CHICKEN SCHNITZEL:
Schnitzel is something I grew up with, it was one of those dishes that was a staple at our house. The great thing about schnitzel is that it can be made with any kind of meat, I have made it with pork before, with veal and as seen here with chicken.
Chicken Schnitzel Highlights:
Super Crispy Chicken. If you love crispy chicken, then this schnitzel is for you. This schnitzel is first dredged through seasoned flour, eggs and finally panko breadcrumbs then fried to a crispy perfection.
Juicy And Tender. While crispy on the outside, this chicken schnitzel is extremely juicy and tender on the inside.
Quick And Easy. Once you prep the chicken and dredge it through flour, eggs and breadcrumbs, it fries super quick making this an incredibly easy and quick dish!
Ingredients You’ll Need overhead shot of ingredients needed to make chicken schnitzel:
Chicken – You’ll need boneless skinless chicken breasts with the tenders removed, this will make it easier to get nice flat pieces of chicken. You could use boneless skinless chicken thighs as well, if you choose.
Flour – Flour is a must for this recipe. With the egg, it will bind those breadcrumbs to your chicken for a nice crispy schnitzel. You can use gluten-free flour if you want.
Breadcrumbs – Traditionally these are done with regular breadcrumbs which is my favorite, but I prefer Panko because I find that give me a crispier schnitzel. Since regular Panko breadcrumbs are quite bigger crumbs, you can either pulse them in a food processor for a few seconds or place them in a ziploc bag. Use a rolling pin to roll over the bag to make the crumbs smaller and finer.
Eggs – I used large eggs for this recipe. Since we’re using them to dredge the chicken, you can use any size or type that you have handy.
Dijon Mustard – I like to add a little Dijon mustard to my eggs for a little tangy flavor.
Salt And Pepper – You can season to your own preference.
Vegetable Oil – You need an oil with a high smoke point to fry the schnitzel. Peanut, safflower, sunflower, or canola oil will work as well.
How To Make Chicken Schnitzel :
detail process shots showing how to prep chicken to make schnitzel.
Prep the chicken. Remove chicken tenders from breasts and save them for later use. Working with one piece of chicken breast at a time, place it in a ziploc plastic bag or between two sheets of plastic wrap. If using a plastic bag, partially close the bag, but not all the way to allow air to flow out. Use a meat mallet to pound out the meat using the flat side of the mallet, gently so you don’t tear the meat, until it’s about ¼-inch in thickness. Repeat with the rest of chicken breasts. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Prep the dredge. In one shallow plate whisk the flour with 1 tsp salt and pepper. In another shallow plate whisk the breadcrumbs with 1 tsp salt and pepper and in another plate, whisk the eggs with 1 tsp salt, pepper and the Dijon mustard.
Dredge the chicken. Place a rack on a baking sheet. Place all plates next to each other like on an assembly line. Start by coating the chicken in the flour mixture first, shaking off any excess. Dip it into the egg mixture next, making sure it’s fully covered in egg, and lastly dredge it through the breadcrumb mixture. Place on the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the rest of the chicken.
Fry the chicken. Heat about ½-inch of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot enough (350F) place a schnitzel into the skillet and fry, the oil should sizzle. Usually I drop a breadcrumb to see if it sizzles. If your skillet is really big you may be able to fry two pieces of chicken at a time, otherwise don’t rush this process. I used a 10½-inch skillet, and was only able to fry one schnitzel at a time. Add more oil as necessary in between schnitzels. Fry for about 2 to 3 minutes per side or until the schnitzel is a deep golden brown. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels or another baking sheet with a rack on top. Repeat with remaining chicken.
Serve. Serve schnitzels with lemon wedges, Dijon mustard and I like to serve mine with mashed potatoes.
process shots showing how to fry chicken schnitzel.
Can You Make Schnitzel In An Air Fryer?
Yes, absolutely! As a matter of fact, I did myself and I have to say it comes out super crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
All you need do is follow the instructions to prep the chicken as stated in the recipe. Next, preheat your air fryer to 380°F.
Place the schnitzel in the air fryer basket and air fry for 7 to 8 minutes, flipping over half way through. If your air fryer basket is big enough, you can probably place 2 pieces of chicken in there, otherwise just do one at a time. Do open your air fryer basket before the timer is up to check on the chicken, and make sure it’s done to your liking.
a chicken schnitzel in the air fryer.
What is Schnitzel
Schnitzel is a popular German dish but I think it’s popular in pretty much all of Europe. It’s usually served with mashed potatoes or spaetzle but lemons and mustard are a must. Squeezing some lemon juice over the schnitzel is a must, it really does make all the difference in the world.
My favorite thing about making schnitzel is pounding the heck out of the meat. It’s a way to take out your frustrations, however try to do it in a gentle way, if that’s possible because you don’t want to tear the meat. But anyway, it’s a lot of fun, trust me.
What Kind Of Meat Is Used When Making Schnitzel
Traditionally schnitzel is made with thin pieces of veal chops. It’s not always easy to find veal in grocery stores, unless you go to a butcher.
However, I love using skinless boneless chicken breasts or pork tenderloin to make schnitzel.
freshly made chicken schnitzel on a platter with lemon wedges.
Serve Schnitzel With
creamy mashed potatoes in a white bowl garnished with parsley.
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Mashed Potatoes
side shot of homemade spaetzle in a white bowl garnished with parsley and freshly grated parmesan cheese
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Homemade Spaetzle
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The Ultimate Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
closeup of avocado salad in a black bowl.
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Avocado Salad
Expert Tips
The plastic bag or wrap will help prevent splattering chicken juices over the counter or all over yourself.
Work slow and deliberately when tenderizing the chicken so you don’t tear holes. Get them nice and thin but no thinner than¼-inch in thickness!
Test your oil by dropping a breadcrumb or the end of a wooden spoon into the oil to see if it sizzles.
Keep a close eye on your chicken as they fry. Adjust the heat as needed to make sure you get the perfect color.
a chicken schnitzel on a plate with mashed potatoes and lemon wedges.
Leftovers
Store leftover chicken schnitzel in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Freezing
You can actually freeze chicken schnitzel and it’s great for make ahead. Simply prepare the schnitzel as instructed and before you fry it you can actually place it on a baking sheet and flash freeze it for about a couple hours or until frozen solid. Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and place them in a freezer bag, then freeze for up to 3 months.
Defrost overnight in the fridge then fry as instructed.
You can even freeze the chicken schnitzel after being fried. Simply let it come to room temperature then wrap each chicken schnitzel in plastic wrap and place in an air tight container. Place in the freezer and freeze for up to 3 months.
freshly made chicken schnitzel on a platter with lemon wedges will be very tasty....
