Name: Air Fryer Chicken Katsu Fried Chicken
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1.5 pounds chicken breasts (2 chicken breasts); 1 large egg; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 cup panko breadcrumbs; ⅓ cup all-purpose flour; ½ cup ketchup; 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1 tablespoon sugar

Jump to Recipe

Air fryer chicken katsu is a lighter version of the original Japanese breaded cutlets complete with a crispy coating and homemade tonkatsu sauce!

A plate of white rice topped with air fryer chicken, drizzled with katsu sauce, garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.

WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?

Enter your email below and we’ll send you this recipe so you can come back to it any time! (as well as our new recipes weekly!)

Best Chicken Katsu in the Air Fryer

Our easy chicken katsu recipe is made with thin chicken cutlets, dredged in beaten eggs and Panko bread crumbs, then air fried to skip the heavy oils from the typical deep frying and not sacrificing the juicy interior and crispy exterior its known for.

If you don’t have an air fryer, you can also bake this recipe a preheated oven 425°F (220°C) for 18-20 minutes, flip the chicken halfway through. Like this oven baked chicken, I place the chicken on a wire rack sitting inside a baking sheet for the best crispy coating.

What is Chicken Katsu?

Chicken Katsu is a Japanese classic recipe coated in panko breadcrumbs and is typically deep-fried for its crispiness. It’s often served with a popular tangy sweet tonkatsu sauce.

It’s usually served with white rice or udon noodles with your favorite vegetables like roasted green beans, snow peas, zucchini, broccoli, or baked cabbage or sautéed shredded cabbage are great.

A fork picking up a piece of air fryer chicken katsu topped with sauce and green onions on a bed of white rice.

Chicken Katsu Ingredients Notes

The complete list of ingredients with amounts are listed in the full recipe card below.

Ingredients for air fryer chicken katsu: chicken breasts, ketchup, egg, breadcrumbs, flour, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and sugar in separate bowls.

Chicken breasts: However many chicken breasts you use (I use 2), you’ll have twice the serving amount. Cut them in half lengthwise so you have two thin cutlets. Once you’ve cut your chicken breasts in half, use a meat mallet to pound each piece down for even thickness. You can also pick up already thinly sliced chicken breasts or even chicken tenders if you’d like.
Egg and salt: This coats the chicken and gives something for the breadcrumbs to stick to.
Panko breadcrumbs: These Japanese breadcrumbs are key to making chicken katsu in my opinion. They’re lighter and flakier than regular bread crumbs, giving the crust some extra crunch. You can sometimes find gluten-free panko in stores if needed.
All-purpose flour: We combine the flour with the breadcrumbs to ensure a beautiful, crispy coating. Use gluten-free 1:1 flour as well.
For the homemade katsu sauce: You’ll need ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and sugar.
White rice: Cooked separately according to package directions.

Variations

1. Swap the boneless skinless chicken breast for boneless, skinless chicken thighs pounded thin.
2. Instead of a homemade tonkatsu, you can opt for a store-bought version instead. You can find it at your local Asian grocery store.
3. Panko crumbs are a signature ingredient, but if only have regular breadcrumbs, they’ll work but we thing the crispiness of panko is so much better!
4. Double dip in the egg and panko mixture for an ultra-crispy coating.
5. Make it Spicy by adding a pinch of cayenne or Japanese seven-spice (shichimi togarashi) to the breadcrumbs.

How to Make this Chicken Katsu Recipe

Step 1 – In a small bowl, whisk the egg and salt. In a separate shallow bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and flour.

Raw chicken breasts on a plate, with one cutlet dipped in beaten eggs, and a bowl of breadcrumbs nearby.

Three chicken breasts on a white plate, next to a bowl of beaten eggs and a plate of breaded chicken breasts.

Step 2 – Bread the chicken. Dip the pieces of chicken in the egg, making sure both sides are coated. Let the excess drip off, then immediately press the cutlet into the Panko mixture, pressing gently to make sure it’s coated. Flip and coat the other side.

Two breaded chicken breasts in an air fryer basket.

Two breaded chicken cutlets are cooking inside an air fryer.

Step 3 – Place the breaded chicken into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they don’t overlap. Spray the tops with cooking oil and cook for 10 minutes before flipping each piece to cook for another 5 minutes until the chicken is now longer pink in the thickest part and measures 165° F with a meat thermometer.

Work in batches if needed. I like to keep the cooked pieces warm in the oven set at it’s lowest temperature and place the chicken on a wire rack on top of a baking sheet so it stays crispiest.

Step 4 – Make the sauce. In a small bowl, mix the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and sugar.

A fork lifting a piece of air fryer chicken katsu topped with sauce and green onions on a bed of white rice.

Serve with white rice (I love coconut rice) and the katsu sauce.

Tips

Do not skip the cooking spray. You can also drizzle them with olive oil before cooking. This helps to achieve crispy perfection and a golden brown color.

Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. I put already cooked pieces on a baking sheet in the oven at the lowest temperature.

How to Store Leftovers

Refrigerate: Leftovers can be kept refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Be sure to cool it completely before storing it; otherwise, the steam will make it soggy quickly.

Freeze: You can flash freeze these cutlets laid out on a baking sheet before placing them in a freezer bag. This makes it easy so to take one or two out as needed. Keep them frozen for up to 2 months.

Reheat: These reheat beautifully in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes or in the oven at 375° F for 8-10 minutes until heated through. It’s a great way to revive that crispy coating!

More Asian-Inspired Recipes

If you like this recipe, please leave us a comment and rate it in the recipe card. We would love for you to join us and over 300,000 followers on Facebook as well as on Pinterest and Instagram too!

Air Fryer Chicken Katsu