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Ukrainian chicken Kotleti photographed outside by Alyona. It is plated with buckwheat and a fresh tomato and cucumber salad.

Ukrainian Chicken Kotleti (Cutlets)

By: Alyona Demyanchuk
These ground chicken cutlets are pure comfort food! Served with a lighter buckwheat side and fresh salad, chicken Kotleti (meatballs) make a delicious weeknight meal, perfect for Spring or Summer! No fancy equipment required! Dinner in under 30 minutes!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 28 minutes
Servings: 19 oval meatballs (Kotleti)
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Eastern European, Ukrainian

Equipment

Ingredients

Chicken Kotleti (meatballs):

  • 2 lbs ground chicken , (ground from chicken breasts or thighs)
  • 1 medium onion , (finely grated or blended)
  • 4 oz crackers, (about 22 of the Original Crisp crackers from Aldi or 1 1/3 cups of crushed crackers).
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 5 cloves garlic, (crushed)
  • 1/2 Tbsp salt
  • 1/2 Tbsp black pepper
  • 7 Tbsp avocado oil for frying

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, crush the crackers with your hands until it resembles a fine crumb. Add 3/4 cup of milk and mix it together to make a wet paste. Set it aside.
    The crackers and milk mixture for Kotleti
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 lbs ground chicken, 5 cloves of crushed garlic, 1/2 Tbsp salt, 1/2 Tbsp black pepper, and the cracker and milk mixture. Mix well with your hands until you have a sticky and gloopy mixture.
  • To a 12-inch skillet, add 7 Tbsp of avocado oil and heat it over medium heat (350°F). Using a 1/4 measuring cup, scoop out the meat mixture and form into oval patties. Place 8 to 9 patties into the skillet.
    shaping the ground chicken mixture for kotleti patties using a 1/4 measuring scoop
  • Cook the patties for 3-5 minutes on each side. The internal temperature of the meat should read 165°F. Transfer to a dish lined with paper towels.
    image of chicken Kotleti fried in an electric skillet outdoors.
  • Serve.
    image of fried and ready to eat chicken kotleti (cutlets)

Notes

  • To reheat chicken Kotleti, place them all into a baking dish and add 1/2 to 3/4 cup of water. Cover and bake them in a preheated oven for 30-45 minutes. They should be steaming hot and fluffy. 
  • We served chicken Kotleti with buckwheat and a fresh cucumber and tomato salad. 
  • The Aldi crackers I use for these are larger than regular crackers. So, twenty-two crackers are a little over half a sleeve of the Aldi Original crisp crackers. 
Nutrition Facts
Ukrainian Chicken Kotleti (Cutlets)
Serving Size
 
1 meatball
Amount per Serving
Calories
153
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
11
g
17
%
Saturated Fat
 
2
g
13
%
Trans Fat
 
0.1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
6
g
Cholesterol
 
42
mg
14
%
Sodium
 
269
mg
12
%
Potassium
 
285
mg
8
%
Carbohydrates
 
5
g
2
%
Fiber
 
0.3
g
1
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
9
g
18
%
Vitamin A
 
17
IU
0
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
27
mg
3
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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