How To Bread Chicken Cutlets Without a Mess?

The crispy and breaded chicken cutlets taste great, but the breading process can be messy. You can understand the challenge if you have ever had chunky hands with breadcrumbs all over them. Fortunately, if you have the right abilities, you can cook delicious breaded chicken cutlets while keeping the workspace tidy. Follow these steps to keep your cutlets properly coated while keeping your hands clean

What is a Chicken Cutlet?

A chicken cutlet is a boneless and usually a thin piece of chicken breast, slightly flattened to get an even thickness. It is known to be a popular option for baking, pan searing, or frying since it guarantees fast and even cooking. The breaded chicken cutlet is coated with eggs, flour, and bread crumbs which is then cooked according to the required option until brown and crispy. It’s a versatile dish and can be used in sandwiches, salads, or main courses.

Ingredients:

• 2 Skinless and boneless chicken breasts (thinly sliced into cutlets)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup breadcrumbs (regular or panko)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder (optional)
• 1/2 tsp paprika (optional)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional for extra crispiness)

Directions:

1. Get Your Breading Space Ready: Set out three deep dishes: one for breadcrumbs, one for beaten eggs, and one for flour. For ease of access, keep them lined up.

2. Apply the Dry-Hand, Wet-Hand Method: Use one hand to handle the wet components (egg wash) and the other for the dry ingredients (flour and breadcrumbs). This can help you prevent messy bowls and sticky fingers.

3. Pat Chicken Dry: Always pat dry chicken cutlets with a paper towel to help the coating stick properly.
4. Dredge Properly: First, coat the chicken in flour and shake off excess. Next, dip into the beaten eggs, letting excess drip off. Finally, coat in breadcrumbs and press lightly for even coverage.

5. Use a Fork or Tongs: use a fork or tong to dip chicken into the egg to keep your fingers clean.
6. Bread in Batches: Instead of handling multiple cutlets at once, work with one piece at a time to avoid breadcrumb clumps.
7. Chill Before Cooking: Always chill breaded chicken cutlets for 15 minutes prior to frying. This can help the coating stick better and also reduce mess when frying.

If you’re looking for an alternative way to cook your breaded chicken cutlets, check out our guide on baking vs. frying chicken cutlets – which one tastes better?

Expert Tips for Mess-Free Baking!

1. Use a Butter Paper Setup: To make cleanup easier, place the butter paper below your breading area to catch spills.
2. Choose a large-sized Ziplock Bag: To ensure uniform coating and less mess, throw the chicken in a zipped bag filled with bread crumbs and shake it, rather than using plates for flour or breadcrumbs.
3. Double-cover for Extra Crunch: To achieve an extra crispy layer, dip the cutlet back into the egg wash after the initial breadcrumb coating and cover it with breadcrumbs again.
4. Select the Correct Breadcrumbs: Your cutlets will be crispier if you use panko breadcrumbs, which have a crunchier texture as compared to ordinary breadcrumbs.
5. For even cooking, use a cooling rack: After breading, lay cutlets on a wire rack to keep them from getting moist before baking or frying.

By following these mess-free breading techniques, you’ll master the art of how to bread chicken effortlessly! Enjoy your crispy and delicious breaded chicken cutlets without the usual kitchen chaos.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving):

• Calories: 320
• Protein: 28g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Fat: 10g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sodium: 450mg

FAQs

1. How can we make breaded chicken more crispy?

Instead of regular crumbs, use panko bread crumbs and also add a little parmesan to get a crunchier texture.

2. Instead of frying, can we bake breaded chicken?

Absolutely, yes! Bake at 400F i.e. 200 C for almost 25 minutes and to get crispiness flip half.

3. While cooking is there a way to avoid falling off bread crumbs?

Rest chicken for around 15 minutes in the fridge before baking or frying to help the coating set properly.

4. Is it possible to freeze breaded cutlets?

Yes. Bread cutlets can be easily stored. Place them on a baking sheet and then put them in a zip lock bag. For a quick meal put them straight in a pan from the freezer.