Crispy Baked Chicken Cutlets  – This baked “fried chicken” recipe has been a will-power saver for years. When you are craving something deep-fried and crunchy, this recipe comes to the rescue.

Baked chicken cutlets  on platter

Diets Are Hard

So… You’ve only been dieting for eleven days and already you’re craving fried chicken.

You probably haven’t had fried chicken for months, maybe years, but now that it’s officially off-limits, so of course, it’s all you can think about.

You lay in bed at night with a pinch in your stomach and crispy little drumsticks dancing in your head.

This happens to me… All. The. Time.

I can’t remember the first time I made “healthy” fried chicken, but I’m pretty sure it was right after the first time I discovered I needed to shed a few pounds.

That must have been 20+ years ago. Jeeeeez!

close up of Baked breaded chicken cutlets on platter

Baked Chicken Cutlets… Endless Possibilities

This crispy baked chicken recipe has come in handy on many occasions. It’s an easy meal that comes together in minutes and the potential serving methods are endless.

I often serve crispy baked chicken cutlets over salads, yet even there, think of the options: 

 I could go on and on with a list of amazing recipes! 

Healthy fried chicken cut with fork

Baked Chicken Cutlets Ingredients 

  • Chicken Cutlets – thinly sliced chicken breast
  • Panko Breadcrumbs – regular or gluten-free breadcrumbs
  • Shredded Parmesan Cheese – or grated parmesan
  • Fresh Thyme Leaves – or dried thyme
  • Light Mayonnaise – low fat or paleo (This acts as the adhesive, no eggs required!)
  • Dijon Mustard
  • Salt and Pepper
Panko mixture in pan

How to Make Breaded Chicken

  1. Start by checking that your oven has a rack in the lowest position. Then preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 
  2. Set out two baking sheets and line them with aluminum foil. Then spray them generously with non-stick cooking spray. 
  3. Pull out two medium bowls. In one bowl you will mix the wet ingredients – mayo, mustard, salt, and black pepper. In the other bowl mix together the dry ingredients – panko, parmesan cheese, and thyme.
  4. Now it’s time to coat the chicken cutlets. Start with a coating of the mayo “glue” mixture. Then one at a time, cover the cutlet with the panko mixture by pressing it on each side to coat. Then place the coated cutlets on the baking sheets you prepared. 
  5. Place the baking sheet on the lowest rack in the oven and bake them for about 15 minutes. When you bake the cutlets on the lowest part of the oven it helps to crisp up the breading, especially the bottoms of the cutlets. 
  6. If the tops haven’t browned, you should move the baking sheet to a higher rack and turn on the broiler for 1 minute. Make sure to keep your eyes on them so that they don’t burn! Serve warm.

Get The Full (Printable) Recipe Below For How To Make Baked Breaded Chicken Cutlets + VIDEO. Enjoy!

Why Chicken Cutlets Instead of Breaded Chicken Breasts?

I like to prepare baked chicken cutlets instead of whole chicken breasts for two reasons:

  1. They cook faster.
  2. Cutlets offer automatic portion control.

One cutlet is essentially half (or sometimes one-third) of a large chicken breast, so they satisfy a craving and keep the calories on the down-low.

Also, try using this healthy fried chicken recipe in lettuce wraps!

Baked chicken on baking sheet

Frequently Asked Questions 

Do I have to use chicken cutlets? 

No, but… Chicken cutlets are easier to bake because they are sliced evenly therefore bake more evenly. Plus, they don’t take as much time to bake them. However, you can use chicken breasts as well, but make sure to increase the baking time to 25 minutes.

Is this baked chicken recipe a good make-ahead meal?

The chicken will keep its crunch for several hours, but the crust will soften over time due to the tender chicken inside. 

To reheat the chicken and crisp up the crust, place the leftover chicken in a 350-degree F oven for 10 minutes.

Can I add other seasoning and spices to the breaded chicken?

Of course! You can add extra ingredients to both the mayo mixture and/or the breadcrumbs to create a unique flavor. Try mixing in lemon zest, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, crushed rosemary, Italian seasoning, or Cajun seasoning.

Serving Suggestions

Overhead of oven fried chicken on platter

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Baked Chicken Cutlets Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
A healthy “fried chicken” recipe, baked in the oven.
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Move one oven rack to a low position. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line and baking sheet with foil. Spray the foil liberally with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
  • Set out two medium bowls. In one bowl, mix the mayo, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. In the other bowl, mix the panko, parmesan cheese and thyme.
  • Place the chicken cutlets in the mayo mixture and toss to coat. Then one at a time, press each cutlet into the panko mixture on both sides to coat. Lay on the baking sheet.
  • Bake in the lower part of the oven for 15 minutes. (Cooking low in the oven helps the bottoms to crisp up.)
  • If the tops haven’t browned, move the baking sheet to a higher rack and turn on the broiler on for 1 minute. Watch to make sure they don’t burn. Serve warm.

Video

Notes

Reheat leftovers in a 350 F degree oven for 10 minutes, or in the air fryer for 5 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 235kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 29g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 80mg, Sodium: 455mg, Potassium: 456mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 155IU, Vitamin C: 2.7mg, Calcium: 141mg, Iron: 1.2mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Author: Sommer Collier
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