Pork Schnitzel (2024)

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Thin, tender pork cutlets are pounded, lightly breaded and then pan fried until golden and crisp. Pork schnitzel is a classic main dish that is easy and fun to make at home.

Pork Schnitzel (1)

Is it just me, or is pretty much everything better breaded? I find that there is something absolutely irresistible about crispy breaded things, and schnitzel is a great example. Based on its popularity I get the feeling that a lot of people feel the same as I do.

I've used pork in this recipe, but you could easily swap it out for chicken if that's more of your thing - all the same steps apply.

How to make it

First things first, you want to trim off any fat from the sides of your pork chops.

Then, working two chops at a time, place them in a large freezer bag, seal it up and then pound them out with a wooden rolling pin (or similar instrument) until they are about ¼ inch thick each.

Alternately, you can pound them out with a meat tenderizer, but I like doing it in the bag because it keeps the mess down.

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When you have your cutlets all pounded out season them well front and back with sea salt and fresh ground pepper, then start building your breading station.

You want to round up a few large plates, then add the flour to one, the beaten egg to another, and the breadcrumbs to another and then save a plate to store the breaded schnitzel.

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To bread the cutlets:

  1. Dip the cutlet in the flour and cover both sides. Gently shake off any excess flour.
  2. Dip the cutlet in egg and cover both sides.
  3. Press the cutlet down into the breadcrumbs, then do the same on the other side.
  4. Place the breaded cutlets on a plate to rest until ready to cook.

To cook the schnitzel:

Heat a large skillet to medium heat, then add cooking oil to cover the bottom about ½ an inch.

When the oil is hot, start cooking the schnitzel one at a time.

Gently lower a piece of schnitzel into the skillet then let it cook without disturbing it for 2-3 minutes or until the breading on the bottom has just turned golden brown.

Flip and cook the second side the same.

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To keep the cooked schnitzel crisp while the rest of them are cooking place it on a wire rack inside a lightly heated oven.

Tips for the best schnitzel

give your schnitzel a REALLY good seasoning before you bread it. Don't be shy with that salt and pepper.

As you cook more schnitzel the oil will eventually get dirty with breadcrumbs that have fallen of the cutlets. Feel free to change the oil in between cooking batches if this bothers you - it doesn't bother me.

You can refrigerate the cutlets for about an hour before cooking to help the breadcrumbs stay on better.

How to serve it

I served mine with a bit of horseradish sour cream, but it's commonly served with a lemon wedge. If you want to get fancy (and up the comfort level) there are a couple of traditional sauces you might want to try:

If you are looking for the perfect side dish, garlic parmesan asparagus would be an excellent choice!

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Pork Schnitzel (9)

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Pork Schnitzel

Crispy breaded pork shcnitzel

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Total Time40 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: German

Servings: 4 pieces

Author: Courtney

Ingredients:

  • 4 boneless pork chops
  • 1⁄4 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs - beaten
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • sea salt and fresh ground pepper

Instructions

To prepare the cutlets:

  • Trim the fat from the outside of the pork chops.

  • Working 2 chops at a time, place them inside of a large plastic ziploc bag and pound the chops out to about ¼ inch thick using a wooden rolling pin or similar instrument.

    Pork Schnitzel (10)

  • Season both sides well with sea salt and fresh ground pepper.

To bread the shnitzel:

  • Place the breadcrumbs, flour, and beaten egg into wide shallow bowls or plates.

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  • Using tongs lift the first cutlet and cover both sides with flour. Knock any excess flour back into the bowl.

  • Dip the floured cutlet into the egg wash and cover both sides.

  • Lay the first side of the dipped cutlet into the plate of breadcrumbs and press down to stick them on. Flip over and repeat on the second side.

  • Place the breaded cutlet on a clean plate, and continue to bread the remaining cutlets.

  • Cover the bottom of a large skillet with about ½ inch of oil, then heat to medium heat.

To cook the schnitzel:

  • Fill a wide skillet with about ½ inch of oil and then heat to medium heat.

  • When the oil is hot, start cooking the schnitzel working one at a time.

  • Gently place the first side of the schnitzel in the heated oil and let it cook undisturbed for 20-3 minutes or until the bottom breading has crisped and just turned golden brown.

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  • Flip the schnitzel over and cook the second side for another 2-3 minutes.

  • Notes:

  • Cooling the breaded schnitzel in the fridge for an hour or so before frying will help keep the breading on while cooking.

  • Placing the cooked schnitzel on a wire rack while the rest of the batch cooks will help it keep crispy. To keep it warm, place in a lightly warmed oven.

Notes

Notes:

  1. Cooling the breaded schnitzel in the fridge for an hour or so before frying will help keep the breading on while cooking.
  2. Placing the cooked schnitzel on a wire rack while the rest of the batch cooks will help it keep crispy.
  3. To keep it warm, place in a lightly warmed oven.

* nutritional information is calculated by online tools and may not be 100% accurate.

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About Courtney

Pork Schnitzel (13)I'm Courtney and I love great food!

Creating delicious meals, photographing them, and sharing them with friends and family are some of my favourite joys ❤️
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Pork Schnitzel (2024)

FAQs

What is pork schnitzel made of? ›

To make German-style pork schnitzel, pork loin chops are pounded thin, breaded, and quickly pan fried until crisp and delicious. Adam Dolge is a recipe developer and test cook for many leading national food and lifestyle magazines and digital platforms.

What's the difference between pork cutlet and pork schnitzel? ›

Pork Schnitzel or "Cutlet"

"Schnitzel", for the uninitiated, is German for "cutlet" which is usually made with veal and thinly pounded, breaded and fried. As for this schnitzel recipe, it is made with thinly pounded pork cutlets. Those of you looking for a quick, mid-week dinner may be happy with this one.

What is schnitzel called in America? ›

United States

Chicken fried steak, also called country fried steak, is nearly identical to schnitzel. It is a breaded and deep fried beef steak.

What do you eat with schnitzel? ›

How to serve Schnitzel
  1. Straight up with just a squeeze of lemon. ...
  2. Schnitzel sauce – my favourite is mushroom gravy.
  3. On the side – mashed potato, fries or crispy Potato Rosti are common options.
  4. Fresh side – I also like to serve it with a side of something fresh, like this Everyday Cabbage Salad or Cabbage and Fennel Slaw.
Mar 3, 2019

Why do Jews eat schnitzel? ›

Originally brought from Europe to Israel by Ashkenazi Jews, schnitzel instantly became a hit. During the early years of the state of Israel, veal was not widely available, so chicken or turkey became a substitute. Nowadays, the meat used is generally chicken or turkey breast to keep it kosher.

What the heck is a schnitzel? ›

schnitzel, a thin meat cutlet, pounded until tender and then breaded and fried, that is a culinary staple in German-speaking countries and communities. The Americanized version of the dish is chicken-fried steak.

Does Aldi sell schnitzel? ›

Aldi's frozen pork schnitzel combines convenience, affordability, and delightful flavors. While precise air fryer instructions may be missing, it doesn't mean you can't utilize this cooking method.

What is schnitzel made of in America? ›

The dish's name actually comes from the German word schnitt, which translates to "cut." The most popular type of meat for schnitzel is veal (wiener-schnitzel) or pork (schweine-schnitzel), but you also see varieties made with chicken (hänchen-schnitzel), or turkey (puten-schnitzel).

Is pork tenderloin the same as schnitzel? ›

The primary differences between a pork tenderloin sandwich and a Wiener Schnitzel are that the pork tenderloin sandwich is made exclusively using pork loin and it is deep fried instead of pan fried. The pork tenderloin sandwich is also usually served on a bun.

Is Wiener Schnitzel the same as schnitzel? ›

Basically, all schnitzels are breaded and fried thin pieces of meat, but only wiener schnitzel is made with veal. Cooking term: Schnitzel is a cooking term used to describe any meat pounded thin, then breaded and fried.

Is chicken fried steak just schnitzel? ›

Chicken fried steak, contrary to its ame is made with beef but is similar, eaten in southern US and usually topped with gravy. And schnitzel is the German version of fried steak, although the traditional form is with veal.

What is the Italian version of schnitzel? ›

Don't call it schnitzel and not even cutlet, because in Milan the meat is strictly veal, on the bone, two fingers high, breaded in egg and breadcrumbs and fried in clarified butter. It has only one name: “costoletta” rib, and everything else is irrelevant.

Do Jews eat schnitzel? ›

Schnitzel is not uniquely Jewish yet it is beloved by many Jews. The question is: why? According to most experts, including several top schnitzologists, schnitzelticians and schnitzographers, there are many possible reasons for the strong Jewish connection to schnitzel.

Do Germans eat schnitzel with noodles? ›

In the warm months, schnitzel served with a squeeze of lemon and sprinkled with parsley would go well with kartoffelsalat which is potato salad or gurkensalat which is a cucumber salad and in the cold months, schnitzel is delicious served with a hearty mushroom cream sauce and kartoffel which are potatoes or spätzle ...

What oil do you use to fry schnitzel? ›

If the oil is not hot enough, the chicken will absorb too much oil and give you soggy, oily schnitzel. I use quality extra virgin olive oil, which has a high enough smoke point to fry the schnitzel.

What part of the pig does pork schnitzel come from? ›

Nierstück—Loin (UK/US)

Most often used for roasts, steaks and schnitzel. Pork chops and pork tenderloin (Schweinsfilet) also come from somewhere in this region of the pig.

Is schnitzel just fried meat? ›

Basically, all schnitzels are breaded and fried thin pieces of meat, but only wiener schnitzel is made with veal. Cooking term: Schnitzel is a cooking term used to describe any meat pounded thin, then breaded and fried.

Is schnitzel healthy? ›

Schnitzel is usually fried, which isn't the healthiest thing, but if you have no weight issues or cardiac markers, it won't hurt you. The chicken in schnitzel is skinless white meat, which is high in protein and low in fat.

What part of the animal is schnitzel? ›

Schnitzel. One of the most versatile cuts around, schnitzel is a thin slice of meat achieved by pounding it with a meat tenderiser. This boneless cut is sliced thinly and typically comes from the thick flank.

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