Crispy Breaded Chicken Cutlets Recipe
This is the best recipe for Italian breaded chicken cutlets! These golden, crispy chicken cutlets are tender on the inside, perfectly seasoned, and pan-fried just like my Italian mamma taught me—simple, rustic, and full of flavor- ready in under 30 minutes!
Servings: 4 -5 cutlets
Ingredients
- 4-5 boneless skinless chicken breasts about 5-7 oz each breast
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 eggs very well beaten
- ½ cup all purpose flour + 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 lemon cut in slices for garnish
Instructions
Prepare the chicken:
- Place boneless skinless chicken breasts on a cutting board. If thick, slice them in half horizontally to create thinner cutlets. Pat each cutlet dry with paper towels—this helps them brown better and get extra crispy.
Flatten the cutlets:
- Place the chicken between two pieces of parchment paper or plastic wrap and gently pound with a meat mallet or rolling pin until evenly thin (about ¼ inch thick). This ensures even cooking and tenderness.
Season simply:
- Sprinkle both sides with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Bread the chicken:
- Set up a dredging station with three shallow bowls—flour and cornstarch in one, beaten eggs in another, and breadcrumbs in the third. Dip each cutlet first in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs, pressing gently so the coating sticks. Place them on a clean tray and let them air dry about 10-20 minutes before cooking. This helps the breadcrumb coating stick!
Pan-fry to golden perfection:
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the cutlets in a single layer (don’t overcrowd). Fry 3–4 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through. The internal temperature for fully cooked chicken cutlets should be 165°F (74°C). Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
Serve immediately:
- Enjoy warm with lemon wedges, a crisp salad, or over a bed of arugula with Parmigiano shavings.
Video
Notes
This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled!
Nutrition
Serving: 4g | Calories: 444kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 169mg | Sodium: 307mg | Potassium: 493mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 328IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 2mg
