Ingredients
Chicken and Marinade
- 2 8-oz boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dry Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup Italian dressing
Breading
- 3/4 cup seasoned whole wheat breadcrumbs (homemade or store-bought)
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (or Romano cheese)
- 1 large egg, beaten
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken Cutlets: Slice each chicken breast in half lengthwise to create four cutlets total. Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound each cutlet to about 1/4 inch thickness to ensure even cooking.
- Marinate the Cutlets: In a shallow bowl, season the chicken with kosher salt, garlic powder, and dry Italian seasoning. Add the Italian dressing and coat each cutlet thoroughly. Let the cutlets marinate for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator, allowing the flavors to develop—the longer, the better.
- Prepare the Breading Stations: In one shallow bowl, combine the whole wheat breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese. In another shallow bowl, beat the egg until smooth.
- Coat the Cutlets: Dip each marinated cutlet into the beaten egg, ensuring full coverage, then dredge it in the breadcrumb and Parmesan mixture, pressing gently to adhere the coating. Place each coated cutlet on a work surface and spray both sides with olive oil spray to promote crispiness during air frying.
- Air Fry the Cutlets: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C). Arrange the cutlets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding. Air fry for 4 minutes until the top is golden brown, then carefully flip each cutlet and spray the other side with olive oil spray. Continue air frying for an additional 3 to 4 minutes until the cutlets are golden and cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Notes
- For extra flavor, marinate the chicken overnight.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
- If you don’t have Italian dressing, a mix of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and Italian herbs works well as a substitute.
- Check the internal temperature of the chicken using a meat thermometer to guarantee it’s fully cooked.
- Leftover cutlets can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the air fryer for best texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
