Chicken is one of the most commonly consumed meats worldwide From nuggets to wings, there are many different ways to enjoy this versatile ingredient. One popular chicken dish is the chicken breast cutlet. But what exactly is a cutlet and how does it differ from a regular chicken breast?
In this article, we’ll provide a complete guide to chicken breast cutlets, covering everything you need to know about this tasty ingredient
What is a Chicken Cutlet?
The term “cutlet” refers to a thin, flat slice of meat. Chicken cutlets are made from chicken breasts that have been sliced horizontally through the thickest part to create two thinner pieces.
These slices are often pounded with a meat mallet to make them even thinner and more uniform in size and shape. The resulting cutlets are thin, flat slices of chicken breast that are typically no more than 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
Pounding the chicken breasts produces cutlets that:
- Are a consistent size and shape for even cooking
- Cook faster than a whole chicken breast
- Provide a large surface area for breading and frying
- Can be easily incorporated into dishes like chicken parmesan
How Cutlets Differ from Chicken Breasts
While a chicken cutlet starts from a chicken breast, it’s not quite the same thing. Here are the key differences:
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Thickness – A chicken breast is thicker, ranging from 3/4 inch to 1 inch thick or more. Cutlets are pounded thin, less than 1/2 inch thick.
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Cooking time – The thinner cutlets cook much faster than a whole chicken breast. Cutlets may take just 2-4 minutes per side to cook through while a breast needs upwards of 15 minutes.
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Texture – Cutlets have a tender, delicate texture from being pounded thin. Chicken breasts are dense and chewy in comparison.
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Uses – Chicken breasts are versatile for grilling, baking, sautéing, and more. Cutlets are ideal for quick cooking methods like pan/skillet frying or breading.
How to Make Chicken Cutlets
Making chicken cutlets at home is easy and cost effective compared to buying pre-cut cutlets. Just follow these simple steps:
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Start with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Rinse and pat dry.
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Using a sharp knife, slice the chicken breast horizontally through the thickest part to create 2 even slices.
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Place the slices between sheets of plastic wrap. Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to gently pound each slice to a 1/4-1/2 inch thickness.
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Season the cutlets as desired. Standard options include salt, pepper, garlic powder, and parsley.
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Cook using your preferred method such as pan frying, baking, or breading and frying. The thinner cutlets will cook fast, in just 2-4 minutes per side.
And that’s all there is to it! With just a knife, mallet, and 5 minutes of prep time, you can easily make restaurant-quality chicken cutlets at home.
Popular Ways to Cook Chicken Cutlets
There are many quick and delicious ways to cook chicken cutlets once you have them prepped. Here are some of the most popular preparation methods:
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Pan-fried – Fry in a skillet over medium-high heat for 2-4 minutes per side until browned and cooked through.
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Baked – Brush with oil and bake at 400°F for 10-12 minutes until no longer pink inside.
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Breaded and fried – Coat with breadcrumbs or flour then pan fry or air fry for crispy cutlets. Try chicken Parmesan or chicken katsu.
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Sautéed – Cook gently in a pan with olive oil or butter and seasonings of choice.
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Grilled – Coat with oil and grill over medium heat for quick chicken satay or fajitas.
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Broiled – Brush cutlets with olive oil and broil 4-5 minutes per side for easy meals.
The possibilities are endless! Cutlets are also great in salads, sandwiches, wraps, and more.
Benefits of Chicken Cutlets
Compared to chicken breasts, thin cutlets offer several advantages:
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Faster cooking – No need to pound and flatten a whole breast. Cutlets are ready to cook in minutes.
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More surface area – Greater surface area compared to the thickness allows for even, fast cooking.
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Ideal for breading – Cutlets provide the perfect thin base for breadcrumbs to adhere.
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Uniform pieces – Pounding produces uniform thickness ideal for recipes requiring same-size pieces.
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Tender texture – Pounding helps break down muscle fibers for a delicately tender bite.
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Versatile – Thin cutlets work great in everything from Italian dishes to Asian stir fries.
So for fast weeknight meals, kid-friendly foods, and maximizing the versatility of chicken breasts, pre-cut or homemade cutlets are hard to beat!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do chicken cutlets last in the fridge?
Raw chicken cutlets can be refrigerated for 3-5 days. For best quality, freeze any longer term storage.
Can you freeze chicken cutlets?
Yes, raw or cooked cutlets freeze well for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before use.
Should you pound chicken cutlets?
Pounding helps produce thin, even cutlets but isn’t strictly required. Use a mallet for best texture and shape.
What’s the difference between a cutlet and tenderloin?
Tenderloins are a separate muscle while cutlets come from slicing chicken breasts. Both are thin.
How thick should chicken cutlets be?
For even cooking, cutlets should be pounded to a thickness of 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch.
Faq about Italian Breaded Chicken Cutlets
It helps to let the breaded chicken cutlets rest in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before frying. This helps the breading adhere to the chicken and form a crust.
If the oil isnt hot enough, the breadcrumbs will absorb the oil and turn soggy, resulting in chicken cutlets that are more greasy than they are crispy. Make sure the oil has plenty of time to heat up before placing the chicken cutlets in the pan. It should look shimmery.Ho
The best way to keep the chicken crispy is to set a rack on top of a sheet pan and allow the cutlets to drain on that rather than paper towels. You can keep them in a 250 degree F oven for up to an hour before serving to keep them hot and crispy.
Yes. A lot of people prefer to fry in a neutral oil like vegetable or canola oil because they have a higher smoke point, but I find they have a much better flavor when fried in olive oil. If youre not comfortable frying in all olive oil, try a 50-50 mixture of olive oil and vegetable oil instead.
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Why This Recipe Works
- A beginner friendly recipe – I started making these when I was just a kid!
- Instead of using store bought Italian breadcrumbs, these are made with homemade seasoned breadcrumbs to make them extra crispy and cheesy.
- Pounding out the chicken super thin ensures they cook through in the pan with no oven required.
- Seasoning each piece of chicken before breading makes the meat juicy and full of flavor.
- Adding grated cheese to the egg mixture makes the breading extra crispy and flavorful!
Breadcrumbs – If you have homemade breadcrumbs – use those. Otherwise, unseasoned Panko breadcrumbs are the way to go. Theyre lighter than traditional breadcrumbs and make the best crispy coating. I prefer to season my own breadcrumbs rather than using already seasoned Italian breadcrumbs because the flavor is so much better.
Grated Cheese – You can use either a good quality parmesan, such as Grana Padano or Parmigiano Reggiano, or a good quality Pecorino Romano, such as Locatelli. Use either one or both, just make sure youre using the good stuff – it makes a difference.
Chicken – Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. You can start with whole chicken breasts and slice them thin, or buy chicken breasts that have already been thinly sliced. We will take it one step further and pound the chicken out to be extra thin, because the thinner they are, the better they are.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Some people say you should never to fry in extra virgin olive oil, but I disagree. It makes all the difference in this recipe and gives the chicken much more flavor than when its fried in vegetable oil. For frying, use a less expensive olive oil and not the top-shelf stuff thats best reserved for finishing.
*Find the full ingredient list in the recipe card below!
Meat Mallet – Pounding out the chicken ensures it will fry up evenly without having to go into the oven to finish. A meat pounder works best, but you can use the bottom of a skillet or a flat bottomed coffee mug in a pinch.
Wire Rack – You can drain the fried chicken cutlets on paper towels, but a wire rack will help them stay extra crispy.
