Chicken Milanese w. Arugula Fennel Salad
do you ever eat a salad to be healthy but then crave a burger and fries immediately after? (i do 😅) hopefully this provides a good balance between fried and fresh! thin chicken breasts coated in a parmesan panko crust, air fried until shatteringly crispy — no oil splatter, no mess — then topped with a bright arugula and shaved fennel salad with lemon dressing. it's giving restaurant-at-home energy and my air fryer did all the heavy lifting 🫶
Ingredients
Chicken milanese
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
¼ cup parmesan, finely grated
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
Avocado cooking spray (or any cooking spray)
Arugula fennel salad
3 cups arugula
1 fennel bulb, thinly shaved
¼ cup parmesan, shaved
juice of 1/2 a lemon
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt & pepper to taste
Serves 2
Prep time ~15mins
Cook time ~15mins
Cooking Instructions
Prep the chicken
Set up a dredging station: flour in one bowl, beaten egg in another, panko in a third. Add 1/2 the measurements of garlic powder, paprika, parmesan, salt, and pepper to the flour and panko.
Slice the chicken breast into two even cutlets.
Coat each chicken breast in flour → egg → panko, pressing gently to adhere.
Air fry the cutlets
Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Arrange cutlets in a single layer — don't overlap. Spray generously with cooking spray.
Air fry for 12-14 minutes, flipping halfway and spraying again, until golden and cooked through (165°F internal).
Make the salad & serve
Toss arugula and shaved fennel with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
Plate the chicken cutlets and pile the arugula fennel salad on top or alongside. Finish with shaved parmesan and a squeeze of lemon.
Tips & Notes
Instead of cutting the chicken breast, you can pound chicken to an even ¼-inch thickness — this is what gives you that wide, crispy cutlet
Mix parmesan directly into the panko so every bite has flavor in the crust
Spray both sides generously with cooking spray — this is what gets you that golden color without oil
Don't overlap cutlets in the basket — cook in batches if needed
Use a mandoline for paper-thin fennel shavings — makes a big difference in texture
Dress the salad right before serving so the arugula stays crisp