How To Make Chicken Cutlets

Chicken cutlets are a great option for weeknight meals because they cook through quickly. While most grocery stores will carry them already prepared, they’re easy to make yourself at home from boneless skinless chicken breast—and often cheaper.

Learn how to make chicken cutlets so you can have this easy cut of chicken ready in minutes for a faster and effortless dinner.

What Is a Chicken Cutlet?

A chicken cutlet is a chicken breast that has been sliced in half lengthwise to make two thinner pieces of chicken. Chicken cutlets are prized because they cook faster and typically more evenly than thicker breasts. This keeps the lean meat of the chicken breasts from drying out.

Ingredients for Chicken Cutlets

To make chicken cutlets out of a piece of chicken breast, you'll simply need:

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: Thicker breasts can easily be made into thinner cutlets.
• A sharp knife: Slicing through the breasts is easier and safer with a sharp knife.
• Plastic wrap: You'll place the chicken pieces between the wrap before pounding into thinner cutlets.
• A meat mallet: If you don't have a mallet, you can use the bottom of a heavy glass, but you need something to apply pressure to the chicken to make the pieces as close to uniformly thick as possible.

If you'd like to make a simple breaded chicken cutlet, you'll also need salt, pepper, all-purpose flour, eggs, milk, breadcrumbs, and some canola oil for frying.

How To Pick the Best Chicken for Chicken Cutlets

To make chicken cutlets, you’ll start with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Look for chicken pieces that are even in size (you’ll want to look for chicken breasts that are about 10 ounces each). Also, look for chicken that has a pinkish color, and be sure to check the sell-by date for freshness.

How Do You Flatten Chicken for Chicken Cutlets?

After you cut the chicken breast in half, you’ll need to use a meat mallet to lightly pound and flatten the chicken to an even thickness. Cover the piece of chicken with a piece of plastic wrap, and then gently pound the chicken just until it’s about 1/2 inch thick.

How To Make Chicken Cutlets

With the right equipment, making chicken cutlets takes just minutes. Here are the highlights of the process:

• Step 1. First, carefully slice the chicken in half horizontally. To make this easier, place the chicken on a stable cutting board (make sure it won’t slide around as you cut). Hold the chicken in place with your non-dominant hand. Then, use a sharp knife to slice the chicken, making two thinner pieces of chicken.
• Step 2. Next, place the chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap. Using a meat mallet, pound the chicken so it’s an even thickness. The exact size will depend on how thick the chicken breast was to start with, but it should be around 1/2-inch thick.

Now, your chicken is ready to use! Try one of our recipes below, or read on for how to make a basic breaded chicken cutlet.

Our Favorite Chicken Cutlet Recipes

Chicken cutlets cook quickly, making it a favorite for weeknight dinners like these favorites:

• Chicken Lombardy
• Marry Me Chicken
• Cast Iron Chicken Piccata
• Parmesan Crusted Chicken