Plento Pasto CookbookAir Fryer Chicken Cutlets with Garlic Butter Zucchini
⏱ 24 min
🍽 Serves 4
≈ $10.60 ($2.65/serving)
novice
Why this fits a family on a budget
At about $1.06 per serving, this recipe stretches chicken breasts and inexpensive zucchini into a satisfying Italian-inspired dinner without breaking the weekly budget. The air fryer cuts cooking time dramatically, delivering crispy cutlets in under 15 minutes with virtually no hands-on effort.
Ingredients
• 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 0.75 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 whole large eggs
• 2 whole zucchini
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 0.75 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp cooking spray
• 1 whole lemon
Instructions
1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
2. Place chicken breasts on a cutting board. If they are thicker than 3/4 inch, cover with plastic wrap and pound gently with a heavy pan until even thickness. Cut into 4 equal cutlets if needed.
3. Beat the 2 eggs in a shallow bowl. In a separate shallow bowl, mix together the Italian breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
4. Dip each chicken cutlet into the egg, letting excess drip off, then press firmly into the breadcrumb mixture on both sides until fully coated.
5. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place coated cutlets in a single layer — do not overlap. Spray the tops of the cutlets lightly with cooking spray. Air fry at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway at the 6-minute mark, until the coating is deep golden brown and the thickest part of the chicken reads 165°F on a meat thermometer.
6. While the chicken cooks, slice zucchini into 1/4-inch rounds. Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add zucchini, Italian seasoning, and a pinch of salt. Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is golden at the edges and tender when pierced with a fork.
7. Plate the chicken cutlets alongside the zucchini. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over everything just before serving.
Contains: gluten, dairy, egg. Always double-check labels for your household's allergies.
Cost is a national-average estimate and varies by store and region.
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This recipe was generated by Plento Pasto's AI from a library of family-friendly dishes and reviewed for a real photo before publishing. Cooking times, costs, and nutrition are estimates — use your judgment in the kitchen.
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