Crispy Chicken Milanese with Tomato Arugula Salad

ByNicole Gaffney Published:June 23, 2023June 23, 2023

This recipe for Chicken Milanese is truly the BEST you will ever have. Crispy breaded Italian chicken get topped with a lemony arugula tomato salad and shaved Parmesan cheese. It's a simple and delicious Italian dinner that will have you coming back for seconds (and thirds).

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This Chicken Milanese is my favorite recipe ever. Ultra crispy, breaded and fried Italian chicken cutlets are complimented with a bright, lemony tomato arugula salad for a perfect mix of textures and flavors that's so good I could eat it every single day.

This classic Italian recipe is a simple dish that's similar to chicken schnitzel, but with way more flavor. It starts with my top-rated Italian chicken cutlets, but goes even further by pairing them with citrusy lemon, sweet tomatoes, peppery arugula and buttery parmesan cheese to balance out the richness of the crispy cutlets.

I make chicken Milanese all year long, but it's the best in late summer when tomatoes and basil are at their peak.

Why this recipe works

The crispy cutlets act like giant protein-packed croutons for the fresh arugula salad.
Made with homemade seasoned breadcrumbs for extra crispy chicken cutlets.
Pounding out the chicken ensures even, thorough cooking with no oven required.
Seasoning the meat prior to breading makes extra flavorful, juicy chicken breasts.
Adding grated cheese to the egg mixture is a GAME CHANGER!

Ingredients for chicken Milanese with tomato arugula salad.

Ingredient Notes

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts - You can buy thinly sliced chicken breasts at most grocery stores, or save money and buy whole chicken breasts and use a sharp knife to slice them yourself. You can get 2 slices from small pieces of chicken or 3 from larger breasts.
Breadcrumbs - You can use either homemade breadcrumbs or Panko breadcrumbs, which are lighter than traditional breadcrumbs and produce a really crispy crust. I prefer to season my own for the best flavor and texture, but if you're in a pinch, store-bought Italian seasoned breadcrumbs will work.
Tomatoes - The better quality tomatoes you use, the better the dish will taste - try to make it when they're in season. You can use any type of tomato, and the more different varieties, the better. Sun gold tomatoes are the sweetest - use those if you can find them!
Extra Virgin Olive Oil - I prefer frying my chicken in extra virgin olive oil because I think it has better flavor, but you can use a neutral oil like vegetable oil or avocado oil if you prefer. For the salad, only use the best extra virgin olive oil you can find.
Parmesan Cheese - The only two cheeses I recommend here are Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano, two high quality Italian cheeses. You'll need some grated and some shaved, so buy a big chunk and grate / shave it fresh.

Helpful Equipment

Meat Mallet - Pounding out the chicken ensures it will fry up evenly without having to go into the oven to finish. A meat pounder works best, but you can use the bottom of a skillet or a flat bottomed coffee mug in a pinch.
Wire Rack - You can drain the fried chicken cutlets on paper towels, but a wire rack will help them stay extra crispy.

Step by step instructions

For the Chicken

A fork mixing cheese and herbs into a bowl of breadcrumbs.

Overhead shot of a bowl of breadcrumbs, a bowl of flour and a bowl of eggs being whisked.

Add the breadcrumbs to a medium, shallow dish along with the grated garlic, parsley, ½ cup grated parmesan, salt and pepper, then use a fork or your fingers to mix together. Make sure to really work the garlic into the breadcrumbs so it's evenly distributed.
Whisk 3 eggs with the remaining ½ cup parmesan, salt, black pepper and 1 tablespoon of water in a second shallow dish, until combined. Then add the flour into a third shallow dish, season with salt and pepper and mix to combine.

A chicken breast being pounded with a meat mallet.

Tongs placing a raw chicken breast on to a pile of other raw chicken.

Place a piece of thinly sliced chicken and on a cutting board and cover it with a sheet of plastic wrap or parchment paper. Use a meat mallet to pound it out to be about ½ inch thick. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
Season each piece of chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. To season the chicken faster, liberally season one side, then stack another piece on top of it to allow some of the seasoning to transfer onto the other piece, then repeat.

Overhead shot of a standard breading station with tongs dipping chicken into egg.

A fork poking a breaded chicken breast frying in a pan.

Take a piece of chicken and coat it in the flour, then shake off the excess. Add the chicken to the beaten egg mixture, turn to coat, then let the excess drip off. Transfer the chicken to the bread crumb mixture, toss it around and press gently to help the breadcrumbs adhere, then place it on the reserved plate and repeat with the remaining chicken.
Heat a generous amount of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place 1 to 3 chicken breasts at a time in the hot oil, depending on how many your pan can hold without overcrowding. Cook until golden brown on both sides, then remove to a wire rack.

For the Salad and Serving

Add the tomatoes, garlic clove, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper to a bowl and mix to combine. Right before serving, remove the garlic clove if desired, then roughly tear the basil leaves and mix them in.
Spoon a little bit of the tomato juices over the arugula and toss to combine. Place a chicken cutlet on a plate and add a mound of arugula over top. Spoon the tomatoes over top of each chicken breast, then sprinkle with shaved parmesan, drizzle with more olive oil and serve immediately with extra lemon wedges on the side.

Overhead shot of tomatoes being spooned over a plate of chicken Milanese and arugula.

Tips for success

Use really good tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and parmesan - it makes a difference!
Let the tomatoes marinate an hour or two before serving to let the flavors meld, but don't add the basil right before.
I love really thin cutlets, but if you're short on time you can skip the pounding.
Arrange your breading station so that the raw chicken is on the left, then the flour next to it, then the egg, then the breadcrumbs, and then an empty plate to hold the breaded chicken.
When breading the chicken, use tongs or a fork to keep your hands clean. If you prefer to use your hands try to keep one hand wet and one hand dry to avoid breading your fingers.
Let the breaded chicken rest for about 30 minutes before you fry it to help the breading stick.
For easier clean-up, place a wire rack over a baking sheet that's been lined with aluminum foil.
Don't overcrowd the pan when frying. I try not to fry more than two at a time, but depending on your pan you may only be able to fit one.
You can keep the fried chicken cutlets warm in a 250 degree oven for up to an hour before serving.

Close up of a plate of chicken Milanese with tomato arugula salad.

What to Serve with Chicken Milanese

This Chicken Milanese recipe is an Italian classic and a family favorite perfect for entertaining or a busy weeknight. It is a complete meal on its own, but you can skip the arugula salad and instead serve it with a simple green salad or add some mozzarella and tomato sauce to the breaded cutlets to make chicken parmesan! You can also serve some of these appetizers or sides to make the meal more substantial:

FAQ about Chicken Milanese

Why did my chicken Milanese turn out greasy?

If your oil isn't hot enough when frying, the breadcrumbs will soak up the oil and get soggy and oily. Make sure the oil has plenty of time to heat up before placing the chicken cutlets in the pan. Drop a breadcrumb in the oil to test - if it bubbles up immediately, it's ready.

Is it safe to fry chicken in olive oil?

Yes. It's typical to fry foods in a neutral oil like vegetable or peanut oil because they have a high smoke point, but the flavor just can't compare to a chicken cutlet fried in olive oil. If you're not comfortable fryg in all olive oil, or want to save money, try a 50-50 mixture of olive oil and vegetable oil instead.

Why did the breading fall off my chicken Milanese?

There are a few reasons why this could happen, but follow these tips and you can avoid it in the future. Pat the chicken dry before starting, then make sure you tap off all the excess flour so there is just a thin coating. Gently pat and press the breading into the chicken so it really adheres, then make sure you're letting it rest for at least 30 minutes before frying. When you fry, it helps to use a fork and spoon or spatula or move and flip the chicken rather than tongs, which can interfere with the breading and only flip it once.

How to store and reheat chicken Milanese?

Chicken Milanese is best when eaten fresh, but you can store the chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. For best results, reheat leftover chicken in an air fryer or convection oven preheated to 450 degrees for 5-8 minutes. Or do what I do and eat them cold, straight out of the fridge. Store the tomatoes covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, but let them sit out at room temperature for about an hour before serving. Arugula will not hold up once dressed, so keep it on the side and toss with the dressing as needed.

A plate of crispy fried chicken cutlets with a tomato arugula salad.

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Overhead shot of a plate of crispy chicken Milanese with tomato arugula salad.

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Chicken Milanese with Tomato Arugula Salad

This recipe for Chicken Milanese is truly the BEST you will ever have. Crispy breaded Italian chicken cutlets get topped with a lemony arugula tomato salad and shaved Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. It's a simple and delicious Italian dinner that will have you coming back for seconds (and thirds).

Prep Time: 40

Cook Time: 25

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 1051kcal

Author: Nicole Gaffney