Recipe

Nutty Sweet Chicken Cutlets

Crispy chicken cutlets with a toasty nut crust and a quick honey Dijon drizzle. Weeknight-easy, restaurant-crunchy.

By Matt Campbell

•

4.8

Golden crispy chicken cutlets on a plate with a glossy honey Dijon drizzle and chopped toasted nuts

If your weeknight brain wants something crunchy, comforting, and just a little fancy, these nutty and sweet chicken cutlets are the move. Think: crisp edges, a toasty almond-pecan coating, and a fast honey Dijon drizzle that nails sweet, tangy, and savory in one bite.

This is the kind of recipe that makes chicken feel exciting again without turning your kitchen into a full-time job. Ingredients are easy to find, steps are clear, and you are absolutely encouraged to taste as you go. If your crust looks a little chaotic, congrats. That is usually where the best crunch lives.

Chicken cutlets being pressed into a bowl of chopped nuts and breadcrumbs on a kitchen counter

Why It Works

Big crunch, minimal effort: Nuts + panko give you that loud, satisfying crust without deep frying.
Sweet meets savory: Honey and Dijon balance the toasty crust so every bite tastes like it has a plan.
Fast cooking: Thin cutlets cook quickly and stay juicy if you do not overthink it.
Flexible finish: Serve with a salad, roasted veggies, or cozy carbs. This cutlet plays well with basically anything.

Pairs Well With

Storage Tips

How to Store Leftovers

Cool promptly: For food safety, let cutlets cool a bit, then refrigerate within about 2 hours.
Refrigerate: Cool cutlets completely, then store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. If you can, tuck a paper towel under them to absorb moisture and protect the crust.
Keep the sauce separate: Store the honey Dijon drizzle in a small container. It stays great for 5 to 7 days in the fridge if it is stored separately and not used as a dip for chicken. If it has been used for dipping, treat it like a leftover sauce and use within 1 to 2 days.
Reheat for crispness: Warm cutlets on a sheet pan at 400°F for 8 to 12 minutes, flipping once, or until hot throughout and the thickest part reaches 165°F. An air fryer works too at 375°F for 5 to 7 minutes. Microwaving is allowed, but it will soften the crunch.
Freeze (best quality): Freeze cooked cutlets on a sheet pan until firm, then bag them up for up to 2 months for best quality. Reheat from frozen at 400°F for 15 to 18 minutes, flipping once, or until hot throughout and 165°F.

Common Questions

What nuts work best for the crust?

Almonds and pecans are my favorite combo: almonds bring clean crunch, pecans bring buttery sweetness. Walnuts work too. If using salted nuts, reduce the added salt in the coating.

Can I make this gluten-free?

Yes. Swap panko for gluten-free panko or crushed gluten-free crackers. The nuts already do a lot of the heavy lifting for texture.

How do I keep the crust from falling off?

Three things: pat the chicken dry, press the coating firmly, and let the breaded cutlets sit for 5 minutes before cooking. Also, do not move them around too early in the pan.

Can I bake instead of pan-fry?

You can. Bake at 425°F on a wire rack set over a sheet pan for 12 to 16 minutes, flipping halfway. Spritz the tops with oil for better browning. Bake until the thickest part reaches 165°F.

What if I do not have Dijon?

Use yellow mustard plus a tiny splash of vinegar or lemon. It will be a little more classic and a little less sharp, still very good.

Any nut-free options?

This one is proudly nut-forward, so if you need nut-free, swap the nuts for extra panko or crushed pretzels. You will lose the nutty toastiness, but you will keep the crunch.

Matt Campbell

I have always had a huge passion for the culinary arts, people, working as a team, and so on. I wanted to pursue my love for cooking initially at Virginia Commonwealth University with a culinary arts degree; however, I instead decided to apply myself and acquire more practical skills. My end goal is to eventually open my own restaurant or similar establishment.

Kitchen Essentials

Large skillet (cast iron or nonstick)
Meat mallet or rolling pin (for thinning cutlets)
3 shallow bowls or pie plates (for breading station)
Instant-read thermometer (helpful, not required)
Tongs
Wire rack or paper towels

I started making these cutlets during a phase where I wanted restaurant crunch on a Tuesday without the full breading-production meltdown. Nuts were the cheat code. They toast in the pan, they smell incredible, and they make basic chicken feel like it has somewhere important to be.

The honey Dijon drizzle happened because I kept stealing bites and thinking, this needs something bright. One quick stir later and suddenly it was sweet, tangy, and just messy enough to be fun. Which is basically my whole cooking philosophy.

Nutty Sweet Chicken Cutlets

(4.8 Reviews)

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

Total Time 27 minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

For the Chicken

4 thin chicken cutlets (about 1 1/4 pounds total)
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/2 cup almonds, finely chopped
1/3 cup pecans, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional but great)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (for the coating)
3 to 4 tablespoons neutral oil (avocado, canola, or vegetable), for pan-frying

For the Sweet and Tangy Drizzle

3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar)
1 tablespoon olive oil
Pinch of salt
Optional: 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes for a little heat

Optional finishing: lemon wedges, chopped parsley, extra chopped nuts.

Allergen note: This recipe contains tree nuts, eggs, and wheat (unless you use gluten-free panko).

Instructions

Thin the cutlets (if needed). You want an even thickness of about 1/4 to 1/2 inch so they cook fast and stay juicy. Place chicken between plastic wrap or in a zip-top bag and gently pound to even thickness.
Set up your breading station. In bowl 1: flour. In bowl 2: whisk eggs with 1 tablespoon water. In bowl 3: mix panko, chopped almonds, chopped pecans, smoked paprika (if using), 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper.
Season the chicken. Pat cutlets dry. Season both sides with the 3/4 teaspoon salt, remaining pepper, and garlic powder.
Bread the cutlets. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess. Dip into egg and let it drip. Press firmly into the nut-panko mixture until well coated. Set on a plate and let sit 5 minutes so the coating hydrates and holds on. For a make-ahead move, you can refrigerate the breaded cutlets 15 to 30 minutes. Longer than that and the coating can start to soften.
Make the drizzle. In a small bowl, whisk Dijon, honey, lemon juice, olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Taste and adjust: more honey for sweeter, more lemon for brighter, more mustard for sharper.
Pan-fry until crisp. Heat a large skillet over medium to medium-high. Add 3 tablespoons neutral oil to coat the bottom (add up to 1 more tablespoon if the pan looks dry). When the oil shimmers, add cutlets in a single layer. Cook 3 to 4 minutes per side until deep golden and the crust looks set before flipping. Nuts can go from toasted to too-toasty fast, so if the crust is browning quickly, turn the heat down to medium. Cook until the thickest part reaches 165°F.
Rest and finish. Transfer to a wire rack or paper towels. Hit with a tiny pinch of salt while hot. Rest 2 to 3 minutes before slicing (juicier cutlets, better vibes). Drizzle with honey Dijon (or serve on the side for dipping). Add parsley and a squeeze of lemon if you want that extra pop.

Crispy chicken cutlet frying in a skillet with bubbling oil and a golden nut crust

Nutrition information is estimated.

Did you make this? Tag @Mom's Best Recipes