Name: Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 (6-8 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts – or thinly sliced chicken breasts (about 4-5 ounces each); 1 cup all-purpose flour – you can also use gluten free all purpose flour.; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 2 large eggs; 1 cup breadcrumbs – any kind will work, even gluten-free!; Olive oil cooking spray

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These golden and crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets come out so juicy and delicious in less than 15 minutes! They are easy to make with only a few simple ingredients and are a wonderful weeknight meal that everyone will enjoy.

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

Crispy air fryer chicken cutlets have become my new go-to dinner recipe! They are perfectly juicy and crispy and you can serve them with just about anything. My other favorite is these air fryer chicken nuggets that my kids absolutely love.

These chicken cutlets come out perfectly golden, crispy, juicy, and flavorful every single time! They are also so easy to make with only a few simple ingredients in about 15 minutes. How’s that for an easy weeknight dinner?

Air fryer chicken cutlets are similar to this air fryer breaded chicken breast that is a reader favorite and another go-to recipe of mine. Except these are slightly thinner and crispier.

Why you’ll love these air fryer chicken cutlets

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 cutlets 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

*Be sure to check out the complete list of recipe ingredients and instructions in the free printable recipe card located at the bottom of this post.

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.

Dredging station with a bowl of flour, with a bowl of whisked eggs, bowl of breadcrumb, and a plate of raw chicken breast in front of it. — Set up a dredging station

Bowl of flour with a raw chicken cutlet covered in flour in it with a blue and white striped towel in front of it. — Set up a dredging station

How To cut chicken breast into cutlets

It is actually quite simple to cut whole chicken breasts into cutlets and save a little money. Of course, you can always buy thin-sliced chicken breasts at the grocery store but they may cost slightly more.

To cut chicken breasts into cutlets:

Slice or split the chicken breast in half – to do this you will need a sharp kitchen knife. Lay the chicken on a flat surface like a cutting board and place one hand on top of the chicken breast, and use your dominant hand to easily slice through it horizontally until you have two even pieces.
Pound the sliced chicken breast into cutlets – to do this you can place a single sliced piece of chicken in between some plastic wrap, and use a meat mallet or rolling pin and pound it out all over until it is evenly thick all around. You want it to be about ¼ inch to ½ inch thick. You can also use a heavy skillet to pound the chicken as well.

How to make crispy chicken cutlets in the air fryer

Prepare the chicken – slice the chicken and pound it out into cutlets as noted above.
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.
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. Per the recipe card below.
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.

Once you try chicken cutlets in the air fryer you will want to make them on repeat!

Expert Tips

Make sure to use chicken breast cutlets and not whole chicken breast since that will take longer to cook. See above for how to cut the chicken breast into cutlets.
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.
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!
Flip the chicken halfway to ensure it gets nice and golden on both sides.
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 air fryer chicken cutlets 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.

Can you cook raw chicken in the air fryer?

Raw chicken can be easily be cooked in the air fryer. Here are a few ways you can cook it.

Ways to serve air fryer chicken cutlets

These Air Fryer Chicken Cutles go great with so many things like roasted potatoes and asparagus or kale salad. I also love just adding some sauce and melted cheese on top for some healthy chicken parmesan. You could also just serve them over a house salad to make a complete meal that is both filling and delicious. Or even slice the breaded chicken and use 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.

More air fryer recipes to try!

Other Chicken Breast Recipes

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Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets – Golden and Delicious