Chicken Schnitzel is a traditional German dish that is made with breaded chicken cutlets that are pan-fried to golden crispiness and served with a spritz of lemon and chopped fresh parsley or dill. It is a quick and easy dish that even a new cook can master. I love to serve this with German Potato Salad, homemade spaetzle, or buttered egg noodles.
How to make Chicken Schnitzel
First, set up the breading stations. Add the flour to a rimmed plate or shallow bowl. Then whisk together the eggs and Dijon Mustard together in a shallow bowl. Combine the Panko Breadcrumbs, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder on another rimmed plate or in a shallow bowl.
Dry the chicken cutlets with paper towels. Add about 1/2 inch of vegetable oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dredge the chicken breasts in the flour, then dip them in the egg mixture, then into the breadcrumb mixture. Once the oil is hot, add the breaded chicken cutlets and cook until golden brown. Then flip and cook until the other side is golden brown and the cutlet is cooked through. Remove the cutlets to a wire rack to drain any excess oil. Work in batches trying not to overcrowd the skillet.
Serve with fresh lemon wedges for spritzing, chopped fresh Italian parsley, and/or chopped fresh dill.
Recipe tips
- You can use any breadcrumbs, but I strongly recommend Panko Breadcrumbs for an extra crispy coating.
- My local grocery store sells chicken cutlets. If your store does not, you can simply split regular chicken breasts in half lengthwise or pound them thin with a meat mallet.
- This recipe also works well with veal and pork.
- Use about 1/2 inch of neutral cooking oil like vegetable oil or canola oil. The schnitzel should swim in the pan.
- Flip the schnitzel once it is golden brown on the bottom.
- Keep an eye on the heat and adjust as needed. Cook them golden brown but not burnt.
- For optimal flavor, don’t skip the lemon. Fresh lemon juice helps cut the grease and makes it more delicious.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 375 degrees for several minutes. This is my favorite way to reheat schnitzel. Or reheat in the oven at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
What to serve with Chicken Schnitzel
- German potato salad
- Egg noodles with butter and parsley
- Garlic mashed potatoes
- Potato wedges
- Gurkensalat (German cucumber salad)
- Sweet and sour red cabbage
- Spaetzle
- Green beans
- Roasted broccoli
More chicken recipes to try!
Chicken Schnitzel
This Chicken Schnitzel recipe is breaded chicken cutlets pan-fried to golden crispy perfection while moist and tender on the inside. Serve with lemon wedges and chopped fresh parsley. This easy recipe is prepared in less than 20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: main meal chicken
- Method: pan fry
- Cuisine: German
Ingredients
- 4 chicken cutlets
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons Dijon Mustard
- 1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Lemon wedges
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Fresh dill, chopped
Instructions
- Add the flour to a rimmed plate or shallow bowl. Whisk together the eggs and Dijon Mustard together in a shallow bowl. Combine the Panko Bread Crumbs, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder on another rimmed plate or in a shallow bowl.
- Dry the chicken cutlets with paper towels. Add about 1/2 inch of vegetable oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Dredge the chicken breasts in the flour, then in the egg mixture, then into the breadcrumb mixture.
- Once the oil is hot, add the breaded chicken cutlets and cook until golden brown. Flip and cook until the other side is golden brown and the cutlet is cooked through. Remove the schnitzel to a wire rack to drain any excess oil. Work in batches trying not to overcrowd the skillet.
- Serve with fresh lemon wedges for spritzing, chopped fresh Italian parsley, and/or chopped fresh dill.
Notes
- You can use any breadcrumbs, but I strongly recommend Panko Breadcrumbs for an extra crispy coating.
- My local grocery store sells chicken cutlets if your store does not, you can split regular chicken breasts in half lengthwise or pound them thin with a meat mallet.
- Use about 1/2 inch of neutral cooking oil like vegetable oil or canola oil. The schnitzel should swim in the pan.
- Flip the schnitzel once it is golden brown on the bottom.
- Keep an eye on the heat and adjust as needed. Cook them golden brown but not burnt.
- Don’t skip the lemon. Lemon helps cut the grease and makes it more delicious.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 375 degrees for several minutes. This is my favorite way to reheat schnitzel. Or reheat in the oven at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
Keywords: how to make chicken schnitzel, what is chicken schnitzel, what to serve with chicken schnitzel
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Allie
What do you serve with this?
Beth Pierce
German potato salad
Egg noodles with butter and parsley
Garlic mashed potatoes
Potato wedges
Gurkensalat (German cucumber salad)
Sweet and sour red cabbage
Spaetzle
Green beans
Roasted broccoli
Sally Sundström Britton
This is absolutely delicious! Huge hit with the family!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Sally! So glad that you liked the schnitzel!
DIANE POYNTER
Easily turn into Chicken Parmiagana with sliced tomatoes on top when cooked & grated cheese under the grill – superb!!! 😊
Beth Pierce
So true! Thanks for the tip!
Anjali
This was such a tasty and easy dish for our dinner tonight! We served it alongside a side salad and it was great!
★★★★★
Sara
This was such a great recipe for a busy night, it has easily become a new favorite! Quick, easy and delicious; my whole family loved it!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Sara! I am glad that everyone liked it!
Katherine
What an easy and delicious chicken schnitzel. So crispy and flavorful! I love that it goes with everything. The side dish choices are endless.
★★★★★
Jess
Love that this is something even a new cook can master!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Yes indeed! Declious and easy!
Kadence
This chicken schnitzel is crispy and delicious. We loved it! Thanks for the recipe.
★★★★★
Mimi
Yum! I love chicken schnitzel! I am going to make it soon.
Ali
This chicken schnitzel recipe was so easy to make! It was ready in 30 minutes, and my family is asking me to make it again tomorrow night.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
That is awesome, thanks Ali!
Vicky
This was a simple and delicious dish! I took your advice and served it with buttered noodles. The breadcrumb coating was crisp and the chicken tender. Kudos!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Vicky! So glad that you liked it!
Jordin
My kids loved this chicken!! The little squirt of fresh lemon pairs perfectly with this dish, thank you for the easy recipe!
★★★★★
Beti | easyweeknightrecipes
Chicken schnitzel is my favorite! I am so excited to try this! It sounds amazing!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Beti! Enjoy!!
katerina @ diethood.com
This looks incredible! My family would love this!!
★★★★★
Sandra
This was really good! My kids new favorite!
★★★★★
Beth
I served the schnitzel with spaetzle. What a perfect combination. Yum. Just yum.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Beth! That is like the perfect meal!
Allyson Zea
I’ve never tried this but now I need to! It looks so delicious and easy to make! Thank you!
Kathleen
Love this golden crispy chicken. Looks wonderful and only lemon wedges needed for an extra zing.
★★★★★
Tara
So much flavor! I love how easily this chicken comes together and that crispy texture from pan-frying.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Tara! So glad that you liked it!
Janessa
These look delicious! I’m adding chicken cutlets to my grocery list for the week.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Janessa! Enjoy!
Dannii
This chicken was deliciously crispy and perfectly cooked.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Danni!
Erin | Dinners, Dishes and Dessert
Such a fantastic dish! We loved it! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Katherine
This is such a great version of classic chicken schnitzel!
★★★★★
Lisa
This is a terrific dinner! We loved these crispy chicken cutlets!
★★★★★
Tara
Such a comforting meal, especially when paired with Spätzle! I love that crispy texture and how easily it comes together.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Tara! So glad that you enjoyed it!
Andrea
I really love the crispy and flavorful outside of this Chicken Schnitzel. It was amazing! Can’t wait to make this again for my family. They really enjoyed it.
★★★★★
Suja md
Delicious yet simple recipe that the whole family loved. Can’t wait to make it again!
★★★★★
VICTOR
5 STARS !!!!!!!!!!