The Best Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets
Crunchy on the outside and juicy within, these are hands down the best Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets you’ll ever bite into!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets
Just think about it: no risky deep frying, no messy grease splattering from your skillet, no lingering smells—but all the golden breaded crisp on your cutlets you don’t get with baked chicken. I know it sounds too good to be true, but the air fryer is magical like that!
This recipe gives off a crusted Southern fried chicken meets mom’s chicken cutlets vibe. With a buttermilk bath and some generously seasoned breading, you get a super tender, super flavorful weeknight dinner that the whole family will swoon over.
As a bonus, I’ve also included a quick and easy honey mustard sauce. It’s optional, but you’d be crazy not to make it ;)
What to Serve These With
- Mashed or beautifully roasted potatoes
- A rice pilaf
- For a veg side, I love serving these with green beans, grilled asparagus, or broccoli
- Caesar salad or a really simple lemon-y side salad
- During the warmer months, a nice pasta salad; throughout the cooler months, mac & cheese
What Is a Chicken Cutlet?
Cutlets are simply thinner cuts of meat that require less time to cook, offering up a fast dinner option. You can sometimes find prepared cutlets at the store, but I typically just make them with chicken breasts.
Ingredient Breakdown & Swaps
- Chicken breasts or cutlets. You can buy ready-to-go cutlets, or you can simply butterfly chicken breasts, then pound them down with a meat mallet.
- Sea salt & Cracked Black Pepper.
- Buttermilk & Franks Red Hot®. Whisk these together to form a fantastic marinade. The acidity in the buttermilk breaks down the muscle fiber and collagen in the chicken, which gives us tender juicy meat—just like a brine does. You can use any hot sauce, this just adds flavor.
- Flour, eggs, & panko breadcrumbs. To dredge and bread your chicken prior to cooking.
- Seasoning. A yummy blend of spices in the breading brings a ton of flavor to every bite. I use paprika, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, white pepper (optional), and a bit of cayenne.
If you’d like to make the lip-smacking honey mustard sauce
- Mayonnaise
- Good quality liquid honey
- Dijon mustard
- Apple cider vinegar
- Paprika
Quick Tip
Buttermilk can be bought at the store, but you can also easily make it at home by mixing 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar plus enough full fat milk to measure 1 cup on top of the vinegar. Or instead of using vinegar, you can use lemon juice. Then gently stir the mixture and let it sit for 5 minutes.
How Long to Heat up Chicken Cutlets in the Air Fryer
When cooking thin cutlets, you’re looking at about 5 minutes per side at a high heat of 390º F. To be sure, always have a meat thermometer on hand so you can check the internal temperature. You’re looking for an internal temperature of 160-165º F with chicken.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets
- Whisk the ingredients for the buttermilk marinade together in a large bowl and place the chicken cutlets into the bowl, submerging them completely. Refrigerate for at least an hour.
- Mix all of the panko, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, white pepper, and cayenne pepper in a shallow bowl or pie plate.
- If you’re making the honey mustard sauce, simply mix all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Cover it and pop it in the fridge until dinner time.
- When it’s go time, preheat the air fryer to 390º F. Give the bottom of the basket a quick misting of cooking spray.
- Create an assembly line with a shallow bowl of flour, egg wash, and the breading mixture. One by one, dredge the chicken cutlets into the three in that order (flour, eggs, crumbs), then place it into the air fryer basket once done preheating.
- Cook the cutlets for 5 minutes, then flip them over, give the basket and cutlets a mist with the cooking spray, and cook for another 5. You’ll likely have to do this in two batches. Totally freakin’ worth it for beautifully golden brown crusted chicken.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve them with the honey mustard sauce!
Storage, Freezing, & Reheating
- Leftovers can be stored in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- You can also freeze these! Once they’ve cooled down, pop them into a sealable freezer-friendly bag and pop them in the freezer for up to 4 months.
- To reheat, you can either heat them in the microwave in 25 second increments until warmed through, or in the air fryer in 1 minute increments until warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your cutlets don’t come out golden and crispy, a few things could have happened: the air fryer wasn’t preheated; the air fryer basket was overcrowded, which effects proper airflow; cutlets weren’t marinated prior to cooking (buttermilk = crispy chicken!)
Absolutely! Chicken will cook through just fine in an air fryer.
This will always depend on the size, thickness, and part of the chicken (thighs/drums/breast, etc.) With cutlets, like in this recipe, you’re looking at 5 minutes per side, for a total of 10 minutes.
Again, this depends on the cut and part of the chicken. For cutlets, you want to air fry at 390º F. Make sure you preheat the air fryer prior to cooking.
Have You Made This Recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a STAR rating & commenting below with feedback!
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More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love:
- Thai Sweet Chili Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Maple Mustard Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
- Air Fryer Chicken Breasts with Mustard Sauce
- Easy Air Fryer Pizza
- Crispy Air Fryer Fish Sticks
- Easy Air Fryer Broccoli
Best Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 chicken cutlets
Buttermilk Marinade:
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1/2 cup Frank's Red Hot Sauce
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
Breading:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1.5 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp White pepper
- 1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper 1/2 tsp if you'd like more of a kick
Honey Mustard Sauce:
- 2 TBSP mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup raw liquid honey
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 tsp paprika
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the ingredients for the buttermilk marinade together and place the chicken cutlets into the bowl, submerging them completely. Put them in the fridge for at least an hour, up to overnight.
- In a shallow bowl or pie plate, mix together the panko breadcrumbs, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, white pepper, and cayenne pepper; set aside.
- Make the honey mustard sauce! Mix all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Cover, and place it in the fridge until dinner time.
- When you're ready to cook the chicken, preheat the air fryer to 390º F. Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with some cooking spray.
- Create an assembly line with a shallow bowl of flour, egg wash, and breading mixture. One at a time, take a chicken cutlet from the buttermilk bath and gently shake off any excess buttermilk. Dredge the chicken cutlets into the flour, then the eggs, and finally the crumbs. Place the breaded cutlets into the air fryer basket once it's done preheating. You will probably have to do this in two batches, depending on how many cutlets you can fit into the air fryer.
- Cook the cutlets for 5 minutes. When 5 minutes is up, carefully flip them over and give the basket and the cutlets a mist with the cooking spray. Cook for another 5 minutes.
- When done, serve with honey mustard sauce.
239 Comments on “The Best Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets”
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I made this for dinner tonight and my daughter loved it. The chicken was so crispy on the outside and flavorful on the inside. It was also perfect because it was such a simple recipe. I can’t wait to make it again for everyone.
I’m so happy!
I’ll be making these several times a month. Juicy, tender meat and crispy outsides is the perfect combo. Nicely done!
Thanks, Jackie!
The coating was so crispy and the chicken was juicy and flavorful. It was super easy to make and I will definitely be making it again!
So happy you enjoyed it!
This looks like another winner from you – 2nd batch in my little air fryer as I am writing this and I snuck a bite from the first batch – it’s sublime!
Awesome! Love to hear it! Enjoy :)
I had some Frank’s I needed to use up and this was the perfect recipe for it! They came out flavorful and cooked so quickly – this is great for a weeknight dinner!
So glad!
Sooooo good !!!! Family wants me to make an extra amount every week, bc they like it cold the next day!!!
They are SO good cold!! Haha. I’m so glad this was a hit, Laura!
I just bought a bunch of chicken cutlets on sale at the store this week. I will definitely have to make this recipe with some of them- yum! :)
Keep me posted :)
This was everything a gourmet meal should be, and then some! Turned out quick, crisp and delicious; easily, a new favorite recipe!
Yay! Happy to hear it :)
My family loves this easy air fryer chicken recipe and it really is EASY!
Glad you think so!
Love the flavours in the breading and the sauce is perfect. Such a great family dinner that’s so easy to do too.
So glad!
Love this recipe, easy delicious!!! Thanks for sharing :)
You’re welcome!
Another delicious chicken recipe for the air fryer. Love how crispy they are.
Me too :)
I love the addition of the hot sauce in the buttermilk, it gives the chicken the perfect kick of heat! I was able to find chicken cutlets at the store, which made this recipe so easy to make. I’ll definitely be keeping this one around for quick dinners!
Awesome to hear!
Another great way to use my air fryer! These crisp chicken cutlets turned out perfectly and they were a hit with my family. Thanks for this delicious recipe!
You’re welcome!
These turned out perfectly in my air fryer!! They really were super crispy on the outside – and I loved that I could get that texture without deep frying!
It’s incredible how crispy they turn out!
Enjoyed these for dinner tonight and they did not disappoint! Turned out perfectly crisp yet juicy and packed with flavor! Easily, a new favorite recipe!
Awesome, Sara!
These were amazing – so flavorful. I think adding Franks hot sauce really made them taste terrific.
That’s a technique taken from fried chicken in the south—they sure know what they’re doing!
So easy and so delicious! I appreciate your extra helpful tips to make this recipe a success. It disappears so quickly lol. Thanks for sharing!
Haha, here too. I always plan for fun things with leftovers but we never have any!
Easy and delicious, this one is a keeper. I know I’m going to make it over and over again!
I’m so glad, Shadi!
These chicken cutlets look amazing! They look so golden and crispy.
Thanks!
I’m so glad I found this recipe! Such a delicious way to make crispy chicken and the sauce is so so good! My husband and kids loved it.
I’m so happy to hear this, Sabrina! Thank you!
This chicken cutlet recipe is a family favorite! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome!
I love the crunch of the panko and it comes out perfectly in the air fryer! Thanks for sharing!
You’re so welcome!
Such a good way to cook chicken and so much flavour.
Thanks!
Loved how crispy this turned out! And that dipping sauce is next level!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I have started using my air fryer more lately. Can’t wait to try this recipe soon! :)
Keep me posted!
These were so crispy and tender. The kids asked for seconds!
Nothing better than the kids eating and enjoying the dinner you’ve made. Can’t wait until mine gets out of his picky stage, haha.
These were so crispy. The air fryer made all the difference in this recipe!
I’m so glad!
Loving the flavor on these crunchy, crispy air fryer chicken cutlets. Can’t wait to taste them.
Keep me posted!
This is such a great recipe! I haven’t had fried chicken in years because it’s so unhealthy. This version really scratched that itch!
I’m so glad, Ben! It works out so well. Seriously grateful for the power of the air fryer.
This chicken cutlets looks so delicious! I haven’t tried making them in the air fryer before but it looks so much easier!
Let me know if you try them!
Yep! These really are the best chicken cutlets. Air fried or otherwise. Thanks for such an awesome weeknight option!
You’re very welcome, Darren!
This is my absolute favorite chicken cutlet recipe! They turn out perfectly every time!
Yay! Thanks, Taylor!
These chicken cutlets look so crispy and fabulous. Perfect as is or cut up in a salad.
Definitely would be good in a salad, too!
Adding this to my weekly dinner rotation asap! :) Looks delicious.
Hope you enjoy!
Perfect timing! It’s my daughter’s birthday and she requested these chicken tenders!
That’s awesome! Happy birthday to her :)
Couldn’t believe how crispy these turned out! So glad I bought that air fryer. Making these again soon.
Happy to hear it, Janice!
These are soooo crispy! Love them, and the seasonings.
Thanks :)
These cutlets ended up perfectly cooked in the air fryer! Crispy and crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside. Yum!
Thank you!
They look so perfectly crispy and easy to make in the air fryer! Thanks for the recipe!
You’re welcome!
These chicken cutlets turned out so delicious!
Awesome!
Love finding a new air fryer recipe and this chicken was delicious. So quick to make and the whole family enjoyed it!
Happy to hear it!
Dang these hit the spot! Seriously amazing with great flavor and easy to make. Thank you for an awesome recipe! I know I can always count on your site for a great go-to meal!
You’re too kind, Ned! Thanks for the support and for coming back for more!
These came out so crispy and the kids loved them! I didn’t even get to try one lol. Next time I’ll make two batches!
Oh no, Stephanie! Lol. Well, at least the kids ate. Mom mentality, right there. Definitely make sure you get some next time ;)
The whole family loved these chicken cutlets. Having leftovers the next day on a bun was also amazing terrific easy air fryer recipe!
On a bun sounds amazing! Totally doing that next time ;)
Wow they are SO crispy and SO delicious! Another tasty reason I’m happy to have an air fryer!
I hear that! Thanks, Wanda.
Air fryer chicken cutlets are amazingly delicious. Thanks for sharing
You’re welcome!
Can I use parchment paper for the air fryer basket?
Hi Carol, you’d want to use perforated parchment in the air fryer.
Looks so bomb with the gravy on it with all the trimmings. My husband is begging me to make this for him.
Hope he loves it!
I’ve made these cutlets several times and they always turn out perfectly! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
You’re so welcome!
If you crave a crunch on chicken that rivals restaurant chicken, this air fryer chicken cutlet recipe is for you.
I agree, Sharon! ;)
Chicken cutlets bring back memories of my childhood. However back then my mom didn’t have the ease of an air fryer. I can’t wait to try these in our air fryer, as I bet it will make cooking and clean up a breeze!
Yes, so much easier but just as tasty!
Omg I’m obsessed with these crispy Chicken Cutlets !b they are so juicy and crunchy at the same time.
Thanks!
I love how crispy these chicken cutlets are. Thanks for sharing
You’re very welcome!
This is my favorite way to make chicken cutlets! I use this recipe often and they always turn out perfectly!
I’m so glad, Tayler!
Enjoyed this for dinner last night and it was hands down delicious! Turned out perfectly tender yet crispy, perfectly juicy and packed with flavor! Easily, a new favorite way to enjoy chicken cutlets!
I’m so glad, Sara! We love it here too.
I was looking for a recipe like this with air fryer, thank you for sharing! Love it!
You’re welcome, Shadi!
I just love this and its was a big hit with everyone. And this was such a pleasing experience!
Love to hear it!
These are great with white gravy or even to make chicken parmesan with! Perfectly crispy
Absolutely!
These were so crispy! We topped them with marinara and cheese and broiled! They were so good thanks for sharing!
That sounds like an excellent adaptation!
I just got a new air fryer and have been looking for new recipes. I’m bookmarking this to make over the weekend!
Keep me posted!
This is my absolute favorite chicken recipe! It turns out perfectly in the air fryer every time!
Happy to hear it :)
I used gluten-free panko and these cutlets turned out perfectly in the air fryer. So crispy and juicy. We loved them!
Really happy to hear that GF panko works just as well. Thanks for letting us know, Colleen!
Oh wow! This chicken is fantastic. I love that crispy texture and how easily it comes together in the air fryer.
The crisp is perfect, isn’t it? Long live the air fryer!
I love quick and easy to make meals like this! A new addition to our favorites!
Awesome to hear, Jen!
This is my absolute favorite way to make chicken cutlets! So delicious and they turn out perfectly every time!
I’m really happy to hear this, Tim!
so crispy and so flavorful and juicy from inside. Its the best chicken dish I have ever had.
I’m so happy to hear this! Thank you!
So yummy. I always worry with chicken breast if it’s either over or under its ruined. So good. Followed directions exactly. I used a homeade marinara and put mozzarella cheese on family members but even compared to my normal pan fried calorie laden original chicken parm recipe I felt so much better serving family. Everyone loved! So good👍
It’s so easy to overcook chicken breast, and when you do, it’s so hard to eat! I always have that fear too. The meat thermometer has become my very best friend, haha. I love that you used marinara. That sounds exceptional! Thanks for the feedback, Jenny!
These are absolutely delicious! So crispy on the outside. I didn’t think the air fryer would get this sort of crisp but it did. My teenagers asked that I make this again!
The air fryer is impressive, isn’t it? I’m so glad everyone loved it!
omg im obsessed with Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets – perfect for kids and weeknights
Totally!
Literally looks like the perfect air fryer chicken. My kids are going to love this! Thanks so much for the recipe!
You’re welcome!
These turned out so crispy! And the seasoning is perfect.
Happy to hear it, Nes!
Drooling over these delicious air fryer chicken cutlets. Looks fantastic. Pinned to try this soon.
Keep me posted!
These chicken cutlets turn out perfectly every time! And they’re so easy to make!
So happy you think so too, Tanya!
My kids really loved this!! I will definitely make it again!
Awesome!
I love how crispy it turned out! Really delicious! Thanks for sharing!
You’re so welcome :)
My kids will not eat chicken any other way now. I’ve made this three times! Great recipe. Love the sauce. Nathalie
Haha, wow! So glad to hear it.
Had all of my grandkids at once, made these for dinner since they all agreed on breaded chicken. They all loved it so much and they even enjoyed the sauce.
I wish my kiddo would eat these. He’s still a picky toddler. ONE day :) Glad it was a hit for you!
Oh wow! This was amazing, so crispy on the outside but juicy on the inside. Everyone loves it, thank you!
Awesome to hear, Shadi!
This is my kids favorite chicken recipe. They love the crunchy texture and I use it in sandwiches.
I loooove the idea of using it in sandwiches!
These chicken cutlets turned out so crispy! And the honey mustard sauce is so tasty.
The sauce gets me every time ;)
This chicken came out perfectly. I loved finding a new way to use my air fryer.
Yay!
Love the idea of using an air fryer instead of deep frying, so much healthier. Your sauce sounds delicious, a perfect recipe for next weekend. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome!
These chicken cutlets look incredibly crispy and delicious! A perfect main dish on a busy weeknight.
100%!
I love my air fryer and this recipe sounds great, I’ll be putting it on our meal plan next week. Thanks!
Keep me posted!
I do love fried chicken but hate the mess of cooking it on the stovetop, making this recipe in the air fryer saves so much cleanup.
It’s so nice, isn’t it? And it doesn’t make the whole house smell like a bar & grill ;)
I’ve made these twice already. They are SO good and crispy! Is it bad that I want to eat them every day?
No judgement here! ;)
We’ve made this chicken several times and it always turns out perfectly!
So happy to hear this, Tayler!
What a fantastic recipe! The marinade, the coating and the sauce really work together to create incredible flavors. I’m always looking for new air fryer recipes and this one will be on permanent rotation from now on!
Thanks so much for the awesome feedback, Liza!
Thank you for the tips on how to make air fryer chicken crispy! I love air fryer recipes as they create less mess and are healthy!
My pleasure :)
Perfectly juicy and crispy chicken in the air fryer! My family loved it! Thanks.
Awesome to hear, Lyn!
Very crispy and tasty. The sauce with it is delicous.
So glad you enjoyed it, Frank! Thanks for the feedback! :)
These come out perfectly in the air fryer! A winner.
Happy to hear it!
I made this last night, and it’s one of the best chicken recipes I’ve ever made. It’s so crispy, which is super important to me, and that sauce is fantastic.
I’m so glad! The crisp on these impresses me every time.
My air fryer is my new favorite kitchen appliance and I’m so glad I found this recipe! They were so easy to make and our entire family was raving about how good they were!
I’m so happy to hear this, Sara!
My kids love crispy chicken cutlets and this recipe is just perfect for them. I love that the chicken cooks so quikly in the airfryer.
Excellent!
I love using my air fryer in summer, and this chicken turns out perfectly in it! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
You’re so welcome, Tayler!
This recipe was amazing – love the addition of the hot sauce to the marinade! Perfection!
There’s always room for Frank’s ;)
So crispy but not hard. A perfect balance of soft chicken and crispy shell. Delicious.
Thanks!
Everyone at my house loved it!! Thanks so much for the recipe!
My pleasure!
this one is indeed the best. The seasonings makes this chicken so flavorful. It was so easy and so delicious.
Glad you loved it, Gunjan!
THE BEST! The coating was so nicely seasoned and the sauce went so well with the chicken that I wish I doubled the recipe! Honestly, the best air-fried chicken recipe I’ve come across!
This makes me so happy!
These were so crispy and juicy! And that honey mustard sauce was legit. Absolutely making this again. So glad I bought that air fryer lol
Very happy you enjoyed this recipe, Maya! The air fryer is an amazing thing, haha.
Great recipe! Tried this air fryer chicken cutlet recipe last night and it turned out amazing! My family loved it! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! Thanks for the feedback :)
So crispy and absolutely delicious. A great way to cook chicken and one that I will try again and again.
Excellent :)
This chicken is crispy! And the honey mustard sauce is a delicious add.
That sauce is a must!
These are awesome made in the air fryer! No need to heat up my oven during the summer!
Oh yeah. To hell with the oven in this heat, haha.
These air fryer cutlets looks amazingly delicious. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome!
10/10 obsessed with this recipe!
10/10 thrilled to hear this :)
Oh my these were so good!! Have been looking for recipes for our new air fryer and this will definitely be made again.
Awesome to hear, Sara!
I’m always looking for new recipes for my airfryer and I love the spices you used.
Thanks! :)
Oh wow…crispiest best chicken ever! The air fryer and buttermilk mixture made for the juicest and crispiest chicken cutlets. Definitely will make again.
Happy to hear!
I couldn’t believe how nice and crispy these got in the air fryer!! They tasted just like they had been deep fried or pan fried but they were so much healthier!
Yes! My favorite thing about using the air fryer. Crispy but way healthier.
I have had such a hard time finding an air fryer chicken recipe that actually turns out crispy and these did NOT disappoint! I can’t wait to make them again!
I’m so glad! I was definitely thrilled with how this recipe turned out.
Have to try your recipe. Love the marinade recipe as well as the Air Fryer cooking option too. Looks crispy and yum.
Incredibly crispy!
I’m liking this buttermilk marinade. I can see why the chicken stays juicy on the inside while the outside is nice and crispy. Can’t wait to make these.
The buttermilk is such a great trick. I see why it’s a staple in Southern fried chicken.
This chicken recipe is the perfect amount of crunch and super juicy on the inside. My family loves it and I will be adding it to our dinner menu for next week as well!
Awesome!
Delicious! I had never made fried chicken in the air fryer. Great mixture of seasonings. It was a hit with the family.
It’s amazing what the air fryer can do :)
Enjoyed this for dinner last night and it did not disappoint! So quick and easy; turned out perfectly crisp and juicy!
Aren’t they awesome? We love them so much!