Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets ,Golden and Delicious

Golden breaded chicken on a plate with Caesar salad next to it and another plate and some forks behind it.

I enjoy cooking chicken in my air fryer but my go-to dish is air fryer chicken cutlets. My other favorites are air fryer chicken breast and air fryer chicken nuggets that my kids just enjoy!

These breaded chicken cutlets come out wonderfully golden, crispy, juicy, and tasty every single time! They are also extremely easy to create and you just need a few basic ingredients.

Similar to this air fryer breaded chicken breast that is a reader favorite and another go-to dish of mine!

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Quick and easy – you can make it in about 15 minutes!
  • Healthy – crispy breaded chicken breast with almost no oil or deep frying required.
  • Perfectly cooked chicken every time – the air fryer allows you to get the best juicy, golden chicken every single time in minutes!
  • Delicious – this air fryer chicken is loaded with flavor and goes with so many things.
Ingredients for air fryer chicken cutlets in bowls with labels over each ingredient.

Ingredients you will need

*list of recipe ingredients and instructions 

  • Chicken breast – boneless skinless chicken breast or you can use thin-sliced chicken breast that you can find at most grocery stores.
  • Eggs – 2 large eggs to use as a binder to help the breading stick to the chicken. You could also use milk if you need to keep this recipe egg-free.
  • Flour – all-purpose flour, you can also use gluten-free all-purpose flour, which is what I used.
  • Breadcrumbs – any breadcrumbs will work! You can even use gluten-free breadcrumbs.
  • Seasoning – garlic powder, paprika, kosher salt, black pepper.
  • Olive oil cooking spray – to prevent sticking and help the chicken get nice and golden and crispy. Make sure to use a non-aerosol olive oil spray.

How to make chicken cutlets in the air fryer

  1. Prepare the chicken – slice and pound the chicken breast into cutlets if you are not using pre-cut chicken cutlets. To do this all you have to do is use a sharp kitchen knife to slice each chicken breast in half, lengthwise then place it into a plastic bag or in between some plastic wrap and pound it out using a meat mallet until the chicken is about ¼ inch thick all around.
  2. Coat the chicken – crack the eggs into a shallow bowl, in another shallow bowl combine the flour with the garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Add the breadcrumbs to another shallow bowl. Dip each chicken cutlet into the flour, then in the egg, letting any excess drip off, then coat in the breadcrumbs pressing the breading into the chicken as you dredge it.
  3. Cook – Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F and spray the basket with olive oil spray. Place some of the chicken cutlets into the basket and spray them with more olive oil spray. Cook for 6-7 minutes, flip and spray again and cook for 5-7 more minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
  4. Serve – once the chicken is done, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before you serve it. Serve warm with your favorite side dishes.
Plate with a sliced pieces of crispy breaded chicken on it next to some Caesar salad with fork on the plate and a bowl of parmesan cheese and another plate behind it.

Recipe tips

  1. Make sure to use chicken breast cutlets and not whole chicken breast since that will take longer to cook.
  2. Dredge the chicken in the proper order: flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, for the best results. Dipping the chicken in the egg and flour first really gives it a nice crispy coating.
  3. Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Make sure the chicken is not overlapping in the basket since it will not get as crispy and golden. This means you may need to cook it in batches if you have a smaller air fryer. But it is totally WORTH IT!
  4. Flip the chicken halfway to ensure it gets nice and golden on both sides.
  5. For extra crispy chicken, you can add ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese and one teaspoon of olive oil to the breadcrumbs.

Storing and reheating 

Leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can reheat it right in the air fryer at 370 degrees F until crispy and warmed through. It can also be reheated in the microwave but won’t be as crispy.

Baked chicken cutlets

Don’t have any air fryer? No problem! You can make these Oven Baked Chicken Cutlets that are just as easy and delicious!

Air fryer chicken cutlet on a round grey plate with a green salad next to it and another plate of it behind it.

Can you cook frozen chicken in the air fryer?

Yes, you can cook frozen chicken in the air fryer but I do not recommend using frozen chicken in this recipe since we are coating it.

Ways to serve air fryer chicken cutlets

These Air Fryer Chicken Cutles work wonderful with so many things like roasted potatoes and asparagus or kale salad. I also enjoy simply putting some sauce and melted cheese on top for some healthy chicken parmesan. You could simply just serve them over a house salad to create a full dinner that is both satisfying and tasty. Or simply slice the breaded chicken and put it in a wrap with some shredded lettuce, tomato, mayo, and bacon, YUM!

Cooked breaded crispy chicken sliced on a plate next to some greens with a fork on the plate next to it.

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Description

These Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets come out perfectly juicy and golden in under 15 minutes, thanks to the air fryer! They make the best easy weeknight meal that everyone will love!

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken – slice and pound the chicken breast into cutlets if you are not using pre-cut chicken cutlets. To do this all you have to do is use a sharp kitchen knife to slice each chicken breast in half, lengthwise then place it into a plastic bag or in between some plastic wrap and pound it out using a meat mallet until the chicken is about ¼ inch thick all around.
  2. Coat – Combine the flour with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl. Then crack the eggs into another shallow bowl.  Add the breadcrumbs to a third shallow bowl. Dip each chicken cutlet into the flour, then in the egg, letting any excess drip off, then coat in the breadcrumbs pressing the breading into the chicken as you dredge it.
  3. Cook – Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F and spray the basket with olive oil spray. Place some of the chicken cutlets into the basket and spray them with more olive oil spray. Cook for 6-7 minutes, flip and spray again and cook for 5-7 more minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
  4. Serve – once the chicken is done, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before you serve it. Serve warm with your favorite side dishes