Home » Recipes » Method » Air Fryer » Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

These Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets are quick and easy – and perfectly crispy! The cutlets are coated with a secret ingredient that keeps them juicy, adds flavor, and helps the breading stick to the chicken.

Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

We know that the air fryer is perfect for heating frozen chicken nuggets and it’s great for many other tasty chicken dinners, such as these Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. But we just had to try making chicken cutlets in the air fryer instead of pan frying them, and the results are amazing!

The chicken crisps up perfectly due to one secret ingredient! Have you tried adding mayonnaise when breading chicken? It’s a game-changer. The mayonnaise adds flavor, keeps the meat nice and tender, and it helps keep the breading on the chicken, too. If you haven’t tried it, here’s your shot!

With the addition of a few simple seasonings to the breading, this chicken has so much flavor! And it couldn’t be easier to replicate the fried chicken flavor we all crave and love.

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Cutlets Recipe

These crispy chicken cutlets are quickly becoming one of our favorite easy chicken dinners. Here’s why we think you’ll love them, too:

  • Extra juicy. Coating the chicken in mayonnaise before breading it keeps it super moist and tender. And, if you’re worried about tasting the mayo, don’t! You’ll just taste the breading and the seasonings once the chicken is cooked.
  • Simple ingredients. You only need the chicken, mayo, breadcrumbs, and a couple of seasonings to make this dinner. But, don’t let the simplicity fool you – the flavors are anything but bland/boring!
  • Quick and easy. From start to finish, it takes just over 20 minutes to make this meal. It’s great for busy weeknights!
  • Crowd-pleaser. Even picky eaters can’t resist these chicken cutlets. They’re like a bigger, healthier version of chicken nuggets!
dinner plate with chicken cutlets and green salad

What Is a Chicken Cutlet?

A chicken cutlet is a thinly sliced piece of chicken breast. They’re usually pre-packaged at the store, but you can slice up a chicken breast into chicken cutlets yourself if you want. Anyhow, because chicken cutlets are so nice and thin, they work well for dishes that require breading and frying (like we’re doing today), and more!

a sheet tray with raw chicken and small bowls of breading, mayonnaise, and spices

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make crispy air fryer chicken cutlets. Keep in mind that the exact amounts for each ingredient and the instructions are below in the recipe card.

  • Chicken Cutlets: Again, you can buy these pre-sliced at the store, or cut your own (horizontally) from some chicken breasts.
  • Mayonnaise: We used mayonnaise instead of eggs here for more flavor and to keep the chicken from drying out.
  • Garlic Powder: You can also use granulated garlic instead.
  • Italian Seasoning: Using this seasoning adds incredible flavor to the chicken. You could also use a mix of dried parsley, thyme, and/or oregano.
  • Salt and Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper adds the best flavor.
  • Seasoned Breadcrumbs: If you only have unseasoned, that’s okay! You can sprinkle some more salt, pepper, and seasonings right into the breadcrumbs for added flavor.

Can I Make This Recipe Low Carb?

Yes! You can easily make this recipe low carb. All you need to do is omit the breadcrumbs. Then you can add some parmesan cheese on top after frying for a bit of extra flavor.

sliced air fryer chicken cutlets

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

It’s pretty simple to put this recipe together! Here are the steps you need to follow:

  • First, preheat the air fryer. It’s always best to start with the air fryer hot!
  • Then, mix the mayonnaise and seasonings. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning to the mayonnaise.
  • Coat the chicken cutlets with the mayonnaise mixture. And then coat the chicken with the breadcrumbs.
  • Place the chicken in the air fryer. Make sure that the chicken cutlets are not touching each other – you may need to work in batches to avoid this.
  • Lastly, cook the chicken for about 12-15 minutes. Or until the chicken is golden brown and the internal thermometer reads 160F.
air fryer chicken cutlets in the air fryer tray

Tips & Recipe Variations

Here are a few helpful tips and some suggestions on how to switch up the ingredients/flavors in this recipe!

  • Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. If the chicken is not properly spaced out, it may not cook evenly.
  • Go gluten-free. Use your favorite gluten-free breadcrumbs instead of the seasoned ones!
  • Add parmesan cheese to the breadcrumbs. Add some shredded parmesan cheese into the breadcrumbs if you want a little bit of cheesiness to your chicken.
  • Enhance the mayonnaise. You can switch up the seasonings you use in the mayo mixture by using onion powder, flavored salts, or white pepper. You could also add a drizzle of your favorite dressing like ranch or Italian dressing.
  • Serve the chicken with a sauce. Serve them just as they are or with our Favorite Marinara.
a platter of crispy chicken cutlets

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between chicken cutlets and chicken breast?

Chicken cutlets are simply chicken breasts that have been sliced in half. This is done so that the chicken is thinner and cooks quicker. Thus, chicken cutlets are great for pan frying and air frying.

How do I know when the chicken cutlets are done?

If you cut into the chicken cutlet and the juices run clear, you should be all set to serve. However, if you use a meat thermometer and the internal temperature reads 160F, you will know for certain that the chicken is all done cooking.

chicken cutlets with green salad on the side

What Goes With Breaded Chicken Cutlets?

Below are some of our favorite recipes to serve alongside these crispy chicken cutlets.

How to Store & Reheat Leftovers

Leftover chicken cutlets can definitely be saved for another meal! This is our preferred storage/reheating method:

  • To store. Chicken cutlets made in the air fryer can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • To reheat. Reheat your cutlets in the air fryer at 400°F for 2-3 minutes for the best results. You can also use the microwave if regaining the crispy texture doesn’t matter as much to you.

Can I Freeze Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets?

It’s best to eat these immediately after they are cooked. This is when the chicken is going to be perfectly crispy! So, freezing these cooked chicken cutlets is not recommended.

dinner plate with chicken cutlets and green salad

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

It’s so easy to make a fabulous chicken dinner in the air fryer that the whole family will love! Here are a few more recipes that you might want to try.

a platter of crispy chicken cutlets
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Recipe
Yield: 4

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets are perfectly crispy, tender, and juicy! Seasoned mayonnaise is the secret ingredient to keeping them extra juicy, and it also helps the breading to stick to the chicken. Ready in under 25 minutes, they are the perfect quick and easy dinner!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Total Time22 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4-6 chicken cutlets
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½-¾ cup seasoned breadcrumbs

Instructions 

  • Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
  • In a small bowl, stir to combine the mayonnaise, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, pepper, and salt.
  • Coat each cutlet with the mayo mixture. Then generously coat the cutlets with breadcrumbs on both sides.
  • Place coated chicken in the air fryer, making sure to not layer the chicken on top of each other.
  • Cook in the air fryer at 400°F for 10-12 minutes or until an instant read thermometer reaches 165 degrees. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • To store. Chicken cutlets made in the air fryer can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • To reheat. Reheat your cutlets in the air fryer at 400°F for 2-3 minutes for the best results. You can also use the microwave if regaining the crispy texture doesn’t matter as much to you.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 641kcal, Carbohydrates: 33g, Protein: 48g, Fat: 34g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 26g, Cholesterol: 233mg, Sodium: 874mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g

Let Us Know What You Think!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




1 thought on “Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets”

  1. 5 stars
    My teen son is pretty darn picky. The vast majority of what I make gets an indifferent “It’s ok” from him. THIS, he said, must be made each week. He devoured two cutlets and is eyeing a third. It was pretty tasty. I have the Instant Vortex and air fried them for 12 minutes at 400F. The underside was a tad soggy from resting on the tray. I tried to flip one over in the second batch and the coating crumbled. So I just placed them on a paper towel for a couple of minutes while they rested after cooking. Thank you.

Scroll to Top