Ever stared at those leftover breaded chicken cutlets in your fridge wondering what to do with them? Yeah me too. In fact just last week I had a whole tray of them sitting there after I went a bit overboard making dinner. Instead of settling for boring reheats, I discovered these cutlets are actually kitchen gold – versatile little protein bombs ready to be transformed into something amazing!
Let’s be real – nobody wants to waste food, and with the cost of groceries these days, making the most of leftovers isn’t just smart, it’s practically necessary. So I’ve put together this ultimate guide with 15 delicious ways to give those crispy chicken cutlets a second life.
Why Leftover Chicken Cutlets Are Your Secret Weapon
Before diving into the recipes, here’s a quick reminder – according to food safety guidelines, cooked chicken cutlets stay good in the fridge for 3-4 days. If you freeze them, they’ll maintain quality for up to a year! But the real magic happens when you plan ahead by intentionally making extra cutlets for future meals.
Pro Tip To revive the crispiness when reheating, skip the microwave! Instead, use your oven (350°F for 10-15 minutes) or air fryer (350°F for 5-7 minutes) to restore that delightful crunch
15 Creative Ways to Use Leftover Breaded Chicken Cutlets
1. Chicken Parmigiana Sandwich
This is hands-down my favorite way to use leftover cutlets. Just layer them on a fresh roll with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. It’s like having a restaurant-quality sandwich at home in minutes!
2. Chicken Caesar Salad
Slice those cutlets and toss them onto crisp romaine lettuce with Parmesan, croutons, and creamy Caesar dressing. This makes lunch feel fancy without any extra cooking.
3. Chicken Caprese Panini
This Italian-inspired sandwich combines sliced chicken cutlets with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil leaves, and a balsamic drizzle on focaccia bread. Press it in a panini maker for a hot, melty lunch that’ll make your coworkers jealous.
4. Buffalo Chicken Wraps
Want something with a kick? Dunk those cutlets in Buffalo wing sauce, then wrap them up with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and ranch or blue cheese dressing. All the flavors of wings without the mess!
5. Chicken and Waffles
For an indulgent breakfast or brunch, pair your leftover cutlets with fresh waffles and drizzle with maple syrup. The sweet-savory combo is absolutely addictive!
6. Honey Mustard Chicken Wraps
Slice your cutlets, add them to a tortilla with some lettuce and tomato, then drizzle with honey mustard dressing. Roll it up for a quick lunch that’s way better than the sad desk salad you were considering.
7. Chicken Cordon Bleu Wraps
Transform your cutlets into an elegant meal by wrapping them with ham and Swiss cheese in a tortilla. It’s all the flavor of traditional Cordon Bleu without the complicated preparation.
8. Crispy Chicken Quesadillas
Dice the chicken and combine it in a tortilla with shredded cheese, sautéed veggies, and salsa. Grill until the cheese melts for a quick dinner the whole family will devour.
9. Chicken Katsu
Your breaded cutlets are already halfway to becoming this popular Japanese dish! Just slice them and serve with rice, cabbage slaw, and katsu sauce for a simple yet satisfying dinner.
10. Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Pasta
Slice your cutlets and toss them with fettuccine, steamed broccoli, and a creamy Alfredo sauce. This is comfort food at its finest and comes together in the time it takes to boil pasta.
11. Chicken Taco Salad
Chop your cutlets and toss with lettuce, beans, corn, avocado, cheese, and crispy tortilla strips. Add a drizzle of cilantro ranch dressing for a refreshing Tex-Mex inspired meal.
12. Grilled Peach and Chicken Pizza
This might sound unusual, but trust me! Slice those cutlets and arrange them on pizza dough with grilled peach slices, fresh ricotta, and a drizzle of honey. It’s sweet, savory, and completely addictive.
13. Chicken Pot Pie
Dice your cutlets and mix them with veggies in a creamy sauce, then top with puff pastry for the ultimate comfort food. Perfect for using up both chicken and any vegetables about to go bad.
14. Crunchy Chicken Taco Fingers
Slice your cutlets into strips and serve them with taco seasonings and dipping sauces for a fun finger food that kids absolutely love.
15. Sticky Chicken with Rice
Chop your cutlets and toss them in a sticky sauce made with ketchup, honey, and soy sauce. Serve over rice for a quick dinner that tastes like it took hours to make.
My Personal Favorite: The 15-Minute Chicken Parm
I gotta share my absolute go-to recipe for leftover cutlets. This is what I make when I’m starving and need dinner ASAP:
What you’ll need:
- Leftover breaded chicken cutlets
- Jar of marinara sauce
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Grated Parmesan
- Pasta of your choice
How to make it:
- Cook pasta according to package directions
- While pasta cooks, place cutlets on a baking sheet
- Top each cutlet with a spoonful of marinara and both cheeses
- Broil for 3-5 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden
- Serve chicken over pasta with extra sauce
This literally takes 15 minutes and tastes like I spent hours in the kitchen. My kids think I’m a culinary genius when I make this!
Tips for Keeping Leftover Cutlets Crispy
Nothing’s worse than soggy breaded chicken. Here are my tried-and-true tips for maintaining that crunch:
- Store properly: Place paper towels between cutlets before refrigerating to absorb moisture
- Reheat with care: Use oven or air fryer instead of microwave
- Don’t cover with sauce until ready to eat: This prevents the breading from getting soggy
- Use a wire rack when reheating: This allows air to circulate around the entire cutlet
Budget-Friendly Meal Planning with Chicken Cutlets
One of my favorite kitchen hacks is intentionally making extra chicken cutlets to create multiple meals throughout the week. Here’s a sample meal plan:
Sunday: Make a double batch of Italian Chicken Cutlets
Monday: Serve cutlets with pasta and veggies
Tuesday: Transform into chicken parm sandwiches
Wednesday: Slice for Caesar salads
Thursday: Make Buffalo chicken wraps
Friday: Use the last bits in quesadillas
That’s five dinners from one cooking session! Talk about working smarter, not harder.
Final Thoughts
Leftover breaded chicken cutlets deserve so much more than a boring reheat or worse – the trash bin. With just a little creativity, they can become the foundation for quick, delicious meals that’ll have your family thinking you spent hours in the kitchen.
What’s your favorite way to use leftover chicken cutlets? I’m always looking for new ideas to add to my recipe collection! Drop me a comment below with your go-to leftover transformation.
And remember – when in doubt, just add cheese and sauce. Works every time!
Make Lemon Butter Sauce
While the chicken bakes, wipe out the saute pan with a paper towel. Over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons of the butter until bubbly and hot. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Then add the lemon juice, wine, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Turn off the heat, add the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter, and swirl to combine.
Place a chicken breast on each plate. Spoon some sauce over it, top with a little fresh parsley, and serve with a lemon slice on the side.
I usually serve this over angel hair pasta with a simple side salad and one of our homemade salad dressings.
Make It a Freezer Meal
Use your time on this recipe efficiently by doubling and freezing a batch for later. Trust me, you’ll be so happy to have this one later again.
Freeze For Later: Follow Steps 2-4. Place breaded chicken in a flat freezer bag in single layers divided by parchment paper. Prepare sauce in Step 7, cool, and place in freezer safe container. Freeze chicken and sauce together as a meal kit.
Prepare From Frozen: Let chicken and sauce thaw in refrigerator. Follow Steps 5, 6, and 8. Warm up the sauce in a pot over low heat or in a bowl in the microwave.
I like boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but boneless skinless chicken thighs can also work if you trim them of excess fat.
We found the key to the crispy exterior (without burning it before the inside is done) required two things: 1) using a combo of Panko breadcrumbs and regular breadcrumbs, and 2) making sure the oil is hot enough (but not too hot). It is ready when it’s shimmery but not smoking.
Yes, use 1:1 gluten-free flour and gluten-free breadcrumbs for the recipe.
Yes, you can freeze leftover chicken cutlets. Allow them to cool, then store in an airtight container or freezer bag. Reheat in the oven or air fryer for best results.
I’ve tested this recipe with both kinds of breadcrumbs. Panko led to maximum crispiness, but the breading got a little too brown on the outside in some spots before the chicken was done on the inside. So, after multiple tests, our team found that using a combo of half Panko and half regular breadcrumbs yields the very best results.
Better Chicken Cutlets Without The Mess
FAQ
How to use up leftover chicken cutlets?
Preparing a quick chicken skillet dish is another great way to use up those leftovers. It’s a great option if you’re looking for something that is easy and quick to make. Start by heating some oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Then, add in your cutlets and cook for about 4 minutes per side or until golden brown.
What can you make with breaded chicken cutlets?
Breaded chicken cutlets are versatile and can be used in various dinner ideas. They are perfect for sandwiches, as they are thinner than chicken breasts and have a wonderful crunchy breaded outside. Just cut each piece in half to fit between a bun.
What can I make with leftover chicken?
Leftover cooked chicken and store-bought broth make for a lightning-fast dinner that tastes just as good as Mom’s recipe. Of course, you could use traditional noodles…but the gnocchi really takes the meaning of “comfort food” to another level. 11. Buffalo-stuffed Sweet Potatoes
How long can you keep leftover chicken cutlet?
Looking for a little inspiration? Voilà: 33 leftover chicken cutlet recipes to try, from buffalo chicken-stuffed sweet potatoes to Thai-inspired lettuce wraps. (Psst: According to the USDA, you can keep leftover cooked chicken for three to four days in the fridge, while raw chicken should be cooked or frozen within one to two days.
What can I serve with chicken cutlets?
When serving chicken cutlets, consider pairing them with a chicken cutlets salad or chicken parmesan. For chicken parmesan, you’ll need cooked cutlets, marinara sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan, and basil.
How do you cook breaded chicken breast in a baking dish?
You can put as many breaded chicken breasts as you want in a baking dish and bake according to the package directions. When there’s about 10 minutes left, take the chicken out and spoon a few Tablespoons of marinara sauce on top followed by a slice of fresh mozzarella (or shredded mozzarella) and shredded Parmesan cheese.
How long can you keep cooked breaded chicken cutlets in the refrigerator?
Breaded chicken cutlets can be wrapped in aluminum foil and stored in the refrigerator for 3–4 days, making this a great meal prep option. When ready to reheat, place them in a 400°F oven for 5–10 minutes until warmed through. I recommend avoiding the microwave, as it will make them lose their crispiness.
How to crisp up leftover chicken cutlets?
To reheat chicken cutlets and keep them crispy, use an oven, air fryer, or skillet. For the oven, bake at 375-400°F on a wire rack set over a baking sheet for 10-20 minutes to ensure crispness. An air fryer is also effective; preheat to 375°F and cook for about 5 minutes, turning halfway through. For the stovetop method, reheat in 2 inches of 300-350°F oil for 2-3 minutes per side until crispy.
What to eat with breaded chicken cutlets?
Serve breaded chicken cutlets with classic sides like mashed potatoes, green beans, and macaroni and cheese, or try lighter options such as a fresh salad or steamed rice and vegetables. For an Italian twist, serve with spaghetti and marinara sauce or make chicken parmesan. You can also enjoy cutlets in a sandwich or pasta dish, or with a variety of sauces.
What recipe can I do with leftover chicken?
- Waste-nothing chicken & dumpling stew. …
- Easy leftover chicken curry. …
- Leftover roast chicken pad Thai. …
- Chicken & mushroom hot-pot. …
- Chicken & leek filo pie. …
- Spanish-style chicken pie. …
- Roast chicken & pea risotto. …
- Easy chicken & bean enchiladas.