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Home » Weeknight Meals

Crispy Chicken Cutlet Sandwich

by lena

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Everyone in your family will be happy when they see a Crispy Chicken Cutlet Sandwich on their dinner plate. Pounded chicken thighs are fried until crisp and topped on ciabatta rolls with a handful of bright and refreshing toppings. It all comes together in minutes!

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CRISPY CHICKEN CUTLET SANDWICH

Breaded chicken cutlet sandwich recipe

For the ultimate crunch, serve this Crispy Chicken Cutlet Sandwich for dinner. Juicy fried chicken cutlets are topped on ciabatta rolls along with fresh Italian toppings, like arugula, aioli, and tomatoes. Everyone will love them!

Not sure if this is the right dinner for you? Just check out these benefits that come along with breaded chicken cutlets:

  • The cutlets are made with chicken thighs rather than breasts. No deboning or butterflying required!
  • Dredging the chicken is easy and the cutlets take less than 5 minutes to fry.
  • I dare you to find a sandwich topping or side dish that doesn’t pair well with the juicy and crispy chicken. The options are practically endless!

The whole family is sure to love these Italian chicken sandwiches. Serve them alongside a platter of refreshing sides, like Italian Tomato Burrata Salad and Creamy Orzo Pasta, for the best dinner ever!

a wood platter with 3 chicken cutlet sandwiches on top.

What is a chicken cutlet?

A chicken cutlet is a chicken breast or thigh that’s been pounded flat. You can either buy cutlets that have already been pounded to about a 1-inch thickness or do it yourself using a meat mallet. 

Because they’re so thin, chicken cutlets cook very quickly. They make for a quick and easy dinner and are extra delicious when they’re breaded and fried until crisp.

CRISPY CHICKEN CUTLET SANDWICH

Ingredients and substitutions

You’ll love these sandwiches not only because they’re delectable and craveable, but also because they’re made with a handful of ingredients:

  • Boneless chicken thighs – While many chicken cutlet recipes are made with chicken breasts, chicken thighs are a wonderful alternative because they have much more flavor and don’t need to be butterflied. Only boneless cuts will work for this recipe (unless you want to debone them yourself).
  • Flour – All purpose flour works best, although a gluten free flour mix should work as well. You can replace the flour with breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs for even more crunch.
  • Simple spices – All you need is garlic powder, smoked paprika (or regular paprika), and sea salt to flavor the breaded chicken cutlet.
  • Ciabatta rolls – If you want to take your sandwiches to the next level, you need quality crusty bread. Ciabatta rolls are my go-to for these chicken cutlet sandwiches and my Proscuitto and Mozzarella Sandwiches because they’re crusty, yet soft. You could also use sourdough slices or homemade focaccia.
  • Sandwich toppings – Black garlic aioli, fresh arugula, tomato slices, and pickled red onions. See even more sandwich topping ideas below!

CRISPY CHICKEN CUTLET SANDWICH

How to make a chicken cutlet sandwich

This recipe makes enough for 4 sandwiches, but it can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a crowd. Here’s how it’s done:

  1. Prepare the chicken cutlets: Place a chicken thigh in a large ziplock bag. Put it on a cutting board and pound it to an even thickness with a meat mallet or a heavy rolling pin. Cut each flattened chicken thigh in half for easy cooking.
  2. Make the breading and egg wash: Whisk the flour and spices together in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the two eggs together.
  3. Dredge and fry the cutlets: Drench both sides of a chicken thigh in the egg wash first, then in the flour mixture. Place it in a hot skillet with oil and cook until both sides are browned. Repeat with the rest of the chicken.
  4. Assemble the sandwiches: Spread your favorite sauce on the toasted ciabatta rolls. Add one piece of chicken cutlet, then tomato, and another chicken cutlet. Add pickled red onions, arugula, and the top half of the bun on top. Enjoy!

Check out this guide by Epicurious for detailed directions on pounding chicken thighs for chicken cutlets.

CRISPY CHICKEN CUTLET SANDWICH

Sandwich topping ideas

Top the crispy chicken sandwiches with fresh toppings to highlight the juicy, simply flavored chicken. Any of these will work:

  • Roasted bell peppers
  • Arugula basil pesto
  • Dill pickles
  • Sliced cucumbers
  • Spinach
  • Pickled radishes
  • Basil aioli
  • Sliced mozzarella or provolone cheese
  • Bacon
  • BBQ sauce
  • Gremolata sauce
  • Lemon basil aioli

CRISPY CHICKEN CUTLET SANDWICH

Frequently asked questions

I don’t have chicken thighs. What else can I use?

Use chicken breasts instead. Make sure to butterfly them before pounding them flat.

What can you serve with chicken cutlet sandwiches?

Potato chips or a simple side salad pair perfectly with these sandwiches! If you want to keep the meal Italian-inspired, enjoy each one with pesto green bean salad, lemon basil pasta salad, or tomato salad on the side.

Can you fry the chicken cutlets ahead of time?

Yes, you can fry the chicken up to 3 or 4 days ahead of time. Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. To retain their crispy crunch, reheat the cutlets in an air fryer or a 400ºF oven until warmed through.

Can you freeze breaded cutlets?

Absolutely! Once cool, place the fried cutlets in a ziplock bag and separate each one with a piece of parchment paper. Freeze for up to 3 months.

CRISPY CHICKEN CUTLET SANDWICH

Looking for more family dinner ideas?

  • Easy Chicken Piccata
  • Garlic Tuscan Chicken
  • Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells
  • Baked Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs
  • One Pot Creamy Sausage Pasta

If you give this Crispy Chicken Cutlet Sandwich a try, let me know in the comments below. I love seeing your pictures too, so please tag me on Instagram @lenaskitchenblog and use #lenaskitchenblog so I can share them to my page!

CRISPY CHICKEN CUTLET SANDWICH

Crispy Chicken Cutlet Sandwich

4.6 from 8 votes
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 30 mins
Servings: 4 sandwiches
Author: Lena Gladstone
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
Everyone in your family will be happy when they see a Crispy Chicken Cutlet Sandwich on their dinner plate. Pounded chicken thighs are fried until crisp and topped on ciabatta rolls with a handful of bright and refreshing toppings. It all comes together in minutes!

Ingredients

FLOUR MIXTURE

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 2 pinches sea salt

EGG MIXTURE

  • 2 large eggs, whisked
  • 1 pinch sea salt

SANDWICH

  • 4 chicken thighs, pounded flat, cooked
  • 2-3 pinches sea salt, to season chicken
  • light olive oil or other high heat oil
  • 4 ciabatta rolls, cut in half and toasted
  • 4 tbsp black garlic aioli or your favorite sauce
  • 2 handfuls fresh arugula or spinach
  • 1 large tomato, sliced
  • 1 cup pickled onions

Instructions

  • For the chicken cutlet : Pound out each chicken thigh pieces until about 1/2 inch flat with a meat mallet. Then cut in half so you get 8 smaller pieces for easier cooking. Season each side with a light sprinkle of sea salt.
  • In a flat bowl, combine flour and seasonings together, set aside. In a separate flat bowl, whisk two eggs and a pinch of salt until fully combined, set a side.
  • Add enough light olive oil to a pan that the bottom is covered, about 1/4 in deep. Turn stove on medium high.
  • Place your flour and egg bowls right next to the stove. With a fork, grab the chicken thighs, drench in the eggs first, then transfer to the flour mixture until fully covered. Carefully place each cutlet into the heated oil in the pan. Cook for 1:30-2 minutes a side or until browned on both sides. They cook pretty fast. This will take you about 2 batches. If you double the recipe, I would recommend changing the oil for the next batch so you don’t get the cooked flour, which will look burnt and will not be good. Repeat the same process if you do.
  • Place cooked chicken thighs on cooling rack with a dish underneath to let any access oil to drip off.
  • To Assemble the sandwiches. Cut the ciabatta rolls, toast, spread the black garlic aioli or your favorite sauce on both sides. Add 1 piece of chicken cutlet, then tomato, then the other piece of chicken, pickled onions if you have some on hand, arugula and the top piece of ciabatta. Press down and then cut in half or keep it whole. Serve with your favorite chips or a side salad. Enjoy!
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Sandwich
Cuisine: American, Italian, Mediterranean
Keyword: 30 minute meal, chicken, dinner, easy dinner, family friendly, fathers day dinner, sandwich, weeknight dinner

Nutrition

Serving: 0g | Carbohydrates: 0g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 0mg | Potassium: 0mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 0IU | Vitamin C: 0mg | Calcium: 0mg | Iron: 0mg

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CRISPY CHICKEN CUTLET SANDWICH

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Recipe Rating




Reviews
Questions

Comments

  1. Julie

    at

    5 stars
    Made the chicken cutlets with mashed potatoes and cabbage salad . My 5 year old who’s a super picky eater loved it !!

    Reply
    • lena

      at

      This makes me so happy to hear. I love it too, so easy and delicious. Glad you enjoyed it as well.

  2. Lucy

    at

    5 stars
    Easy to prepare and delicious! Definitely will do again. All the family enjoyed this recipe.

    Reply
    • lena

      at

      Ohh I am so happy you loved this recipe. Thank you for sharing your review.

  3. Vera

    at

    5 stars
    Husband gave this one a 10/10 – he said it was WAY better than chick-fil-a! These are so easy to put together and seriously so good

    Reply
  4. Renata

    at

    5 stars
    My go to recipe.. so good??

    Reply
  5. Hannah @ FamilyFoodFreezer

    at

    5 stars
    Mouth is watering! Looks so delicious! Love all your write on this post. You really make it feel good healthy family friendly and possible with whatever you have in the house!

    Reply
  6. Nithya

    at

    Great recipe. Fresh, easy and delicious.

    Reply

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Welcome, glad you’re here!

Hi, I’m Lena Gladstone, the recipe developer and food photographer behind Lena’s Kitchen. Here you will find approachable food recipes to share with the whole family. Keto friendly, weeknight dinners all made with fresh ingredients. Click here to learn more!

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