Our Turkey Cutlets can be pan fried, oven baked or air fried and we’ll show you how to do all three. These crispy breaded cutlets can be enjoyed in sandwiches, salads or just as is. One of our favorite ways to eat them is piled with a fresh arugula salad piled on top or on the side!
Or course we love our Flat Chicken, too – our favorite chicken cutlets recipe. When our kids were little they asked for cutlets ALL the time, but the called it flat chicken instead!
Why We Love These Turkey Cutlets
Talk about the best meal prepping recipe ever! These Turkey Cutlets are in our fridge most days when you open out refrigerator. Our older son grabs a fork and just starts eating, our younger son like these breaded cutlets on a bun with lettuce and cheese.
- The best part about our recipe is that you can make our cutlets three different ways: Classic pan frying, oven baked or mega crispy in the air fryer with just a spray of oil!
- Our method for making the crispy, cheesy breading is the only way to do it: So addicting, the perfect ratio – promise, we’ve been doing this for years and years.
- Versatile: Besides eating them as is, you can throw them on a sandwich, cut them up in salads or turn them into a quick parmesan dinner.
How To Make
Once you get started with the assembly line process, these crispy cutlets will be ready to go in no time! Just pick your method of cooking, bread the turkey and dinner will be done in minutes.
- Pound the turkey: Pound out the turkey cutlets so that they are even in thickness. Sometimes the turkey will already be thin sliced, so you can skip this step. But make sure that you’re working with about a 1/4″ thickness for the crispiest cutlets.
- Bread: Use beaten eggs, flour, breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese to bread the turkey cutlets. Make sure you coat the turkey completely in each step. Once the turkey is breaded, you can decide which method of cooking you’d like to use.
How To Pan Fry Cutlets
Add canola or vegetable oil to your largest skillet. You’ll want a thin layer of oil in the skillet, just enough to completely coat the bottom. We’re not looking to deep fry here, so you don’t want the oil to go over the tops of the cutlets.
Once the oil reaches about 350 degrees (throw in a small piece of bread, if it turns brown in a few seconds, the oil is ready) add the cutlets in a single layer without overcrowding the skillet. Cook for 2 minutes on each side until light brown and crispy. Remove the cutlets to a paper towel lined plate and repeat with remaining cutlets if needed.
How To Oven Bake Cutlets
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Spray the breaded cutlets with oil (or use a brush) and place them on a baking sheet. Cook for 7-8 minutes on each side until brown and crispy. The cooking time will also depend on how thin the cutlets are, but you can use a meat thermometer to make sure they reach 165 degrees.
Remember to brush the second side of the cutlets with oil when you flip them over before returning back to the oven. PRO TIP: We like to let the cutlets cool on a wire rack so that both sides stay super crispy!
How To Air Fry Cutlets
Preheat your air fryer if needed to 400 degrees. Spray the cutlets with cooking oil (or brush on lightly with oil) and place in your air fryer.
Cook for 5 minutes until brown and crispy, then flip the cutlets over and spray with oil on the second side. Cook for another 5 minutes until crispy, repeat with remaining cutlets.
Ideas For Serving
As we have already mentioned, these turkey cutlets are perfect for meal prepping because they’re easy to make and reheat wonderfully. Another reason we love meal prepping with these is because they are so versatile, you can use them in so many different ways.
- Make a quick turkey parmesan: Melt mozzarella cheese on top of these cutlets and serve them on top of spaghetti tossed with marinara sauce.
- Cut up in your favorite salad: Make your favorite salad and cut up these turkey cutlets and toss together.
- Serve on a Roll or Wrap: On a roll with lettuce and American cheese is our little guys favorite method, or a piece of fresh mozzarella with a tomato and balsamic drizzle, or sliced in a wrap with cheddar cheese, beans and guacamole!
- As Is: Serve these crispy breaded cutlets with a squeeze of fresh lemon and parmesan cheese. Serve a salad on the side or on top Milanese style.
Can You Freeze Breaded Cutlets?
Yes! These turkey cutlets freeze beautifully and they’re perfect for meal prepping. Let the cutlets cool to room temperature (the wire rack method is the best way to ensure both sides are crispy!) then place into a freezer bag or air tight container in a single layer.
Freeze the cutlets for up to 6 months and pull them our whenever you need a quick meal!
Side Dish Ideas To Go With Breaded Cutlets
Pretty much anything you like, veggies, pasta, potatoes, we’ve got tons of ideas for you here! Make sure to head over to our Side Dish Menu for so many more recipes!
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Turkey Cutlet Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeYou can make these crispy Turkey Cutlets three ways! Oven bake, pan fry or in your air fryer, and every way turns out deliciously crispy.
Ingredients
- 1 pound thin sliced turkey cutlets (use a meat mallet to pound out evenly if one side is thicker, you’re looking for about a 1/4″ thickness)
- Kosher salt, black pepper and garlic powder for seasoning
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 eggs, beaten with a splash of water
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs (can also use Panko)
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Season both sides of the turkey with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Mix the bread crumbs and parmesan cheese together in a shallow, wide bowl. Add the beaten eggs to another shallow, wide bowl. Add the flour to another bowl.
- Coat a cutlet in the flour on both sides, tapping off the excess. Next dip the cutlet into the eggs, letting the excess drip off. Now place the cutlet into the bread crumbs and parmesan cheese mixture, pressing the coating into both sides of the cutlets, making sure all the turkey is covered. Place on a board and repeat with the remaining cutlets.
Oven Bake Method:
- Spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray and add the cutlets in a single layer. Spray the tops of the cutlets with the cooking spray (we like to use an avocado oil or olive oil cooking spray) and bake in the oven for 7 minutes.
- Remove the cutlets from the oven and turn over, spraying with the cooking spray again, and bake for another 6-7 minutes. The cooking time will depend on how thin the cutlets are so make sure that the turkey registers 165 degrees.
- The best tip: Cool the cutlets on a wire rack so that both sides stay crispy.
Air Fryer Method:
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Spray the tops of the cutlets with cooking spray and add to your air fryer in a single layer.
- Cook for 5 minutes, then flip the cutlets over and spray again with cooking spray and cook another 5 minutes on the other side. The cooking time will depend on how thin the cutlets are so make sure that the turkey registers 165 degrees.
- The best tip: Cool the cutlets on a wire rack so that both sides stay crispy.
Pan Fry:
- Add a thin layer of oil to a large skillet. Heat the oil to 350 – 375 degrees and then add the breaded cutlets in a single layer. Don’t overcrowd the skillet or the temperature of the oil will drop too much. depending on the size of your skillet, you might have to cook in two batches.
- Cook the cutlets for 2-3 minutes on each side until brown and crispy. The cooking time will depend on how thin the cutlets are so make sure that the turkey registers 165 degrees.
- The best tip: Cool the cutlets on a wire rack so that both sides stay crispy.
Recipe Notes
Store: Once the cutlets have cooled to room temperature, store in an air tight container for up to 4 days.
Freeze: Freeze the cutlets in an air tight container or in freezer bags in a single layer for up to 6 months.
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven / Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Great cutlet recipe! Put some tomato sauce on my husbands. He loved it! Will be a regular dinner!
We do that too – and even some mozzarella cheese!