it adhere.
Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or brush it with a thin layer of oil to prevent sticking. Place the breaded chicken breasts in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket, ensuring they don’t overlap or touch. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the chicken in 2 to 3 batches to avoid overcrowding. Lightly spritz the top of the chicken with oil spray as well.
Air fry the chicken at 400 degrees F for about 6-7 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 160-165 degrees F. Serve the chicken with a simple arugula salad and a lemon wedge, or with Mediterranean salad or baby arugula and lemon wedges.
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Serving suggestions
Chicken Milanese is a classic Italian dish traditionally made with veal or beef but has become a popular dish made with chicken. It is often served with a fresh squeeze of lemon juice and greens like arugula. You can serve your air-fried chicken Milanese with a simple arugula salad, topped with Parmesan shavings, and a lemon wedge. You can also make a Mediterranean salad with tomatoes, red onions, romaine lettuce, and grated feta cheese.
For a more filling meal, you can serve the chicken Milanese with a side of turkey meatball orzo soup, or even sweet and sour pork with peppers, onions, and pineapple. If you're looking for something lighter, a refreshing summer dinner option is fish tacos with mango salsa, cabbage slaw, and lime crema.
Chicken Milanese is a versatile dish that can be served in various ways, depending on your preferences and the occasion. You can also get creative with the seasoning of the breadcrumbs, adding granulated garlic, onion powder, and fresh grated parmesan cheese for an extra crispy and salty finish.
If you're cooking for a larger group or want to prep some meals in advance, it's a good idea to cook some extra chicken cutlets. These can be easily transformed into other delicious meals, such as chicken Parmesan, crispy chicken sandwiches, or chicken waffle sandwiches.
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Frequently asked questions
The best temperature to cook chicken Milanese in an air fryer is 400°F.
It takes 10-12 minutes to cook chicken Milanese in an air fryer.
To make chicken Milanese, you will need chicken breasts, flour, eggs, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
