The perfect pan fried gluten free breaded chicken cutlets can be made spicy with taco seasoning or into chicken Parmesan with Italian seasoning—with a mess-free breading method.
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The best mess-free breading method
The method I had always used for breading chicken was to coat the protein in dry-wet-dry ingredients in stages. Three shallow dishes right next to the stove. Dip it in flour with some salt and spices, dip it in egg, then dip it in breadcrumbs.
Then I learned from Nagi at Recipe Tin Eats to make a batter of eggs, flour, and mayonnaise for coating the chicken all at once. Dip the chicken pieces in bread crumbs, and fry or bake. For baking directions using that sort of mixture, see our recipe for gluten free sesame chicken.
Make this dish in stages
To make these gluten free breaded chicken cutlets, we've used a version of Nagi's egg and flour mixture, but whisked in oil in place of mayonnaise. Mayonnaise makes for deliciously moist chicken, but I've found that the weakly emulsified olive oil and egg combination suits this savory dish a bit better.
It also allows the spice mixture to shine through more brightly. For maximum flavor and cooking flexibility, let the chicken sit in the batter in the refrigerator for up to a day until you're ready to fry it.
Shallow-fried chicken cutlets retain moisture way more than baked chicken, so they even taste great cold the next day. They will lose moisture in the refrigerator, like anything else, after the first day or so. But making it early in the day, and then serving it cold over a salad is a very good idea.
Add a spicy mayonnaise for dipping
I love adding a few drops of sriracha sauce to mayonnaise for a quick spicy mayonnaise. But it can be hard to find reliably gluten free sriracha sauce.
If you do have a gluten free sriracha that you love, go with it. But if you're out of sriracha but would like a spicy dip, I have a few ideas.
In the photo below, I added more of our gluten free taco seasoning to mayonnaise or a mixture of half buttermilk, half sour cream. Just whisk, and enjoy.
You can also add taco seasoning or even just chipotle chili powder to our homemade gluten free ranch dressing. Or just add seasonings to half buttermilk, half sour cream.
Ingredients and substitutions
Egg
Oh, the humble egg. It's not impossible to replace here, but I don't have any experience replacing it in this sort of coating. I have an idea, though.
We're using a combination of egg and oil, whipped into a mini-emulsion as the base here. I think you could try a vegan mayonnaise in place of both the egg and the olive oil.
Oil
The chicken coating recipe calls for extra virgin olive oil because it's a flavorful oil. I recommend using it as is, but its function can be replaced with a neutral oil like canola.
The frying oil should be a neutral oil with a high smoke point. My favorite combination of oils for both shallow pan frying like we're doing here and deep frying like with our donut holes is half canola or grapeseed oil and half nonhydrogenated vegetable shortening. It fries clean, holds a steady temperature, and doesn't smoke easily.
Spices
I tend to use three spice blends regularly with the everyday gluten free chicken recipes I make: our gluten free taco seasoning, herbs de Provence, or the powdered vegetable bouillon from our gluten free ramen recipe. Any of them would be excellent in this recipe—but be sure to add at least 1 teaspoon of kosher salt to the herbs to Provence.
If you love Italian seasoning, use that! Again, just be sure to add salt, or your chicken will be much less flavorful. You can even use cutlets made with this method using Italian seasoning into gluten free chicken Parmesan.
Gluten Free Breaded Chicken Cutlets
Ingredients
- 1 pound skinless boneless chicken breasts
- 1 (50 g (weighed out of shell)) egg
- 1 tablespoon (14 g) extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup (36 g) basic gum free gluten free flour blend (24 grams white rice flour + 8 grams potato starch + 4 grams tapioca starch/flour)
- 1 to 3 teaspoons milk any kind, including nondairy
- 1 tablespoon gluten free taco seasoning (or your other favorite spice blend, including salt)
- 2 cups panko style gluten free bread crumbs
- Neutral oil for frying (I used a combination of equal parts canola or grapseed oil and nonhydrogenated vegetable shortening)
Instructions
- If your chicken breasts are thick, slice them in half horizontally. Using a meat pounder or the flat side of a meat tenderizer mallet, pound each breast on a flat surface until each piece is a uniform 1/4-inch thick. Set the chicken aside.
- In a medium-size bowl, place the egg and whisk well. Continue whisking continuously with the whisk in one hand as you slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl with the other. Continue to whisk until the mixture begins to form an emulsion (it will become creamy).
- Add the gum free flour and whisk until a thick paste forms. Add just enough milk to thin the mixture until it’s thickly pourable.
- Add 1 tablespoon of the taco seasoning and whisk to combine well.
- Add the chicken pieces to the bowl, mix to coat, and let sit for at least 15 minutes and up to 1 day, covered tightly, in the refrigerator.
- Place about 1/4-inch of oil in a heavy-bottom skillet over medium heat until rippling.
- Place the breadcrumbs on a plate or flat bowl next to the stove, and a large plate, platter, or tray lined with paper towels next to that.
- Remove the chicken pieces one at a time from the coating mixture, and press each side into the bread crumbs firmly enough for the breadcrumbs to adhere to the meat.
- Lower the heat to medium-low and place the coated chicken piece in the hot oil. Repeat with only as many chicken pieces as will fit without overlapping in the skillet.
- Allow the chicken cutlets to pan fry for about 3 minutes or until golden brown on the underside and cooked about half way up the side of the chicken.
- Carefully flip the chicken pieces and allow to cook on the other side until golden brown underneath and cooked all the way through (at least 165°F in the thickest part of each breast).
- Remove each chicken cutlet and place on the paper towel-lined plate or tray to drain.
- Repeat with the remaining chicken and bread crumbs.
- Serve with spicy mayo and limes, or tomato sauce and cheese, depending on how you spiced the chicken.
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Hi, I’m Nicole. I create gluten free recipes that really work and taste as good as you remember. No more making separate meals when someone is GF, or buying packaged foods that aren’t good enough to justify the price. At Gluten Free on a Shoestring, “good, for gluten free” just isn’t good enough! Come visit my bio!
Eileen says
Making a batter instead of the two step egg wash was so much cleaner and easier. The flavor was also really enhanced by marinating in the taco seasoned batter ( I promise did not taste at all like tacos!)
If you want to elevate crispiness, try a combo of half your usual gf breadcrumb and half rice chex cereal crumb.
sarah johnson says
Wow! This was a lot of effort but they were so good! Im allergic to eggs so I used powdered egg replacer. I used my own spices, almond milk for the milk and gf panko.
I made a honey mustard sauce to dip them in. These were amazing and moist and crispy!
Marie Johnston says
These were the BEST GF chicken fingers I have ever had! I fried most of them in the air fryer and the leftovers that didn’t fit on the tray in the oven. The air-fried batch was nice and crispy. Thanks for a great recipe!
Lari G says
Hi Nicole! Last night I made this batter and coated fish – both cod and tilipia. It worked perfectly. I used panko crumbs. Next time I will mix some gf cornmeal with the panko. I did use vegan mayo in place of egg. I appreicate all the effort you go to to provide alternate ingredients choices. Thank you for all your hard work!
Nicole Hunn says
So glad that sub worked, Lari, and that it worked so well with fish. I can’t wait to try it myself. Thanks for sharing, and for your kind note!
Shirley says
Nicole,
I made this chicken last night for dinner exactly as you said, except didn’t have the taco seasoning, so put in BBQ seasoning, just a dash. My husband has never liked the gluten free recipes very much, but this was beyond good. I will make this again and again and for company. I fried it in a very hot electric frying pan. It wasn’t greasy and very crispy and tender. we have leftovers that I’ll make tonight and add cheese and make a chicken parm sandwich on a hoagie!! My question, I see, was answered above about using fish, which I’ll do next!
You are a genius!! Thank you!
Shirley
Nicole Hunn says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Shirley! It’s by far my favorite way to get a nice, thick crust on fried protein without making a big mess. I have to try it with fish myself. Thanks for sharing your experience, and for the kind words!!
Priscilla Goodger says
I am wondering if one could use aquafaba in lieu of the egg and whisk it like you would the egg. There are recipes that use it with oil to create vegan mayo (as well as apple cider vinegar, mustard, and salt).
Nicole Hunn says
I’m not super optimistic about that, Priscilla, only because you’ll need to replace the fat of the egg yolk as well. Maybe if you add more oil? I’m honestly not sure, but I’d be more inclined to use that vegan mayo at least at first, before you make a more drastic change.
GF Mum says
Do you think this would work in a deep fryer? Maybe if the chicken pieces were smaller?
Katie Hartsell says
This sounds yum. Do you think you could use an air fryer? Maybe spray with oil before frying?
Nicole Hunn says
I bet you could, Katie! I would recommend consulting the suggestions and instructions in my recipe for air fryer chicken nuggets.
Anita D'Souza says
How do you think this batter would work for a firm white fish? It looks pretty amazing – I know my husband will be thrilled to have chicken parm added to our recipe playlist. Thanks so much, Nicole!!
Nicole Hunn says
That’s a great question, Anita. I think if you put it in a shallow pan, rather than a bowl, you could coat the fish pieces more easily and without breaking them. Maybe thin it a liiiiiitle bit more than I did, so it’s easier to coat the fish gently. And of course, it will cook more quickly than the chicken. Great idea!! In fact, I might just try it with some tilapia myself. ??