Chicken Katsu (Japanese Fried Chicken Cutlet)

Chicken Katsu is a Japanese fried chicken cutlet that's crispy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside! Thin chicken breasts are coated in flour, egg, and Japanese panko breadcrumbs, then fried until perfectly golden and crunchy.

Jump to:

• What is Chicken Katsu?
• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients
• How to Make Chicken Katsu
• Chicken Katsu (Japanese Fried Chicken Cutlet)
• More Japanese Recipes
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It's surprisingly easy to make at home and only takes a handful of ingredients. You can serve chicken katsu with tonkatsu sauce, shredded cabbage and rice, or pair it with Japanese curry to make Chicken Katsu Curry!

What is Chicken Katsu?

Chicken katsu (チキンカツ) is a Japanese dish made with chicken that's breaded with panko breadcrumbs and fried until golden and crispy.

"Katsu" comes from the word katsuretsu, meaning "cutlet." Tonkatsu is the pork version, while chicken katsu uses chicken instead.

One of my favorite things about chicken katsu is how versatile it is. You can eat the crispy cutlets with rice and tonkatsu sauce, put them in a sandwich, or serve them with Japanese curry.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Crispy and juicy - The panko coating fries up golden and crunchy while the chicken stays tender and juicy inside.
• Easy to make - Using thin-sliced chicken breasts means there's no butterflying or pounding required.
• Simple ingredients - You only need chicken, flour, eggs, panko, seasonings, and oil.
• Quick weeknight meal - Thin chicken cutlets cook in just a few minutes on each side.
• Versatile - Serve it with rice and tonkatsu sauce, shredded cabbage, or pair it with Japanese curry to make Chicken Katsu Curry.

Ingredients

Chicken breast - I used thin-sliced boneless, skinless chicken breasts, which makes this recipe especially easy because there's no need to butterfly a large chicken breast. If you're using regular chicken breasts, you can butterfly and pound them to an even thickness.

Salt and black pepper - For seasoning the chicken before breading.

All-purpose flour - This first coating helps the egg adhere to the chicken.

Eggs - The middle layer that helps all that crispy panko stick.

Panko breadcrumbs - Japanese-style breadcrumbs are larger and flakier than regular breadcrumbs, which gives chicken katsu its signature light and crunchy coating. This 4C Premium Panko Breadcrumbs is the one I used.

Oil - You'll want a neutral, high-heat oil for frying. Avocado, canola, or vegetable oil all work well. Personally I like to use Avocado Oil.

How to Make Chicken Katsu

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and black pepper.

Prepare three shallow bowls or plates. Add flour to the first, beaten eggs to the second, and panko breadcrumbs to the third.

Coat each piece of chicken in flour, shaking off any excess. Dip it into the beaten egg, then coat it thoroughly in panko. Gently press the panko into the chicken so it sticks well.

Heat about ½ inch of oil in a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. The oil should be around 340-350°F.

Carefully add the breaded chicken without overcrowding the pan. Fry for approximately 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Transfer the cooked chicken to a wire rack and allow it to rest for a few minutes before slicing.

Serve immediately with your favorite sides and sauce!

What to Serve with Chicken Katsu

Chicken katsu is delicious on its own, but there are lots of ways you can turn these crispy Japanese chicken cutlets into a complete meal!

Japanese Curry and Rice

One of my favorite ways to serve chicken katsu is with Japanese curry and steamed rice. This combination is known as Chicken Katsu Curry, and it's such a comforting and satisfying meal!

For the version pictured here, I made a Japanese curry with potatoes and carrots and served it alongside steamed white rice and sliced chicken katsu. I like serving the curry next to the chicken rather than completely covering it so that the panko coating stays nice and crispy.

Tonkatsu Sauce and Cabbage

For a simple and classic way to serve chicken katsu, drizzle it with tonkatsu sauce and pair it with finely shredded cabbage. Add steamed rice on the side to make it a complete meal.

Steamed Rice

Chicken katsu is also delicious simply served over or alongside steamed white rice. Add tonkatsu sauce or your favorite Japanese-style sauce for an easy meal.

Vegetables

Add a vegetable side dish for a balanced dinner. Stir-fried or steamed vegetables work well, or try cucumber salad, edamame, broccoli, asparagus, or green beans.

Chicken Katsu Sandwich

You can also use leftover chicken katsu to make a sandwich! Place the crispy chicken between soft bread with shredded cabbage and tonkatsu sauce for an easy chicken katsu sandwich.

More Japanese Recipes

If you love this Chicken Katsu, here are a few more easy Japanese recipes to try:

• Japanese Curry Chicken - A cozy Japanese curry made with chicken, potatoes, and carrots using S&B Golden Curry, plus a few simple upgrades for even more flavor.
• Japanese Ginger Pork Stir Fry (Shogayaki) - Thinly sliced pork cooked in a savory ginger sauce for an easy Japanese dinner that comes together in about 20 minutes.
• Japanese Beef Teriyaki Steak - Juicy steak marinated with fresh ginger, pan seared, sliced, and finished with a homemade teriyaki sauce.
• Japanese Beef and Mushroom Stir Fry - Tender sliced beef and mushrooms cooked with garlic in a savory-sweet Japanese-style sauce for a quick and flavorful meal.

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