Easy Italian Chicken Cutlet Sandwich
Recipe Snapshot
PREP + COOK TIME: 40 minutes
METHOD: Air Fryer
OTHER TOOLS: knife and cutting board
TOTAL INGREDIENTS: 8
This Easy Italian Chicken Cutlet Sandwich is the perfect homemade option that’s crunchy, healthy, and restaurant-quality! Air-fried chicken cutlets are layered with melty provolone cheese, crisp lettuce, tomato, and onion, and served on your favorite toasty bun.
What’s To Love About This Recipe
- This recipe will help you create a restaurant-style sandwich at home! It’s crispy and cheesy, yet fresh and full of flavor. Not your average deli sandwich or PBJ!
- Chicken cutlet sandwiches are a quick and easy homemade option. There is no deep frying involved, and it’s even quicker if you use precooked chicken cutlets and reheat them when it’s time to assemble.
- These hearty sandwiches are perfect for lunch or dinner, and are a fun variation from burgers or sub-style sandwiches. They will appeal to everyone with minimal effort!
- It’s always nice to have a yummy recipe to use up leftovers. If you’ve previously made a batch of chicken cutlets, this is an excellent way to use up extra chicken.
- Italian chicken sandwiches are also easy to customize with different sauces, cheeses, or toppings. Even the kids will find a combo to enjoy!
Ingredients Needed
- Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets – Chicken cutlets are thinly sliced or pounded pieces of chicken breast, and this air fryer recipe is the perfect method for achieving juicy chicken with a crispy outer breading. It’s a tasty alternative to traditional fried chicken, and the cutlets are more palatable than a thicker, whole chicken breast.
- Burger buns – Choose your favorite burger-sized bun that is sturdy enough to keep all the pieces together for each satisfying bite! Brioche or ciabatta rolls are both good options, and even better with a light toasting.
- Provolone cheese – Provolone is a delicious choice for melting over crispy cutlets, and it provides a slightly smoky flavor that pairs well with the sauces and toppings.
- Marinara sauce – Just add a touch of warmed marinara to get that Italian flavor. Add this right before serving to prevent the sandwich from getting too soggy.
- Pesto sauce – A bit of pesto adds a fresh, nutty flavor to the sandwich and complements the marinara sauce for an easy Italian-inspired meal!
- Lettuce, tomato, and onions – Slice some fresh, crisp lettuce, large tomatoes, and onion rings to add crunch and flavor to the sandwich. Choose either white or purple onion and leave these toppings on the side for easy customization when serving.
How To Make A Chicken Cutlet Sandwich
- Prepare Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets by following all recipe directions for breading and cooking.
- After cooking, place a slice of cheese on freshly cooked chicken cutlets (or reheated chicken cutlets) and allow it to melt.
- Place the cutlets with melted cheese on buns (toast the buns lightly first, if desired).
- Top the sandwiches with warmed marinara, pesto, lettuce, tomato, and onions, or as desired.
- Serve immediately for best texture and presentation.
Pro Tips
- If chicken cutlets are too thick for a single sandwich, you can slice them in half horizontally with a very sharp knife, or prior to cooking, pound them to an even thickness (½ inch or less).
- Chicken cutlet sandwiches are best served warm when the cheese is just melted and the sauces are heated.
- The sandwiches can also be enjoyed cold or at room temperature as a picnic or lunchbox option.
- Toast the buns for added texture and flavor.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
Try some variations on sandwich toppings by swapping traditional basil pesto for balsamic glaze, aioli, or garlic mayo.
Add banana peppers, pickled onions, or arugula for flavor twists.
And don’t stop there! You can use the Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets recipe and recreate many different sandwich types that are mouth-wateringly delicious! Here are just a few:
- For a buffalo-style sandwich, use hot sauce and ranch or blue cheese dressing.
- To make a BBQ chicken sandwich, swap marinara for BBQ sauce and use a slice of cheddar cheese.
- Try a caprese-style sandwich with fresh mozzarella, tomato, and basil. Add just a drizzle of balsamic vinegar for an extra burst of flavor!
Elevate your sandwich with a variety of fresh bread options. Thick slices of brioche, ciabatta or sandwich rolls, hoagie buns, or even garlic bread are all tasty options.
How To Serve A Chicken Cutlet Sandwich
Choose your preferred toasty bun and assemble an easy Italian sandwich with sauces and toppings. Complete your plate with picnic-style sides such as potato chips, fresh fruit, or Cucumber Tomato Salad, or add hot sides for an even heartier meal.
Some tasty and easy options are Air Fryer Waffle Fries, Air Fryer Zucchini Fries, or homemade Air Fryer French Fries.
For a soup and sandwich meal, serve a half sandwich with a cup of Instant Pot Tomato Soup and a sprinkle of crunchy croutons on top!
Storing and Reheating
I recommend storing the leftover components separately to prevent sogginess. Store leftover chicken cutlets separately in the fridge for up to 4 days, and keep toppings for 1-2 days for maximum freshness.
Freezing is not recommended, as the bread and toppings won’t maintain their freshness when defrosted.
To reheat, start with the chicken cutlets only. Use the air fryer at 350 ℉ for 3–5 minutes or add them to the oven at 375 ℉ for 10 minutes. Reassemble the sandwich after reheating the chicken cutlets to maintain the best texture.
Easy Italian Chicken Cutlet Sandwich
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets
- 4 burger buns brioche or ciabatta work well
- 4 slices provolone cheese
- ½ cup marinara sauce
- ¼ cup pesto sauce
- Lettuce tomato, and onions for topping
Instructions
- Prepare Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets by following all recipe directions for breading and cooking
- After cooking, place a slice of cheese on freshly cooked chicken cutlets (or reheated chicken cutlets) and allow it to melt
- Place cutlets with melted cheese on buns (toast the buns lightly first, if desired)
- Top sandwiches with warmed marinara, pesto, lettuce, tomato, and onions, or as desired
- Serve immediately for best texture and presentation
Notes
- Store chicken cutlets and toppings separately in the fridge. Chicken cutlets will store for up to 4 days, and fresh toppings for 1–2 days.
- Reheat chicken cutlets in the air fryer at 350 ℉ for 3–5 minutes or in the oven at 375 ℉ for 10 minutes. Then, reassemble the sandwich with the cheese and other toppings to maintain the best texture.
- If chicken cutlets are too thick, slice them in half horizontally with a very sharp knife, or pound them to an even thickness (½ inch or less) before cooking in the air fryer.
- Nutritional information will vary depending on the cutlet size, toppings, and bread choice.
