Crispy Baked Chicken Cutlets

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This crispy baked chicken cutlet recipe is a simple, all-purpose dinner that you can come to again and again. It lends itself perfectly to a wide array of sides and toppings. Enjoy it on top of a peppery arugula salad or serve it on a bun with coleslaw, or simply pair it with roasted potatoes or veggies and a side of ketchup for dipping.

a recipe photo of the Crispy Baked Chicken Cutlets
Credit:

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
40 mins
Servings:
4
  • This recipe is quick to prepare, with a bake time of about 20 minutes.
  • Chicken cutlets provide lean protein, B vitamins and choline.
  • Using a wire rack while baking keeps the chicken crispy, not mushy.

Our Crispy Baked Chicken Cutlets recipe is the foundation for a quick weeknight dinner. With a hint of spice and a balanced array of savory seasonings, this is a great go-to recipe when you want something simple and protein-packed. And it goes with a wide variety of sides. Try it with a peppery arugula salad, creamy potato salad or steamed snappy fresh green beans. Keep reading for cooking success tips—like how to ensure the crispiest exterior while keeping the chicken tender and juicy.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • For an even thinner cutlet, use the textured side of the meat mallet to pound the chicken.
  • You can substitute the panko breadcrumbs with crushed cornflakes.
  • Elevating the chicken on a rack allows for airflow all around the cutlets while they’re baking, keeping the breading crispy and not mushy. 
  • Refrigerate baked chicken cutlets in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Nutrition Notes

  • Chicken cutlets are simply chicken breasts cut in half lengthwise. Chicken breast is a great source of lean protein and also provides B vitamins and the nutrient choline, which is necessary for a healthy nervous system.
  • The panko breadcrumbs in this recipe add a little bit of carbs. If you use whole-wheat panko, you’ll add some fiber to the recipe since it’s made from whole-wheat bread. Regular panko adds no fiber. 
  • Spices added to recipes cannot be underestimated! Besides amazing flavor, they add antioxidants and small amounts of vitamins and minerals. When eaten regularly, many herbs and spices, including the ones in this recipe, may help reduce inflammation and chronic disease risk.
the ingredients to make the Crispy Baked Chicken Cutlets

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

  • Cooking spray

  • 4 (4-ounce) chicken cutlets

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper, divided

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided

  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs

  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 large egg, beaten

  • 1 1/4 teaspoons garlic powder, divided

  • 1 1/4 teaspoons onion powder, divided

  • 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Set an oven-safe wire rack inside a large rimmed baking sheet. Coat the rack with cooking spray.

  2.  Place chicken on a paper-towel-lined plate; pat dry with additional paper towels. Using a fork, pierce the cutlets all over; sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon each pepper, salt and cayenne.

    a photo of the chicken cutlets being seasoned

    Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

  3. Place panko, flour and egg in 3 separate wide, shallow bowls. Stir 1/2 teaspoon each garlic powder and onion powder into the panko. Stir mustard and the remaining 3/4 teaspoon each garlic powder and onion powder and 1/4 teaspoon pepper into the flour.

  4. Working with 1 cutlet at a time, dredge in flour and shake off excess. Dip in egg; let excess drip off. Dredge in panko mixture to coat, pressing to adhere. Place on the prepared rack. (Discard any remaining egg, flour mixture and panko mixture.)

    a photo of the cutlets dipped into the flour, egg, and panko picture

    Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

  5. Generously coat each cutlet with cooking spray, making sure there are no dry spots. Bake until golden brown and crispy, about 20 minutes, flipping and coating with cooking spray halfway through. Transfer to a platter and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.

    a photo of the chicken cutlets being coated with cooking spray

    Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What’s the difference between chicken cutlets versus chicken breasts?

    A cutlet is made from a boneless, skinless chicken breast, either by slicing a chicken breast in half horizontally, pounding it to an even thinness or both.

  • What should I serve with baked chicken cutlets?

    This versatile protein can be served with an array of sides, such as potatoes, rice, whole grains or pasta, fresh in-season vegetables, roasted root veggies, a garden salad—the list goes on.

  • What’s the best way to reheat the cutlets?

    Heat them on a sheet pan in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes or until heated through.

EatingWell.com, July 2024

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

275 Calories
6g Fat
23g Carbs
31g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size 1 cutlet
Calories 275
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 2g
Added Sugars 0g 0%
Protein 31g 62%
Total Fat 6g 7%
Saturated Fat 1g 7%
Cholesterol 129mg 43%
Vitamin A 33µg
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Vitamin D 0µg
Vitamin E 1mg 6%
Folate 50µg
Vitamin K 2µg
Sodium 532mg 23%
Calcium 68mg 5%
Iron 2mg 12%
Magnesium 48mg 11%
Potassium 477mg 10%
Zinc 1mg 13%
Vitamin B12 0µg
Omega 3 0g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Carrie Myers, M.S.
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
and
Linda Frahm
Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications.