Familiar chicken cutlets can be served in a new format by topping them with a pineapple ring and a melted cheese crust. According to the recipe author, this option is great for lunch or dinner when you want to diversify your daily menu without complicated ingredients. Yuliia Liushneva, editor of the Styler lifestyle project (Styler is an entertainment and lifestyle project by RBC-Ukraine, styler.rbc.ua), published a step-by-step air fryer recipe. The estimated cooking time is about 40 minutes, provided all cutlets are baked in a single batch.

Minced meat and shaping

The basis of the dish starts with preparing the minced meat. Chicken fillet is cut into small pieces and placed in a blender bowl, where an egg, cream, and salt are added; the mixture is blended until smooth. According to the author, the minced meat turns out soft and is easy to spoon out. Next, the meat is spooned into an air fryer-safe dish to form flat cutlets of approximately the same size. A small distance is left between the pieces so they do not stick together during baking.

Two-stage air fryer baking

Cooking takes place in two stages. First, the dish with the cutlets is placed in the air fryer and baked at 180 degrees for about 15 minutes without preheating the appliance; during this time, the surface of the cutlets sets. Then the cutlets are taken out, a ring of canned pineapple is placed on each, and the cheese mixture is spread on top. The dish is returned to the air fryer for another 5 minutes or so at the same 180-degree temperature to melt the cheese crust.

The cheese crust and the role of pineapple

While the cutlets are baking for the first time, the topping is prepared: Gouda cheese is grated, mayonnaise and a tablespoon of cornstarch are added, and everything is thoroughly mixed. Syrup is drained from the canned pineapple beforehand so that excess liquid does not get onto the cutlets. According to the author, the pineapple gives the dish a slight sweet note, and the cheese crust complements the taste of the chicken, so the side dish can be served plain without an additional sauce.

Technological nuances and safety

The author emphasizes that the exact cooking time depends on the thickness of the cutlets and the model of the air fryer. If six cutlets do not fit in a single layer, it is better to cook them in multiple batches. Separately, the need to check the doneness of the minced chicken is noted: melted cheese does not mean the meat is fully cooked. For control, it is recommended to use a kitchen thermometer — according to FoodSafety.gov recommendations, the internal temperature of minced chicken products must reach 74 degrees, and baking should be continued if necessary.

Serving and allergens

The author suggests serving the cutlets with a vegetable side dish, but the dish also pairs well with rice or mashed potatoes. Eggs and dairy products are present, and mayonnaise may contain mustard, so in case of food intolerances, you should check the packaging ingredients. Thus, the recipe is a relatively fast way to turn simple ingredients into a more festive family meal.