How to Cook · Pan-Frying

Chicken Katsu

Sliced golden panko-crusted chicken katsu with cabbage

A Japanese-style breaded chicken cutlet: a breast pounded thin, coated in airy panko breadcrumbs, and pan-fried until shatteringly crisp and golden. The panko is what makes it — lighter and crunchier than ordinary breadcrumbs — and the thin cutlet cooks through fast, so the crust stays crisp and the meat stays juicy. Serve it sliced with rice and shredded cabbage.

Prep
Cook
Total
Yield
2 servings
Category
Main Course
Cuisine
Japanese

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Ingredients

Directions

1

Bread the cutlets

Butterfly and pound the chicken breasts to an even ¼–½ inch thickness (see Pan-Seared Chicken Breast) and season both sides with salt and pepper. Set up a breading station — flour in one shallow dish, beaten eggs in a second, panko in a third — then dredge each piece of chicken in flour, shaking off the excess, dip into the egg, letting excess drip off, and press into the panko, coating both sides evenly.

2

Fry and serve

Heat about ½ inch of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Fry the chicken 3–4 minutes per side, until deeply golden and cooked through (165°F), then drain briefly on paper towels. Slice into strips and serve, traditionally with steamed rice and shredded cabbage.

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