Super Easy Pork Schnitzel Recipe (2024)

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This super easy Pork Schnitzel Recipe is a traditional German recipe that’s crispy, flavorful and perfect for any night of the week.

We love to serve these thin, breaded pork cutlets with my Classic Mashed Potatoes and Sautéed Zucchini for a complete meal.

Super Easy Pork Schnitzel Recipe (1)Super Easy Pork Schnitzel Recipe (2)Whatever you serve it with, make sure you serve with sliced lemon wedges! It’s a must!

What Exactly Is Pork Schnitzel?

If you’re not familiar with the word Schnitzel, or the popular Western food chain Weiner Schnitzel comes to mind… let me expand your food horizons a bit.

Schnitzel is a term used when referring to a cut of meat that has been pounded thin (usually a cutlet), breaded and then pan fried in fat.

When I lived in Northern British Columbia in a small town of just 4,ooo people, there were few restaurants to enjoy. However, one of those restaurants had all sorts of Schnitzel on it’s menu (Chicken, Pork, Veal), and I was so intrigued.

After trying them all and falling in love with the crispy coating and flavorful pop of lemon, it started to become a weekday staple in our house.

How To Make Easy Pork Schnitzel Recipe

This easy recipe comes together in just a few minutes, making it an ideal weeknight dinner.

Ingredients for Schnitzel

Here’s a basic list of the ingredients you’ll need to make pork schnitzel. As always, you can find the full, printable recipe in the recipe card below.

  • Boneless Pork Chops – about 1/2″ thick
  • All Purpose Flour
  • Salt
  • Garlic Powder
  • Paprika
  • Pepper
  • Egg
  • Milk – or half and half
  • Panko Breadcrumbs – found in the Asian foods aisle
  • Nutmeg – trust me on this!
  • Oil – I prefer a healthy olive oil for this recipe
  • Lemon wedges for serving – a MUST!

Super Easy Pork Schnitzel Recipe (3)

How To Make Pork Schnitzel

This recipe can easily be adapted to other cuts of meat like chicken, veal, beef, turkey, even mutton!

  1. The first thing you’ll want to do is trim any fat from the pork cutlets and then pound them thin by covering with parchment paper or plastic wrap and using a heavy rolling pin or meat tenderizer.
  2. Make sure the pork is about 1/4″ thick.
  3. Next combine the flour, salt, garlic powder, paprika and black pepper in a small bowl and coat the pork chops, shaking off any excess.
  4. Dip the flour-coated pork chop into the beaten egg on both sides.
  5. Finally, coat the pork chop in a mixture of breadcrumbs and nutmeg, then fry in a skillet with hot oil until golden brown on both sides.

What Cut of Pork Is Used For Schnitzel?

Schnitzel is most commonly a form of a cutlet. When cooking pork schnitzel you’ll want to use a thinly cut, boneless PORK CHOP.

PRO TIP: There is a thin strip of fat on the side of the pork chops that you’ll want to cut off before cooking.

Super Easy Pork Schnitzel Recipe (4)

What To Serve With Schnitzel?

Any sort of traditional Schnitzel should be served with a slice of lemon and a sprinkle of fresh parsley, in my opinion.

If you’re looking for side dishes to serve with Schnitzel, you’re in luck. The crispy fried pork is very neutral in flavors so it lends itself to lots of options for side dishes.

  • Classic Mashed Potatoes
  • Scalloped Potatoes
  • Baked Potatoes
  • Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
  • Cucumber Tomato Salad

Super Easy Pork Schnitzel Recipe (5)

You’re going to fall in love with this simple recipe!

It’s quick, crispy, flavorful and pairs perfectly with just about any side dish.

More Easy Pork Chop Recipes:

Craving more delicious pork chop recipes to try? Here are a few of my all time favorites –

  • Juicy Baked Pork Chop Recipe
  • Grilled Pork Chops
  • Garlic Parmesan Pork Chops
  • Creamy Honey Dijon Pork Chops

Super Easy Pork Schnitzel Recipe (6)

I can’t wait for you to give this recipe a try!

Super Easy Pork Schnitzel Recipe (7)

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5 from 33 votes

Crispy Pork Schnitzel Recipe

This super easy Pork Schnitzel Recipe is a traditional German recipe that's crispy, flavorful and perfect for any night of the week.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: German

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 313 kcal

Author: Shawn

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Add enough oil to cover the bottom of a 10 or 12" heavy bottom pan (preferably cast iron), and heat to medium-high heat.

  • Trim the pork chops of any fat and then place between two sheets of parchment paper. Use a heavy rolling pin or meat tenderizer to pound pork chops to about ¼" thickness.

  • In a small, shallow bowl combine the flour, salt, garlic powder, paprika and black pepper and mix until combined. In another small bowl whisk together the 2 eggs with a splash of milk or half and half. In a third bowl mix together the Panko Breadcrumbs and nutmeg.

  • One at a time, dip the pork chop in the flour, coating on all sides, then shake off any excess. Then dip the pork chop in the eggs, flipping over to coat both sides. Finally, transfer the pork chop to the breadcrumbs and coat evenly on both sides.

  • Place the coated pork chops in the pan with hot oil and cook about 3 to 5 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through (140 degrees F). Sprinkle with a little salt as soon as it comes off the skillet.

  • Serve right away with fresh lemon wedges and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Feel free to substitute the pork with other cuts of meat like chicken, beef, veal or turkey!

Nutrition

Calories: 313kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 169mg | Sodium: 783mg | Potassium: 557mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 394IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 2mg

Keywords: fried, pork chops, Schnitzel

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Super Easy Pork Schnitzel Recipe (8)

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Super Easy Pork Schnitzel Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What cut of meat is used for pork schnitzel? ›

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 oil should I cook schnitzel in? ›

The oil needs to be hot enough (it should be shimmering but not smoking) so that the chicken will cook well and crisp up. 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.

How do you know when pork schnitzel is cooked? ›

With that in mind, the best way to ensure your meat is fully cooked and ready to enjoy is by using a meat thermometer. Although raw pork can be easy to spot using the method above, we recommend sticking to the following USDA guidelines to ensure your meat is fully cooked: Medium-rare: 145 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

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.

Is breaded 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.

How do you get the breading to stick on a schnitzel? ›

Just as important as the first patting down of the chicken's surface, the final pat down of your meat after covering it with breading helps every piece of crunchy coating adhere. After coating chicken in an egg and breading layer, gently pat all sides.

Do you cook schnitzel on high or low heat? ›

Pour enough oil to come 2cm up the side of the frying pan and heat over medium-high heat. Getting the temperature right is an important step.

Why do people put lemon on schnitzel? ›

Schnitzel is not typically highly seasoned, relying instead on bold toppings such as fresh lemon wedges, mushroom sauce, or cream sauce to add a boost of flavor.

Can pork schnitzel be a little pink? ›

Cook all raw ground pork to an internal temperature of 160°F (71.1 °C) as measured with a food thermometer. If fresh pork has reached 145°F (62.8 °C) throughout, even though it may still be pink in the center, it should be safe.

Is a little pink in pork ok? ›

In short, yes! We used to be afraid of pink pork because of a parasite known as trichinosis, but the risk of contracting it is virtually nonexistent these days. Like beef, pork temperatures are designed to cook the meat long enough to nix E. coli, which means it may have a little color in the middle.

Can you overcook schnitzel? ›

Since the cutlets are quite thin and the focus on cooking is the crust, they're easy to overcook.

Why is my pork schnitzel tough? ›

Schnitzel doneness temp

The USDA currently gives 145°F (63°C) as the doneness temperature for pork‚ a far cry better than their old recommendation of 165°F (74°C)! Hitting that temperature can be tough in such a thin cut of meat, especially if we want a golden brown coating.

What spice makes meat tender? ›

Garlic: Garlic contains a natural compound called allicin, which can help to break down meat fibers. Rosemary: Rosemary contains a natural acid called rosmarinic acid, which can help to break down meat fibers. Thyme: Thyme contains natural acids that can help to break down meat fibers and make the meat more tender.

What is the most common meat in schnitzel? ›

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 flank steak the same as 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. Its versatility makes schnitzel a great for cooking quickly as a stir-fry or crumbed and pan-fried.

What cut of meat is wienerschnitzel? ›

Traditionally, a Wiener Schnitzel is a cutlet of veal pounded thin by a meat tenderizer, then dipped in flour, egg and breadcrumbs (in that order), and fried until golden. Wiener means “Viennese” in German, but the concept behind the Wiener Schnitzel likely first appeared elsewhere (I've read in Milan, Italy).

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.

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