Learn how to make chicken cutlets from chicken breasts for faster, more even cooking. These easy tips will help you create perfectly portioned cutlets every time!
Since chicken breasts tend to be quite thick, the simple process of cutting them into cutlets has several benefits when preparing recipes. First, it helps ensure even cooking, as thinner cutlets cook more uniformly and quickly, preventing the outside from drying out while the inside cooks through. This also reduces overall cooking time, making weeknight meals faster to prepare.
Chicken cutlets are perfect for dishes like Chicken Piccata or salads where thinner pieces are ideal for sautéing or frying and result in perfectly cooked tender chicken.
8" Chef's Knife
How to Make Chicken Cutlets
Here are the steps for cutting boneless skinless chicken breasts into chicken cutlets. Whether you plan to bake the chicken, cook it in a skillet, or air fry the chicken, this method works.
Step one: Start cutting into the chicken breast.
Place the chicken breast on a clean cutting board with a clean hand on top. Use a sharp knife to start cutting into the chicken horizontally at the thickest part.
Step two: Butterfly it Open.
Continue cutting through the chicken breast, butterflying it open, until you have two pieces.
Step Three: Pound the cutlets thin.
If the cutlets are still more than a half-inch thick, use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound them thinner. This will ensure even and quick cooking.
Place plastic wrap beneath and on top of the chicken cutlet. This will hold the cutlet together while you pound it. The cutlets are now ready to be cooked and used in recipes.
Meat Mallet
Breaded Chicken Cutlets
If you are making a recipe like Chicken Parmesan, cutlets are perfect. Because they are thin, they will cook through completely in oil without the breading burning.
To do this, you will want to first coat the chicken in flour, then in an egg wash, and finally in breadcrumbs.
Using Chicken Cutlets in Recipes
Chicken cutlets can be used in hundreds of recipes. From salads to pasta to breaded chicken, here are some delicious ideas.
If you find these steps and photos helpful or make one of my recipes, I’d love to know!
How to Make Chicken Cutlets
Ingredients
- boneless skinless chicken breasts
Instructions
- Place the chicken breast on a clean cutting board. Place one hand on top of the chicken breast.
- Use a sharp knife to cut into the chicken breast horizontally at the thickest part.
- Butterfly the chicken breast open and continue cutting all the way through until you have 2 thin pieces.
- If the cutlets are thicker than 1/2 inch, pound them thinner with a meat mallet or rolling pin.
June Robinson says
Really enjoy these recipes
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Linda says
Hi Lisa,
So glad I signed up. I’ve made numerous recipes you’ve sent. Each one I’ve made was fabulous! Thank you again.
Linda Morgan Thomson
I’m so happy to hear that, Linda!