Name: Italian Chicken Cutlets (air fryer recipe)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 chicken breasts, butterflied; 1 egg; 1/3 cup milk; 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs; 1 tbsp dried Italian seasonings; 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese; Spray olive oil

This Italian Chicken Cutlets recipe features simply seasoned, air fryer chicken cutlets that come together in a flash and pair perfectly with simple side dishes or placed on a pasta.

As a dietitian, one of the biggest meal components that I see people struggle to get on table is actually the protein of the meal. I have also found that if the protein is not de-thawed or easy to cook, then that protein component also ends up being the deciding factor on whether you eat at home or dine out.

To overcome your protein problems, it’s important to have easy to prepare proteins that come together in a flash and don’t require a lot of steps. If you need more recipes like that, then these easy air fryer Italian chicken cutlets are for you! All you need are a few basic ingredients, an air fryer (this is the one I use), and about 15 minutes to transform simple chicken cutlets into these full flavored Italian chicken cutlets that can be used in a variety of ways!

Why you’ll love this recipe:

You’ll love these Italian chicken cutlets because they:

Only 6 ingredients: and those 6 ingredients include the olive oil spray… so technically these simple Italian chicken cutlets only need 5 ingredients!
Are ready in under 15 minutes: Talk about an easy to make protein. Chicken cutlets are sliced thin and cook quickly even if you bake, air fry, or pan sear them.
Are meal prep friendly: air fryer chicken cutlets are a great protein size for meal prep and pair easily with a carb and veggie side dish.
Loved by the family: These Italian chicken cutlets are breaded and herby making them well loved by kids and adults alike!

This recipe is a weekly staple in my house and I know you will love it too!

The process:

These Italian chicken cutlets only require a few steps before you're air frying your way to an easy protein. Start by creating your chicken cutlets by slicing two chicken breast in half, hamburger style.

Pro-tip: cover your chicken cutlets with plastic wrap or a cloth and pound with a mallet or meat tenderizer to reach a thickness of about 1.5 inches. This will help shorten the cooking time and also ensure that your cutlets cook at a similar speed in the air fryer.

Next, prep the ingredients that we will dip the chicken cutlets in. In one bowl whisk together your egg and milk. In a second bowl (or on a large plate) add your bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and dried Italian seasonings. These are key to the Italian chicken cutlets!

Then, dip your cutlets one by one into the milk and egg mixture and then the breadcrumb mixture. Ensure that your cutlets are fully coated in breadcrumbs, shake off any excess, and set aside on another plate.

Add your chicken cutlets to your air fryer bin being careful not to overlap them (you may need to cook these in two shifts depending on the size of your air fryer). Spray with olive oil spray then cook for 6 minutes at 375. After your 6 minutes are up, flip your cutlets over, spray again with olive oil spray, and cook for another 4-6 minutes or until your chicken cutlets reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Serve with your favorite meal and enjoy!

What to goes with Italian Chicken Cutlets?

Chicken cutlets are a super versatile protein that can be added to a variety of meals and sides including:

Mediterranean rice pilaf: I have the perfect recipe for you here.
Chopped Italian Salad: Serve these Italian chicken cutlets over a bed of chopped greens, pepperoni peppers, tomatoes, black olives, red onion, parmesan cheese, and an easy red wine vinaigrette.
Fun vegetable sides: Think hot honey brussels sprouts or even spicy chopped cucumbers.
Marinara or Alfredo pasta: Make your noodles, serve with your sauce of choice, then top it off with these chicken cutlets!
- Interested in pastas like Banza pasta? I have a whole deep dive on Banza pasta here!

Ingredients:

These air fryer chicken cutlets only need a few ingredients including:

Chicken breast: This recipe calls for 2 chicken breast cut into 4 cutlets.

Italian bread crumbs: I use Panko Italian Breadcrumbs.
Italian Seasoning: You can use fresh if you want but I find that dried works perfectly.
Grated parmesan: I recommend grated parmesan over other options because it sticks to the chicken better and does not displace the breadcrumbs.
Egg: To help the breadcrumbs stick to the chicken.
Milk: Use any milk you would like.

Recipe FAQ:

Can I bake these chicken cutlets?
1. Yes, this recipe is also oven friendly! You can also pan sear chicken cutlets by adding a little bit of butter to the pan, allowing it to melt, and searing the chicken on both sides until it cooks through to a safe internal temperature. If you want crispy chicken cutlets, I recommend pan searing them!
How long should I bake chicken cutlets for?
1. This will depend on how thick your chicken cutlets are. If you chicken cutlets are about 1.5-2 inches thick, I cover and bake them at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes. I always recommend using a food thermometer to start checking your cutlets around the 30 minute mark and then give it more time if needed. You want your chicken to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to air fry chicken cutlets?
1. I think the key to air frying a chicken cutlet is 1) spray them with olive oil spray to help the outside crisp up and 2) to always check their temperature before the recipe says too. Many recipes are written based off the chicken thickness that the recipe creator cooked with, but your chicken thickness may be different! Because of that, you can remove or add two minutes of cooking time to the recipe instructions but always use your food thermometer to check for a safe internal temperature!

Yield: 4 cutlets

Author: Lauren Twigge