Crispy Parmesan Chicken Cutlet Bowl (Printable)

Golden Parmesan-crusted chicken cutlets over warm rice with peppery arugula and fresh lemon. A lighter take on katsu.

# What You Need:

→ For the Chicken Cutlets

01 - 4 thin chicken breast cutlets (about 1.1 lbs total)
02 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
03 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 1 tsp garlic powder
07 - 1/2 tsp salt
08 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
09 - 3 tbsp olive oil, for frying

→ For the Bowl

10 - 2 cups cooked white or brown rice, warm
11 - 2 cups fresh arugula
12 - 1 large lemon, cut into wedges

→ Optional Garnishes

13 - Extra grated Parmesan
14 - Freshly ground black pepper
15 - Chopped parsley

# Directions:

01 - Cook rice according to package instructions and keep warm until ready to assemble bowls.
02 - Arrange three shallow bowls: first with flour mixed with salt, pepper, and garlic powder; second with beaten eggs; third with panko and Parmesan combined.
03 - Dredge each chicken cutlet in the seasoned flour, shaking off excess. Dip into egg mixture, then press firmly into panko-Parmesan mixture to coat evenly on both sides.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry cutlets for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to paper towels to drain excess oil.
05 - Let cooked cutlets rest for 2 minutes, then slice into strips for easy bowl assembly.
06 - Divide warm rice among serving bowls. Top with fresh arugula and arrange sliced chicken cutlets over the greens. Serve with lemon wedges on the side.
07 - Squeeze fresh lemon juice over each bowl. Finish with additional grated Parmesan, freshly ground black pepper, and chopped parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The crunch from that panko-Parmesan crust stays impossibly crispy, even after the chicken sits on warm rice
  • Every bowl feels like restaurant takeout but comes together in under 40 minutes with minimal cleanup
02 -
  • Crowding the pan makes chicken steam instead of fry, so work in batches if your skillet cannot fit all four cutlets comfortably
  • Let the chicken rest on a wire rack instead of paper towels to keep that bottom crust from getting soggy
03 -
  • Pat the chicken completely dry with paper towels before breading for better adhesion
  • Use one hand for wet ingredients and one for dry to keep your fingers from becoming a breaded mess
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