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Home » Recipes » Chicken Recipes

Chicken Katsu

Published: Jun 19, 2024 by Chef Ryan Littley

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Made with simple ingredients, chicken katsu is crispy on the outside and moist and juicy on the inside. This classic Japanese home-style dish is easy to make and is sure to become a family favorite!

Katsu Chicken served over white rice with tonkatsu sauce.


 

What’s not to like about crispy, juicy fried chicken? Our chicken katsu is delightfully crunchy thanks to the panko breadcrumbs.

Its crispy exterior makes it a delicious dinner option served with white rice and our delicious Tonkatsu sauce (Japanese barbecue sauce).

Katsu Chicken served over white rice with tonkatsu sauce.

Serve chicken katsu with homemade tonkatu sauce and white rice. As a dinner selection, it’s traditionally served with cabbage salad. But served with the chicken katsu sauce, it also makes a delicious sandwich!

If you enjoy fried chicken, make sure to try my Chicken Milanese, and Chicken Schnitzel recipes.

Table of Contents:
  • Ingredients to make Chicken Katsu
  • Can I use other chicken parts?
  • How to make Chicken Katsu
  • How to make Tonkatsu Sauce
  • Recipe FAQ’s
  • More Recipes You’ll Love!
  • Recipe: Chicken Katsu

Ingredients to make Chicken Katsu

ingredients to make the recipe.

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make our Katsu Chicken recipe. In Chef Speak, this is called the Mise en Place, which translates into Everything in its Place.

Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed the cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

Can I use other chicken parts?

We used chicken breasts to make the dish, but you can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken tenders to make chicken katsu.

You can also use a pork cutlet or thin slices of beef to make this recipe.

How to make Chicken Katsu

  • Add the all-purpose flour to a shallow bowl and set aside until needed.
  • Add the large egg to a shallow bowl, whisk to combine, and set aside until needed.
    *Add a tablespoon of cold water to the egg before whisking.
  • Add the panko breadcrumb to a shallow bowl and set aside until needed.
Collage showing how to start the recipe.
  • Use a meat mallet to pound the chicken breasts to about ½ inch thickness.
  • Sprinkle each piece with salt and black pepper.
  • Dredge the chicken one at a time in the flour.
  • Turn to coat them on both sides.
Collage showing how to finish the recipe.
  • Dip the floured breasts in the egg mixture.
  • Let the egg drip off the chicken, then coat it with the panko crumbs.
  • Turn to coat them on both sides.
  • Place a large pot over high heat with at least 2 inches of vegetable oil. Heat to 350 degrees.
  • When the oil is hot, add the chicken two at a time to the hot oil, deep frying the chicken cutlets for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown (or it reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F.).
  • Remove the katsu chicken from the pan and place it on a wire rack or a plate lined with paper towels for 1 – 2 minutes to let the excess oil drain.

We used vegetable oil to make the recipe, but you can use canola oil, peanut oil, or any oil with a high smoke point.

How to make Tonkatsu Sauce

Collage showing how to make tonkatsu sauce.
  • Add the Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, oyster sauce, and sugar to a small bowl.
  • Whisk until the sugar is completely dissolved.

If you can’t find oyster sauce, soy sauce can be used instead.

Katsu Chicken served over white rice with tonkatsu sauce.

Our chicken katsu with tonkatsu sauce will rival your favorite Japanese restaurant’s version. And the best part is you get to control the ingredients!

Store any leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350 degree oven oven for about 10 -12 minutes, or until heated through with an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Recipe FAQ’s

How is chicken katsu different from fried chicken?

Fried chicken has a coating made from flour, while Katsu chicken is breaded with panko breadcrumbs. The lighter panko breadcrumbs create a crispier, lighter, crunchy coating than traditional breading.

Can I air-fry chicken katsu?

Yes, you can. Place the breaded chicken into an air fryer basket and lightly spray the top with a neutral oil spray (canola or avocado oil). Air fry at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Lightly spray the top again, flip, spray the bottom side, and continue cooking at 350 for 4-6 minutes or until the crust is golden and the internal temp reads at least 165F.

More Recipes You’ll Love!

  • Chicken Milanese with salad on a white plate
    Chicken Milanese Recipe
  • Chicken schnitzel on a white plate with lemon circles and asparagus.
    Chicken Schnitzel
  • Chicken fried chicken with country gravy on a white plate.
    Chicken Fried Chicken Recipe (with Country Gravy)
  • Fried chicken sandwich on a cutting board.
    Classic Fried Chicken Sandwich

Katsu Chicken served over white rice with tonkatsu sauce.

Chicken Katsu

Chef Ryan Littley
Made with simple ingredients, chicken katsu is crispy on the outside and moist and juicy on the inside. This classic Japanese home-style dish is easy to make and is sure to become a family favorite!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 8 minutes mins
Total Time 23 minutes mins
Course Entree
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 4
Calories 358 kcal

Ingredients
  

Katsu Chicken

  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon table salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 scallions sliced on bias for garnish

Tonkatsu Sauce

  • 6 tablespoon ketchup
  • 4 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 2 tbsp sugar more or less to taste

Instructions
 

Chicken Katsu

  • Use a meat mallet to pound the chicken breasts to about ½ inch thickness.
  • Sprinkle each piece with salt and black pepper.
  • Add the all-purpose flour to a shallow bowl.
  • Add the large egg to a shallow bowl and whisk to combine.
    *Add a tablespoon of cold water to the egg before whisking.
  • Add the panko breadcrumb to a small bowl.
  • Dredge the chicken breasts in the flour, coating both sides.
  • Dip the floured breasts in the egg mixture.
  • Let the egg drip off the chicken, then coat it with the panko breadcrumbs. Coating it on both sides.
  • Place a large pot over high heat with oil at least 2 inches of cooking oil in the pot. Heat to 350 degrees.
  • When the oil is hot, add the chicken two at a time and fry for 3-4 minutes on each side or until an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F. has been reached.
  • Remove the fried chicken from the oil and place it on a wire rack or a plate lined with paper towels to drain for 2 minutes.
  • Slice the Katsu chicken and serve with white rice and tonkatsu sauce. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.

Tonkatsu Sauce

  • Add the Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, oyster sauce, and sugar to a small bowl. Whisk until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Notes

Can I air fry the chicken?
Yes, you can. Place the breaded chicken into an air fryer basket and lightly spray the top with a neutral oil spray (canola or avocado oil). Air fry at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Lightly spray the top again, flip, spray the bottom side, and continue cooking at 350 for 4-6 minutes or until the crust is golden and the internal temp reads at least 165F.

Nutrition

Calories: 358kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 31gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 119mgSodium: 1.131mgPotassium: 719mgFiber: 2gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 291IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 85mgIron: 4mg
Tried this recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askchefdennis or tag #askchefdennis!

Comments

    5 from 1 vote

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Evan Acocella says

    June 24, 2024 at 1:11 pm

    Hey Chef,

    For cooking the Chicken, as much as I’d like to fry it and get that oil juiciness in the chicken, frying in oil is just such a pain, setup and cleanup wise. Is there a way we could air fry it and have it come out just as good? I understand it will be a little dryer, but figured I’d ask.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      June 24, 2024 at 1:45 pm

      Hi Evan, yes you can air fry the chicken. The instructions are in the FAQ’s near the bottom of the post.

      Place the breaded chicken into an air fryer basket and lightly spray the top with a neutral oil spray (canola or avocado oil). Air fry at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Lightly spray the top again, flip, spray the bottom side, and continue cooking at 350 for 4-6 minutes or until the crust is golden and the internal temp reads at least 165F.

      Reply
  2. Lisa says

    June 19, 2024 at 9:52 am

    5 stars
    This looks OMG delicious!

    Reply


My name is Chef Dennis Littley, creator and owner of Ask Chef Dennis Productions. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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