This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Everyone that tries these cheesy chicken fritters, loves them! They are easy to prepare and very flavorful. The cheese in the batter forms part of the outer crust and a creates an irresistible cheese pull as you bite into these yummy chicken fritters. Marinating the chicken makes it incredibly tender and juicy.
You’ll want to marinate 2 hours or overnight; so there’s a make-ahead option! I served them with a really simple garlic aioli dip but these fritters are still super yummy without the dip (see, I highlighted all of the really important points for my speed readers).
This recipe is really easy to double if you’re feeding a crowd. One of my readers, Nadia, shared these”Kotleti Nezhnost” or Tender Kotleti with us; a recipe her children and family love.
These really are super tender! Nadia used cornstarch (gluten free option) instead of flour but I tested it both ways and I didn’t notice a difference in taste or flavor so you can really use either one for your batter.
Oh and I added some fresh dill which which added great flavor. Somehow dill makes everything taste more Ukrainian. I’d love to claim it as a Ukrainian herb but I’d get hit with a firestorm in the comment section so I won’t go there. lol.
Watch How to Make Tender Chicken Fritters:
Ingredients for Tender Chicken Fritters:
1 1/2 lbs (3 large) chicken breasts
2 large eggs
5 Tbsp (about 1/3 cup) mayonnaise
1/3 cup all-purpose flour (or cornstarch or potato starch for gluten free option)
4 oz (1 1/3 cups) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill
1/2 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
Extra light olive oil, or any high heat cooking oil to sautee
How to Make Chicken Fritters (Kotleti):
1. Using a sharp knife, dice chicken into 1/3″ to 1/2″ thick pieces and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl combine batter ingredients: 2 eggs, 5 Tbsp mayo, 1/3 cup flour, 1 1/3 cups mozzarella, 1 1/2 Tbsp dill, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Stir until well combined. Stir in diced chicken, cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours, or overnight.
3. Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat. Add 2 Tbsp oil and when oil is hot, add the chicken mixture a heaping tablespoon at a time (I used a flat ice cream scoop for uniform sizes).
Pat down the fritters with the back of your spoon to flatten them slightly. Saute uncovered 3 – 4 min on the first side then flip and saute uncovered 3 min on the second side or until golden brown and fully cooked through. Repeat with remaining fritters. Remove to a paper towel lined plate.
Serve these chicken fritters with garlic aioli dip if desired and enjoy!! They’d also be great as mini sandwiches (sliders).
Tender Chicken Fritters

Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs 3 large chicken breasts
- 2 large eggs
- 5 Tbsp about 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour, or cornstarch or potato starch
- 4 oz 1 1/3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 1/2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill
- 1/2 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
- Extra light olive oil, or any high heat oil to sautee
Instructions
- Using a sharp knife, dice chicken into 1/3" to 1/2" thick pieces and set aside.
- In a medium bowl combine batter ingredients: 2 eggs, 5 Tbsp mayo, 1/3 cup flour, 1 1/3 cups mozzarella, 1 1/2 Tbsp dill, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Stir until well combined. Stir in diced chicken, cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours, or overnight.
- Heat a large non-stick pan over med heat. Add 2 Tbsp oil and when hot, add the chicken mixture a heaping Tbsp at a time (I used a flat ice cream scoop). Pat down fritters with the back of your spoon to flatten slightly. Saute uncovered 3 - 4 min on the first side then flip and saute uncovered 3 min on the second side or until golden brown and fully cooked. Repeat with remaining fritters. Remove to a paper towel lined dish.
Nutrition Per Serving
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Nadia, thank you so much for sharing this new family favorite with us! 🙂
Do these reheat well?
These reheat really good 😁.
hi will you be able to post canned marinated recipes for this summer? i’m still waiting for canned bread & buttered pickles. or anything else you know that’s delishh, for my mom will have a garden full of tomatoes & cucumbers but it’s hard to find good recipes to try =).
Hi Valentina! We will probably have to wait for the garden veggies to start working on those recipes. Thank you for the recipe suggestions! 🙂
Just finished making these!!! Ahhhh! Soo soo delicious and truly TENDER! I used to make brizoli similar , but without cheese… The cheese really makes them very special and perfect! Thank u!
Larisa, I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review! 😁
My husband said “these r good like REALLY good” lol. last night dinner was scrumptious thanks for the recipe. I’m done making kotleti these r so much better/easier to make too!! Thanks again love ur website!
Tanya, I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review and you are welcome 😀.
Absolutely 5 stars!!!!! Made them yesterday. So soft and delicious!!!!! Thank you again!!! Did I say DELICIOUS?!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for that fantastic review!! 🙂
Mother tested, kids approved! Made them for dinner today. Very soft and tasty.
Thank you
I didn’t have plain mozzarella cheese. I used my Mexican cheese blend from Costco. Tasted great.
Ester, you are very welcome and thank you for sharing such a nice review 😀
Natasha, I just found your website looking for a shrimp recipe. Let me tell you I am so glad I came here!!.
You have a beautiful family. I have a boy and girl 4 and 1/2 years apart. Our families are such blessings from God.
I am looking through your recipes right now. You have some super yummy looking meals here.I will have to try these chicken fritters very very soon!!!! I love cooking for my family.
Thanks for sharing your recipes.
God bless you
Carla, welcome to the site and thank you for such a sweet comment ☺️. I hope you’ll find lots of new favorites here!
These are fantastic! Made them with buckwheat and a creamy cucumber salad for lunch. Delicious!! So soft and juicy. Thank you for another great recipe!!
Tania, that’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite! 😃
do these really cook thru with the batter on top? going by the minutes you mentioned?
Olga, yes they do. You can always test the thickest one to make sure.
These are really really good, but we make them without cheese, now I have to try with cheese. Love the fact that you included dill…love that herb!
Thank you Mila, dill makes everything taste better :D.
Wow Natasha you did it again!!! Amazing recipe!!!
I’m so happy you loved it. Thank you for sharing you awesome review! 🙂
Hi! Question, why do u think my “partties” got stuck to the pan when I tried to flip them and they were just falling apart 🙁 not enough flour or eggs? I think I had a little more chicken than your recipe called for …
Hi Luba, it is likely because you had more chicken – you need enough batter to hold the patties together. I didn’t have this experience in any of my experiments but I also didn’t change the proportions very much. Also, were you using a non-stick pan and enough oil?
What an interesting take on a Ukrainian classic. I think Kotleti is one of the things our whole family can agree on so this will be perfect.
Let me know how they turn out 😀.
Hi Natasha. My family doesn’t eat mayonnaise. Do you think Greek yogurt would work as a substitute? Thanks
To be honest, I haven’t tried that variation but I do think it’s worth experimenting 🙂
These look amazing! Can I substitute dill with other herb?
I think parsley would work fine. The original recipe didn’t have any herbs so you could also just leave it out.
Can Mozzarella cheese be replaced with any other cheese or flavor will be impacted?
You can substitute it with other cheeses that are mild in flavor similar to mozzarella, but keep in mind some cheeses are more salt so you may want to use less salt.
Just made these! Delicious! I added extra seasoning so didn’t have much need for mayo sauce after trying the fritters. But they were perfect with a side of young potatoes :)) thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! The mayo helps to make them more tender, but yes the recipe still works without it 🙂 Thanks for the awesome review!
I used the mayo in the recipe! Just didn’t use the dipping sauce:) sorry for the confusion!
Natasha!!! These are soooo amazing, just made them for lunch, with penne pasta (in a light creamy sauce) and asparagus.. I’m not a big fan of katleti or shnizel/obivnie but these are different, so so juicy and the flavor it’s just good. Thanks again. Love your blog.
Thank you so much for the awesome review! 🙂
Hey Natasha!
These look absolutely amazing! What would you recommend as a sides for these? I’m pretty sure I will make these for dinner tomorrow night I know my husband and son will go crazy for these
They would be really good with mashed potatoes with a fresh cucumber on the side. Mmmm. They would taste good with most grains; buckwheat, buttered pasta… I hope your family loves this recipe! 🙂
Hello Natasha, I am first today, which mean I’m here ” s utra po ranshe”- searching something for my big family. I love your kitchen and way how to prepare the food. Ah, I am ready to do it today. Thanks and blessings to your beautiful family.
I’m so happy to hear that my blog is a blessing to your family. Thank you so much for sharing that with me 😀.