Chile Crisp Chicken Cutlets

Updated March 29, 2024

Chile Crisp Chicken Cutlets
Matt Taylor-Gross for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.
Total Time
40 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Rating
4(778)
Comments
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These savory, tangy, spicy chicken cutlets get their zest from an easy marinade of chile crisp, soy sauce and red wine vinegar. This recipe upgrades the standard breading procedure — flour, egg and bread crumbs — by whisking the excess marinade and eggs together, creating another layer of flavor before the chicken is encrusted in crunchy bread crumbs. If time permits, leave the breaded cutlets in the refrigerator for at least an hour before frying to help create a durable crust and allow the marinade to more fully season the chicken. If you like, serve with a vibrant side of lightly wilted spinach and wedges of lemon.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 3tablespoons chile crisp (store-bought or homemade), plus more for serving  
  • 3tablespoons soy sauce, plus more for serving  
  • 3tablespoons red wine vinegar 
  • 2tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2teaspoons kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) or ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt 
  • 4 to 6thin-sliced boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1¼ to 1½ pounds), see Tip
  • cups panko bread crumbs 
  • ½cup all-purpose flour 
  • Canola, grapeseed or other high-heat-friendly oil, for frying
  • 2large eggs
  • Wilted spinach and lemon wedges (both optional), for serving
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

740 calories; 46 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 26 grams monounsaturated fat; 12 grams polyunsaturated fat; 37 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 7 grams sugars; 43 grams protein; 809 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a medium bowl, whisk together the chile crisp, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar and salt to dissolve sugar and salt. Add the chicken to the bowl and turn to coat. (Chicken can sit refrigerated, covered, in the marinade for up to 8 hours.)

  2. Step 2

    Meanwhile, place panko in a wide, shallow bowl or plate; place flour in another shallow dish. One at a time, lift a cutlet out of the bowl, let excess marinade drip back in, then dip in flour to coat all over.

  3. Step 3

    Whisk eggs into remaining marinade. Working with one cutlet at a time, shake off excess flour then dip it in the eggy marinade to coat. Shake off excess, then dip both sides in panko and transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with remaining cutlets.

  4. Step 4

    In a 10-inch skillet, heat about ¼ inch of oil over medium. Line a plate with paper towels. Once oil is hot (a piece of panko dropped into the pan should sizzle immediately), fry two cutlets at a time until golden-brown underneath, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn cutlets over and continue frying until golden-brown with an orange tint all over. Transfer to prepared plate and sprinkle lightly with salt all over. Repeat with the remaining cutlets.

  5. Step 5

    Serve the cutlets hot, with wilted greens, lemon wedges and more chile crisp and soy, if desired.

Tip
  • If you can’t find thin-sliced chicken cutlets, you can use regular boneless, skinless chicken breasts and either cut them in half then pound them to about ¼-inch thickness or lay the chicken flat on a cutting board and slice each breast in half horizontally so you end up with thin cutlets.

Ratings

4 out of 5
778 user ratings
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Comments

I baked these breaded “chicken Katsu” pieces on a wire rack over a baking sheet at 400°F for about 30 minutes. No slaving over an oil-frying mess, and just as crispy. The key is to pre-toast panko crumbs with a bit of oil in a frying pan - it only takes a few minutes. It’s a method I learned from Nami of the JOC fame.

Hey Nancy, so happy you enjoyed! If you have time, try leaving the breaded cutlets in the refrigerator for a little while, 30 minutes, an hour or even a few hours before frying. It will help set the crust, so it's more durable sticks to that cutlet :)

Chile Crisp is a Chinese condiment made up if oil, chilies, garlic, shallots, black beans etc. it is fabulous and much more than the sum of its parts. Sorry if you were joking or being ironic.

About the second or third time on this recipe. Took the oven baked route used the Eric Kim technique from the Ritzy Cheddar chicken recipe. Went 450 deg. for 20 minutes, crispy but still tender. Sliced two boneless breasts horizontally and pounded out to about 1/4 inch. Also took the suggestion lightly brown the panko before baking. Fantastic again. Fly-by-Jing chile crisp.

The ratio of marinade to egg seems off to me; mine came out better when I only used only a half cup of the marinade mixed into the eggs. When I followed the recipe as written, they were a bit soggy.

Can I use salsa macha instead of chile crisp? Will it alter the taste?

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