Crispy Breaded Chicken in the Air Fryer

Perfectly crunchy and ready in just 20 minutes? It’s all thanks to the air fryer!

Is crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside your definition of great chicken cutlets? Then turn to your air fryer. You’ll get awesome results with just a few simple ingredients and almost no cleanup. It’s hard to beat on busy weeknights! If you’re not already sold on air fryer cooking, then this recipe could just change your mind. If you’re one of us who keeps an air fryer as a permanent countertop fixture, you’ll be high-fiving yourself after trying this recipe. It’s that good!

So what’s so great about the air fryer? If your first answer is that it delivers fabulously crispy foods with minimal added fat, you’re totally right. But air-fryer converts know something else as well: It gives you excellent baked and roasted foods much faster than conventional ovens. The reason is that air fryers preheat almost instantly, so you save anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes right off the bat by not having to preheat a standard oven. Plus, these handy appliances cook with hot air circulating around the food items, a technique that speeds baking time. The combo of lower-fat cooking and quicker prep is the winning formula that keeps us air frying again and again.

Is Crispy Breaded Chicken In The Air Fryer Healthy?

This recipe for breaded chicken in the air fryer is a particularly healthy main course. It starts with boneless, skinless chicken breasts, a cut that’s very lean and an excellent source of protein. Just a small amount of panko boosted with spices is used as the breading, and with just two teaspoons of olive oil, the recipe is relatively low in fat. Round out your meal with some steamed vegetables and a whole grain, and you’ll have all your healthy bases covered!

To make the recipe gluten-free, simply use certified gluten-free panko breadcrumbs.

The Secrets To The Crispiest Chicken Ever

The air fryer is famous for turning out crunchy, flavorful food that tastes similar to deep-fried food without using excess oil. It’s easy, but there are a few tips to keep in mind for this chicken. The first is to keep your chicken cutlets dry, so after pounding them, be sure to pat them with paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Rubbing the breasts with just a little oil will help the breadcrumbs adhere evenly, so don’t skip this step, and just a spritz of cooking spray will also help the crumbs brown nicely. Finally, don’t crowd your air fryer. Each piece of chicken should have enough space for air to circulate around it, or you risk your food steaming, not frying. Air fryers vary in size; if yours doesn’t have room to hold the pieces of chicken with enough space, you should cook them in batches.

Serving Suggestions

Because the seasonings in this chicken are so simple, you can pretty much serve it with anything. A steamed vegetable and a whole grain will make it a super-healthy meal, but you can also go a little fancier if you like. Some great choices would be Mediterranean Low Carb Broccoli Salad, Low-Carb Mock Cauliflower Potato Salad, or Cauliflower Tater Tots. Got leftovers? The cutlets are fabulous on sandwiches, or try them sliced over your favorite salad or grain bowl for a delectably crunchy texture!

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