These kotleti are packed with ground chicken and ultra-juicy. Consider them the Slavic version of chicken nuggets or chicken patties!
Chicken and cheese kotleti are Slavic-style chicken patties that are the epitome of healthy comfort food. Growing up, I would stand by the skillet as my mom prepared them, impatiently waiting for juicy bite!
In Russia, chicken kotleti are beloved by kids. Just like moms in the United States can lean on chicken nuggets or chicken patties to feed picky eaters, Slavic moms know kotleti will always be a crowd pleaser.
Made with ground chicken, shredded cheese, sautéed veggies, and simple spices, they are neutral enough to be served alongside almost any side dish (although traditional Slavic side dishes are best!) and super simple to make!
How to Make Chicken & Cheese Kotleti
Making chicken and cheese kotleti only requires a couple of wholesome ingredients you likely already have having out in your kitchen. Below, find a quick hitter overview of the recipe before you dive in.
- Prep the Veggies: Dice the onions and shred the carrot. Sauté, blend, and add the veggies to a large mixing bowl with the ground meat. Blend or food process the other onion and add it to the bowl.
- Soak and Crumble the Bread: In a shallow dish, soak the bread in milk for about 10 minutes. With your hands, squeeze out as much milk as possible from it and crumble it into the meat mixture.
- Add Cheese and Season: Add the shredded cheese and season the meat mixture generously with salt and pepper.
- Form the Patties: Using your hands, mix the ingredients together. In the palm of your hand, form slightly oval-shaped patties.
- Fry the Patties: In a deep skillet over high-heat, fry the patties until browned (about 1-2 minutes per side) in a little olive oil.
- Bake the Patties: Transfer meat patties to a baking sheet and cover with foil. Bake at 300°F for 30 minutes. Enjoy!
Tips for Making the Best Chicken Patties
Below, find a collection of tips and tricks to help you make the best kotleti.
- Soak the bread for about 10 minutes. This step helps to give the chicken patties their signature moistness. Don’t skip it!
- Only slightly brown the patties. Avoid overcooking the patties by only browning them for about 1 minute on each side. The rest of the cooking will happen in the oven!
- Mix the patties by hand. Skip using a spoon and mix the patties with your hands! This will prevent you from over mixing the meat mixture.
Serving Chicken Patties
The best way to serve chicken and cheese kotleti is with traditional Slavic sides. Buckwheat, mashed potatoes, cabbage salad, and marinated cucumbers immediately come to mind. You could also bake some fresh baguettes and use them to sop up the juices that come out of the kotleti when you slice into them.
Storing Chicken Chicken Patties
- Refrigerator: Store leftover chicken patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should keep for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze leftover kotleti by allowing them to cool completely. Next, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Then, pop the entire baking sheet into the freezer. Once completely frozen, transfer the kotleti into a freezer-safe plastic bag. The meat patties will stay fresh for up to 3 months.
Reheating Tip: Reheat frozen or refrigerated kotleti in the oven at 350⁰F for about 15 minutes, or until warmed through. You can also reheat the patties in an air fryer if you have one! A 3-4 minutes on each side should do the trick.
FAQ
Are chicken patties healthy?
Yes, chicken patties are healthy for you. Filling and wholesome, this recipe is packed full of protein, veggies, whole wheat bread, and cheese.
What goes good on a chicken patty?
Chicken patties are good all on their own as the main dish, or served on toasty bread with mayonnaise, onion, and tomato.
How do I cook frozen chicken patties?
You can cook frozen chicken patties by placing them in the oven at 350⁰F for about 15 minutes, or until warmed through. If you have one, you could also reheat them in an air fryer for a couple minutes on each side.
Can I prep chicken patties ahead of time?
Yes, you can prep chicken patties ahead of time. You can prep the mixture a day ahead and simply shape and fry the patties the day-of. You could also prep and freeze the patties to have them on-demand for a rainy day.
Can I use different ground meat?
You can use ground pork or ground turkey. A mixture of ground chicken and ground pork works really well, too. The only ground meat you probably shouldn’t use is ground beef, as it doesn’t turn out as juicy as the others.
More Tasty Meat Patties
- Classic Russian Kotleti – Juicy chicken patties
- Grape Jelly Meatballs – Sweet and salty meatballs
- Oatmeal Meatballs – Hearty chicken and oatmeal meatballs
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Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- Dice one of the onions and shred carrot. Sauté the veggies until softened and blend them until smooth. In a large mixing bowl, combine the blended veggies with the ground meat.
- Using a food processor or blender, blend the other onion and add it to the meat mixture.
- In a separate dish, soak the bread slices in milk for about 10 minutes. Using your hand, squeeze out as much milk as you can from the bread and crumble it into the meat mixture. Add cheese to the meat mixture and season it with salt and pepper.
- Using your hands, mix the ingredients together until well-combined.
- Form meat patties into oval-shapes about the size of your hand. Over high-heat, fry each side just until they are browned (about 1 minute per side).
- Transfer the meat patties to a shallow baking dish and cover them loosely with foil. Bake at 300°F for 30 minutes.
- Serve kotleti hot along with your favorite sides!
Hi! Is it 4 lbs of chicken? It sounds like a lot!
Hey Natalya, yes it would be 4lb if you use it as a main course on the plate. We typically have some leftovers for later. Hope this helps 😊
Use raw or cooked chicken?
Hey Cammy, you would use raw chciken.
Hi! I’m reading this right that it is 4lbs of chicken and it makes 8 servings, correct?
Hey Marie, yes if you use it as a main course on the plate. We typically have some leftovers for later.
Hi 🙂 I was wondering if I make extra and frezze the meatballs and fry them on a day I need them if that would be okay . if so , how long they are good to be in the freezer ? Or would it be best to make them and then freeze them or frezze them raw already a rounded .?
I would fry them before freezing. You can easily reheat them in a oven or microwave.
do you think it will still taste good if I use half ground chicken and half ground turkey?
Yes, it will be just as good. I do that combination often
I don't have chicken at home but I do have beef? Think I can try that instead?
You can use beef but they would't be as moist as with chicken. If you try them, let me know how you like them.
can I make the katleti ahead and put in oven next day? to save some time... should be ok, right? thnx
Yes, that would work out perfect. Thanks for such a great idea. I will do this when ever we host a large party!
Made these tonight so so good!!!!! I struggle cooking:/ but these turned out great thanks for the recipe will be making them again for sure!
Hi Tanya, I am so happy you loved them. It's nice when others share their favorite recipes and I get to post them for everyone here. We love those kotleti also, hoping to make them this week.
Hey darling! If I don't wanna use bread, what would you substitute???
I used 2 shredded potatoes instead of the bread and it works just as good if not better))
That's a great idea. My grandma often used potatoes back in the days. Thanks for sharing your tip 😉
They may not come out as moist but you can try using instant oatmeal. I have used them in kotleti and they turned out pretty good.
Thanks!!! Potatoes may work 🙂 I'm trying to do no grains!
Every time I made kotleti they never came out good! But this r just the best!!!! Thank u sooo much, Gone in 2days;)
Hi Dina, thank you! It's nice when people share their recipes and we all get to enjoy this goodness at home 😉