Name: How to Make Crispy Shallow-Fried Turkey Breast Cutlets
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 to 6 turkey breast cutlets; 2 cups plain Japanese panko style bread crumbs (or favorite breadcrumbs) (114g); 2 large eggs; 1/2 cup all-purpose or 00 flour (65-70g); salt to taste; grapeseed oil (or another neutral oil) for frying

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This lightly fried turkey breast cutlet recipe (cotoletta di tacchino) is so delicious and it's ready in just 20 minutes. These white meat cutlets are perfect for making crispy turkey sandwiches, turkey wraps, or eaten all by themselves dipped in your favorite sauce with a side of fries or homemade potato chips (they're even delicious sliced and added to homemade Japanese tonkotsu ramen).

very large thin raw turkey breast cutlet in a bowl with flour

turkey breast cutlet completely covered with flour

turkey breast cutlet completely immersed in beaten egg wash

turkey breast cutlet in a bowl of panko bread crumbs

Why We Love This Turkey Cutlet Recipe

They're super crispy-crunchy
It uses all-white meat
They're a great alternative to more expensive chicken breast cutlets
They make a fuss-free meal every time because both kiddos and adults love it
Ready in 20 minutes from start to finish
They fill any fast-food craving you may be having, but you know exactly what you're eating

golden brown breaded turkey breast cutlet frying in a cast iron skillet with very little extra virgin olive oil

all-purpose flour added to a shallow bowl

a shallow bowl filled with panko bread crumbs

Crispy Shallow-Fried Turkey Breast Cutlets Ingredients

These delicious turkey cutlets are so satisfying especially if you're craving fast food, but are trying to eat a little healthier. You can use whole wheat flour and whole wheat Panko bread crumbs and even cook them in an air fryer to make them a little healthier (and you can't taste any difference.)

turkey breast cutlets
plain Japanese panko bread crumbs (or favorite breadcrumbs)
eggs
all-purpose
salt
grapeseed oil (or another neutral oil) for frying

How to Make Crispy Turkey Breast Cutlets

If you love crispy chicken or turkey, but need a slightly healthier fried chicken or chicken fingers recipe for the kiddos, this is a perfect recipe and it's even great for busy weeknights.

Set up the breading station. In a medium bowl, add the eggs and whisk well to combine and set aside. In a separate shallow bowl, add the flour and set aside. In a third shallow bowl, add the Panko bread crumbs (or regular bread crumbs) and set aside.
Bread the turkey (1. flour 2. eggwash 3. breadcrumbs). Working with one piece of turkey at a time, dip each piece into the flour being sure to cover the entire surface on all sides, and gently tap off any excess flour and slide it into the eggwash. Turn the turkey over to completely coat and tap it gently on the side of the bowl to remove any excess eggwash. Add the turkey to the bread crumbs and using your "dry hand", turn the turkey over to coat all sides pressing down each time to ensure good coverage. Place the breaded turkey onto a platter and repeat with the remaining pieces.
Fry the turkey. Add about ¼ to ½ inch of extra virgin olive oil or neutral cooking oil to a cast-iron or other heavy-bottomed skillet and heat over medium-high. Once the oil is hot (but not smoking), working in batches, gently place the turkey pieces into the pan in a single layer (being sure not to overcrowd them), season with salt, and fry until golden brown on the first side. Flip them over, salt them again and continue cooking (checking periodically with tongs for color) until golden brown and cooked through. Remove them to a paper towel-lined plate, and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Easy Turkey Breast Cutlets step-by-step recipe photos

Just-Fried turkey breast cutlet on a paper towel-lined plate

A Few Tasty ways to Enjoy this Delicious Crispy Turkey Breast Recipe

I'm sure if you're here, you already know just how you want to eat this turkey breast, but we've given you a few ideas below just in case. And if you're looking to add some extra Italian flavor to your crispy turkey check out our Basil-Parm Panko-Crusted Chicken Cutlets for some herbaceous inspiration.

drizzled with your favorite béchamel sauce
serve it for breakfast with pancakes, waffles) and eggs
make an omellete
make a crispy turkey sandwich/burger
slice it and serve it on top of a bed of your favorite salad greens
slice it and put it in a wrap with lettuce, tomatoes, and your favorite dressing
make turkey parmesan covered with tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella and Parmigiano cheese

golden fried chicken cutlet next to a fried egg

chicken burger or chicken sandwich on a homemade potato bun

chicken cutlet frittata only cooked on the first side

basil parm panko crusted chicken cooked to golden brown stacked on a platter with a view out of the window

Want a Few Good Turkey or Chicken Recipes?

If you're a fan of inexpensive turkey and chicken dinners, below are a few of our favorites we think you may enjoy.

chicken and vegetable stir fry in a white ceramic bowl

golden brown chicken and pork meatballs in a ceramic dish sprinkled with grated parm and chives

coconut lime chicken grilled beautifully and sitting atop a bed of fragrant coconut rice

perfectly fried panko-crusted golden brown chicken breast still cooking in a cast iron skillet

Chinese Chicken dumpling held between two wooden chopsticks about to be dunked into my homemade dumpling dipping sauce

a pile of chicken and french fries on top of the comic strip section of the newspaper

perfectly golden brown crispy Chicken cutlet frying in a cast iron skillet

Homemade Caesar Salad using whole heads of romaine

Golden Brown just baked turkey pot pie with an extra piece of dough cut out with a chicken cookie cutter and placed on top in the middle before being baked.

3 turkey tinga tacos in hard tortilla shells with hot sauce drizzled on top

turkey and wild rice soup in a bowl on a ping and gold tray

homemade chicken noodle oup with homemade noodles, sliced breaded chicken cutlet , two halves of ramen eggs with soft jammy yolks, julenned carrots, paper-thin slices of celery, and homemade swimming in homemade chicken stock with a ramen spoon

Let's get started!

📖 Recipe

How to Make Crispy Shallow-Fried Turkey Breast Cutlets

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Author: Kelly
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4-6 servings depending on hunger level 1x

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Description

This delicious lightly fried turkey breast cutlet recipe (cotoletta di tacchino) is simple to make and downright delicious. And it makes a great addition to homemade Japanese ramen, used to make takeout-style turkey sandwiches, crispy turkey wraps, or eaten all by itself with a side of fries or homemade potato chips and dipped into your favorite sauce. Plus, it's ready from start to finish in 20 minutes or less and is a great alternative to making chicken breast cutlets if you're looking to switch things up a bit. This turkey breast recipe makes any meal fuss-free because both kiddos and adults alike, love this juicy, crispy turkey.

Ingredients

Scale

4 to 6 turkey breast cutlets
2 cups plain Japanese panko style bread crumbs (or favorite breadcrumbs) (114g)
2 large eggs
½ cup all-purpose or 00 flour (65-70g)
salt to taste
grapeseed oil (or another neutral oil) for frying

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Instructions

Set up the breading station. In a medium bowl, add the eggs and whisk well to combine and set aside. In a separate shallow bowl, add the flour and set aside. In a third shallow bowl, add the Panko bread crumbs (or regular bread crumbs) and set aside.
Bread the turkey (1. flour 2. eggwash 3. breadcrumbs). Working with one piece of turkey at a time, dip each piece into the flour being sure to cover the entire surface on all sides, and gently tap off any excess flour and slide it into the eggwash. Turn the turkey over to completely coat and tap it gently on the side of the bowl to remove any excess eggwash. Add the turkey to the bread crumbs and using your "dry hand", turn the turkey over to coat all sides pressing down each time to ensure good coverage. Place the breaded turkey onto a platter and repeat with the remaining pieces.
Fry the turkey. Add about ¼ to ½ inch of extra virgin olive oil or neutral cooking oil to a cast-iron or other heavy-bottomed skillet and heat over medium-high. Once the oil is hot (but not smoking), working in batches, gently place the turkey pieces into the pan in a single layer (being sure not to overcrowd them), season with salt, and fry until golden brown on the first side. Flip them over, salt them again and continue cooking (checking periodically with tongs for color) until golden brown and cooked through. Remove them to a paper towel-lined plate, and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Notes

For a slightly healthier turkey breast cutlet, use whole wheat flour and whole wheat Panko bread crumbs for the coating. It's delicious and you can't taste any difference.
Cut nugget or "finger" sized turkey breast pieces for kiddos.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Meat + Chicken
Method: Shallow Fry
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 4 ounce serving

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