ok so let’s be real here – chicken katsu is like the ultimate comfort food and once you make it at home you’ll want to plop chicken cheddar ranch burgers next to it and put takeout out of business. This Crispy Chicken Katsu Is About To Make Your Weeknights 1000% Better
Table of contents
Why This Crispy Chicken Katsu Is So Special
forget everything you know about plain old fried chicken — katsu is in a league of its own. we mean tender chicken cutlets that are coated in super fine panko breadcrumbs so that they become addictively crispy when fried. the art is in the way and trust me its not that hard
Cuisine: The best crispy chicken katsu recipe
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 35 mins
Serves: 4
What You Need
For the Chicken:
4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
1 cup all purpose flour
2 large eggs beaten
2 cups panko breadcrumbs
salt and pepper
vegetable oil for frying
For the Katsu Sauce:
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tbsp worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sugar
How to Make It
Step 1: Prep the Chicken pound those chicken breasts until they’re about 1/2 inch thick – this will help them cook evenly and keep them super tender. salt and pepper both sides
Step 2: Prep Your Breading Station Prepare three shallow dishes – one with flour, one with beaten eggs and one with panko. this assembly line process just simplifies everything
Step 3: Bread the Chicken Coat each cutlet in flour, dip in egg, then press into panko. make sure you are pushing that panko in really hard- that’s what is going to get you that amazing crunch
Step 4: Fry and Enjoy Heat about 1 inch of oil to 350°F in a heavy pan. In another frying pan, cook the chicken for 3-4 mins on each side, until golden and cooked. dont make them too crowded or too soft or you will lose that crispy texture
Step 5: Prepare Sauce While Chicken Rests on Paper Towels, whisk all sauce ingredients. it’s also the tangy sweet sauce that makes katsu addictive
How to Serve Your Crispy Chicken Katsu
Crispy Chicken Katsu Bowls
serve over steamed rice with shredded cabbage, cucumber, and that awesome katsu sauce. add some pickled veg and you’ve got yourself a restaurant quality bowl at hooooome. For more protein-packed bowl ideas, check out our Lentil Bowl recipe.
Crispy Chicken Katsu Sandwich
slice some, and put it on a soft bun with lettuce, tomato and mayo, or mayo lightened with katsu sauce. game changer. If you’re looking for other delicious burger alternatives, try our Black Bean Quinoa Burger.
Traditional Style
just cut and serve with rice, miso soup, and pickles. traditional japanese meal.
Pro Tips For Ultra Crispy Outcome
perfectly crispy chicken katsu is all about temperature. too hot and burns outside before inside cooks. too cold, too soggy coating. 350°F is your sweet spot
also, dont skip the resting time after frying- itll help the coating stay crispy while the juices go back into the chicken
Baked Katsu Chicken Option
not feeling the frying? you can absolutely bake katsu chicken. oil the breaded cutlets lightly and bake at 425 f for 20 mins flipping once. It will not be as crispy fried but still VERY good.
Crispy Chicken Katsu FAQ
What is crispy katsu chicken? katsu is literally just a style of japanese cooking where you bread the meat in panko and then fry it up until nice and golden. chicken katsu especially thin chicken cutlets that get so crispy on the outside while the inside stays nice + juicy
What is katsu vs fried chicken? difference is in coating – katsu has fine panko breadcrumbs instead of flour coating. and this gives it just a lighter crunchier texture. plus katsu chicken is pounded thin so it cooks quickly and evenly
Why is my katsu not crispy? it’s pretty easy to guess why — either the oil temp or panko is wrong/not been pressed in properly. have your oil at 350°F hot, hot hot and then press the panko on there good before you fry it!
What is chicken katsu called in Japanese? in japanese it is called “chicken katsu” or “chikin katsu” – katsu is derived from cutlet and signifies the breaded / fried process.
Why is chicken katsu so good? honestly it’s the best combination of textures and tastes. you have the most crispy crunchy coating and tender juicy chicken inside with that sweet tangy katsu sauce and ah!
Crispy Chicken Katsu
Equipment
- Meat mallet
- Shallow bowls (x3)
- Frying pan
- Tongs
- Paper towels
- whisk
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Vegetable oil for frying
For the Katsu Sauce:
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
Instructions
Prep the Chicken
- Pound chicken breasts to 1/2 inch thickness. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
Set Up Breading Station
- Place flour, beaten eggs, and panko in three separate shallow dishes.
Bread the Chicken
- Dredge each chicken breast in flour, dip into eggs, then press firmly into panko to ensure a thick, crunchy coating.
Fry the Chicken
- Heat about 1 inch of oil in a frying pan to 350°F (175°C). Fry chicken for 3–4 minutes per side until golden and fully cooked. Don’t overcrowd the pan. Transfer to paper towels.
Make the Sauce
- In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and sugar.
Serve
- Slice and serve over rice with cabbage and cucumber, or in a sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and katsu sauce mayo.
Notes
Nutrition
Make It Your Own
you can customize this chicken katsu recipe. experiment with other proteins, such as pork (tonkatsu) or fish. try different sauces, or serve in chicken katsu rice bowls topped with your favorite toppings
the moribyan crispy chicken katsu style includes spicy mayo and pickled veggies, whereas culinary dropout crispy chicken katsu is sometimes served with asian slaw and sriracha aioli. both are fatastic options to attempt. For more flavorful chicken dishes, don’t miss our Black Pepper Chicken recipe.
Storage and Reheating
any remaining katsu will keep in the fridge for 3 days. to warm and retain its crunch, employ your oven or air fryer, not the microwave. 375°F in 5 mins or thereabout should be fine
Bottom Line
This crispy chicken katsu recipe is gonna be your new addiction. its crunchy, its moist, its FILLING in the best way. plus once you get the technique down you can do a bajillion different variations – katsu chicken recipe, baked katsu chicken, crispy chicken katsu sandwich, whatevs!
give it a go this week and thank me later when you’re addicted to homemade katsu. And if you’re craving more hearty comfort food, try our warming Three Bean Chili for a different kind of satisfying meal.
