The plague of the college student: what am I going to eat for dinner…or lunch…or for the munchies? Breaded chicken cutlets should be a staple in every college student’s repertoire because they are versatile and easy. All it takes is 5 ingredients (or more, if you choose), and the possibilities for the chicken are endless. If you slightly under-fry your cutlets you can make chicken parmigiana in the oven by slathering them with marinara sauce and mozzarella and baking them until the cheese is gooey and melted. Chicken cutlets make great sandwich fillers, or you can use them as your main protein in any meal.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Photo by Becky Hughes
Ingredients:
2 eggs
A splash of milk
1 ½ cups seasoned breadcrumb
Oil
1 lb chicken cutlets (or pork or veal)
Directions:
1. In a bowl beat the eggs with a splash of milk and set aside.
2. Pour the breadcrumbs out onto a plate or tin foil. If your breadcrumbs are not already seasoned, then toss with salt and pepper and any combination of spices, like basil, oregano, parsley, thyme, garlic or onion powder.
Photo by Becky Hughes
3. Coat a heavy pan in enough oil to cover the bottom. Heat the oil over medium heat.
4. Sprinkle a bit of breadcrumbs on the oil to test the heat. If the breadcrumbs sizzle, you’re ready to begin frying the chicken. Dunk and coat the chicken thoroughly in the egg mixture, then into the breadcrumbs, and then drop them in the pan. (If your cutlets seem too thick you can always bang them out using a frying pan between some parchment paper).
Photo by Becky Hughes
5. Cook on each side for about 4 minutes. The chicken is done when it has turned a nice, dark, golden color then it is read to flip onto its other side until it is equally crispy. Cook to an internal temperature of 165°.
Photo by Becky Hughes
6. Dry the cutlets on a plate between paper towels to remove some of the excess grease. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Photo by Becky Hughes
Frying is quick and easy (and everything tastes better fried), but it isn’t the healthiest way to prepare cutlets. If you want to forgo frying altogether, bake cutlets in an oven at 375°F on a greased baking sheet for around 20 minutes. Cook time will vary depending on thickness so be attentive.