Air fryer chicken cutlets turn out crispy, golden, and delicious with minimal prep and only 10 minutes of cook time! Enjoy on their own, over salads, with pasta, and so much more.
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I love breaded chicken, but getting enough breadcrumbs to stick to a big piece of meat can be a hassle. That’s why I love making air fryer chicken cutlets instead when I’m craving something crispy!
The thinner pieces are so easy to work with. And while grilled or baked cutlets can turn out dry, the air fryer keeps them perfectly juicy. Just dredge the chicken in egg, lay it in the breadcrumbs to coat it, then let the air fryer handle the rest. You won’t believe how simple it is!
Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post:
- How to make the best chicken cutlets in the air fryer
- How to slice whole chicken breasts into chicken cutlets
- Tips for making the most delicious air fryer breaded chicken cutlets
- What to serve with this crispy chicken dish
- The easiest method for reheating leftovers in the air fryer
My kids love anything breaded. And when it’s as easy as this air fryer chicken cutlet recipe, then so do I! The next time you’re craving some comfort food that doesn’t require a ton of work, this simple dish is the perfect option.
How to Make Air Fried Chicken Cutlets
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
STEP TWO: In a small container, whisk the eggs. In a separate container, combine the breadcrumbs and seasonings.
STEP THREE: Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F.
STEP FOUR: Dredge your chicken cutlet in the eggs, flipping and covering each side. Shake off any excess egg. Next, lay it in the breadcrumbs, using your fingers to completely cover the chicken. Flip and repeat on the other side, then shake off any excess breading.
STEP FIVE: Repeat with the remaining chicken.
STEP SIX: Spray your air fryer basket, then lay two chicken cutlets in the basket. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
STEP SEVEN: Repeat with remaining cutlets, then serve and enjoy.
What is a Chicken Cutlet?
Cutlets are actually just chicken breasts that have been cut into thin slices. You may even see them called chicken breast cutlets. They even make turkey cutlets –and this air fryer turkey cutlets recipe is delicious!
I love cutlets because they cook faster than chicken breasts. They’re also great to use with a marinade because the thinner pieces will soak up so much flavor!
If you have a full chicken breast, I recommend making this Air Fryer Chicken Breast recipe instead and if you have chicken tenders, make this delicious air fryer chicken tenders recipe!
How to Cut Chicken Breasts into Cutlets
- Place a boneless, skinless chicken breast on a cutting board and hold it flat with one hand.
- With your other hand, use a knife to slice the breast in half lengthwise so you end up with two pieces. Try to make them the same size.
- Place the chicken in a plastic bag or between sheets of plastic wrap, then pound it flat with a meat mallet or heavy skillet until the chicken is about ¼ inch thick.
- Repeat with each piece of chicken breast.
Tips for Making the Best Breaded Chicken Cutlets in the Air Fryer
- Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F. For my air fryer, 10 minutes was perfect, but each one is going to cook a little differently.
- Don’t be afraid to use your hands in the breading process! The more breadcrumbs you can press into the cutlets, the crispier your chicken will be.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket while cooking breaded chicken cutlets in the air fryer. You want the hot air to be able to circulate properly so you get the crispest and crunchiest pieces.
What to Serve with Air Fried Chicken Cutlets
- 5-Ingredient Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
- Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash
- Easy Homemade Garlic Cheese Bread
- Ninja Foodi Rice
- Simple Italian Pasta Salad
You can also pair it with one of these other air fryer vegetable recipes!
How to Store Leftovers
Once the cooked chicken cutlets have cooled, place them in an airtight container. You can store them in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Can You Stack Chicken in the Air Fryer?
In general, you don’t want to pile foods on top of each other in the air fryer. If the hot air can’t circulate properly, it won’t be able to crisp up each piece or cook everything evenly.
I always recommend working in batches rather than crowding your air fryer basket, especially for recipes like this one where we want maximum crispiness!
How Do You Get Breading to Stick to Chicken Cutlets?
Dredging the cutlets in the egg mixture is going to make them nice and sticky. However, I find that I get way more breading to stick when I use my fingers to really press it into the chicken.
Just make sure to gently shake off any excess breading so it doesn’t end up falling and burning in your air fryer.
How Long Do You Cook Perdue Chicken Cutlets in the Air Fryer?
The Perdue brand of breaded chicken breast cutlets are already fully cooked, so you only need to cook them long enough to warm them through and crisp them up.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F.
- Cook the breaded chicken cutlets in the air fryer for 5 minutes, flipping halfway through.
How Do You Cook Frozen Breaded Chicken Cutlets in the Air Fryer?
These cooking directions are for pre-cooked frozen chicken cutlets. If you are using raw frozen cutlets, the time and temperature needed will differ.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F.
- Lay two frozen chicken cutlets in the basket and cook for 4 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway through until thoroughly heated.
How to Reheat Chicken Breast Cutlets in the Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F.
- Place two leftover cutlets in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 4 to 5 minutes until heated through and crispy on the outside.
Other Air Fryer Chicken Recipes You’ll Love:
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Shake and Bake Chicken
- Buffalo Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
- Air Fryer Grilled Chicken
- Frozen Chicken Cordon Bleu in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Orange Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Katsu
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Frozen Chicken in the Air Fryer
And check out this great list of air fryer chicken recipes too!
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Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets
Air fryer chicken cutlets turn out crispy, golden, & delicious with only 10 minutes of cook time! Enjoy on their own, with pasta, & more.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken cutlets
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/8 tsp cayenne (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
- In one small container whisk the eggs and in another combine the breadcrumbs and seasonings.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Dredge your chicken cutlet in the eggs, flipping and covering each side. Then shake off any excess egg and lay it in the breadcrumbs, using your fingers to help completely cover the chicken. Flip and do the same to the other side. Shake off any excess breading. Continue to do this with the remaining chicken cutlets.
- Spray your air fryer and lay two chicken cutlets in the basket. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Check the internal temperature to make sure it is at 165 degrees F. For my air fryer, 10 minutes was perfect, but all vary a little differently.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
How To Cook Pre-Cooked Frozen Breaded Chicken Cutlets:
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F.
- Lay two frozen chicken cutlets in the basket and cook for 4 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway through until thoroughly heated.
How to Reheat Chicken Breast Cutlets:
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F.
- Place two leftover cutlets in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 4 to 5 minutes until heated through and crispy on the outside.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 366Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 241mgSodium: 499mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 36g
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
Are the directions any different using a Frigidaire range air fryer?
Hi Judy, same ingredients and temperature, but make sure to preheat the range a little longer since it’s larger. I’ve also found the food takes a little longer to cook, so I recommend using a meat thermometer to double-check it’s at 165 degrees before pulling it out.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
do i need to use liners? i have 2 sizes–small and medium. i am new to using my air fryer.
It’s all about preference, for this particular recipe I didn’t use a liner. Although, there are recipes in which I feel a liner is helpful. I’d say if you are wanting to speed up the cleaning process, I’d opt for a liner.