Air Fryer Chicken Katsu

Air Fryer Chicken Katsu is a lighter, more healthy spin on the standard Japanese favourite. This crispy hen cutlet is breaded in panko and air-fried to golden perfection with out deep frying—making it a fast, mess-free possibility for lunch or dinner. Paired with rice, shredded cabbage, and tonkatsu sauce, it’s a balanced, satisfying meal with daring taste and texture.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Crispy texture with a fraction of the oil
• Fast and simple with minimal cleanup
• Household-friendly and nice for weeknight meals
• Scrumptious with rice, salad, or in sandwiches
• Freezer-friendly for make-ahead comfort

Elements

(Tip: You’ll discover the complete checklist of components and measurements within the recipe card under.)

• Boneless, skinless hen breasts
• Salt and black pepper
• All-purpose flour
• Massive eggs
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Cooking spray or oil spray (avocado, canola, or olive oil)

Instructions

1. Put together the hen:
   Butterfly every hen breast to create skinny cutlets. Place them between sheets of plastic wrap and pound to a good thickness (about ½ inch). Season with salt and pepper.
2. Arrange a breading station:
   Place flour in a single shallow bowl, overwhelmed eggs in a second, and panko breadcrumbs in a 3rd.
3. Bread the hen:
   Dredge every cutlet in flour, shake off extra, dip within the eggs, and coat totally with panko.
4. Air fry:
   Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Spray the basket with oil and place the breaded cutlets in a single layer. Frivolously spray the tops of the cutlets.
   Air fry for 10 minutes, flip, spray once more, and cook dinner for five–7 extra minutes or till golden and the inner temperature reaches 165°F.
5. Serve:
   Relaxation briefly, slice, and serve with rice, cabbage, and tonkatsu sauce.

Servings and timing

Servings: 2–4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Prepare dinner time: quarter-hour
Whole time: 25 minutes

Variations

• Spicy model: Add cayenne or chili powder to the flour or serve with spicy mayo.
• Gluten-free: Use gluten-free panko and flour.
• Tonkatsu sauce different: Combine ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce if you happen to don’t have store-bought sauce.
• Chicken thigh possibility: Use boneless, skinless thighs for a juicier model.

Storage/reheating

• Storage: Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days
• Freezing: Freeze totally cooked cutlets for as much as 2 months
• Reheating: Reheat in air fryer at 350°F for 3–5 minutes till crispy once more

FAQs

Can I take advantage of hen thighs as an alternative of breasts?

Sure, boneless thighs work properly and are sometimes juicier.

What’s tonkatsu sauce?

It’s a candy and tangy Japanese sauce historically served with fried cutlets. You should purchase it or make a easy model at residence.

Do I must preheat my air fryer?

Preheating is advisable for even cooking and crispy texture.

Can I make this forward of time?

Sure, bread the hen and refrigerate it as much as 1 day upfront, or cook dinner and freeze it for later.

Is panko gluten-free?

Conventional panko comprises gluten, however gluten-free variations are extensively accessible.

Can I double the recipe?

Sure, however cook dinner in batches to keep away from overcrowding the air fryer basket.

How do I preserve it crispy after cooking?

Let it relaxation on a wire rack as an alternative of a plate to keep away from steam buildup.

What oil spray works finest?

Use an oil with a excessive smoke level like avocado or canola oil spray.

Is that this more healthy than conventional hen katsu?

Sure, as a result of it makes use of considerably much less oil and isn’t deep-fried.

Can I take advantage of an oven as an alternative?

Sure, bake at 425°F on a wire rack for 20–25 minutes, flipping midway.

Conclusion

Air Fryer Chicken Katsu delivers the crispy, juicy goodness of the basic Japanese dish—with out the mess or energy of deep frying. Whether or not you’re serving it with rice and cabbage or layering it right into a sandwich, this recipe brings daring taste and satisfying crunch to your desk with ease. It’s an ideal go-to for busy weeknights or whenever you’re craving takeout-style consolation at residence.

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