Chicken Schnitzel Recipe (2024)

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Chicken schnitzel has always been a favorite in my family. When my kids were younger, schnitzel was a giant chicken nugget, to be grabbed in hand and dunked in lots of ketchup. Back then I don't think any of us realized the wide global reach and popularity of schnitzel.

Chicken Schnitzel Recipe (1)

The world Loves Schnitzel

Not every country calls it "schnitzel," but they all use a similar recipe:boneless, skinless, beef, chicken, pork, turkey or veal is tenderized by pounding it into a thin cutlet. It's then breaded and baked, sautéed or deep fried. It's crisp on the outside and tender within - totally irresistible any way you serve it!

In Italy they it "Chicken Milanese." A big, thin crispy sheet of chicken schnitzel that practically covers the plate is topped with an arugula and cherry tomato salad with lemony dressing.

The Japanese version is "Katzu." After the chicken is fried to golden-brown perfection, it's sliced into strips and served with a big scoop of steamed rice and a green vegetable.

Chicken schnitzel in Israel has a good amount of sesame seeds in the breading and is sometimes offered as a filling forshawarma.

Wiener Schnitzel is the famed Viennese version, made from veal.

Chicken Schnitzel Recipe (2)

For the ultimate comfort food fix, serve your chicken schnitzel straight up with buttered noodles - just like in the famous song "My Favorite Things" from "The Sound of Music."

"Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild Geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things!"

Chicken Schnitzel Recipe (3)

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN SCHNITZEL FROM SCRATCH

The first step of making good schnitzel is to pound the chicken until it's nice and thin. I don't have a mallet, but my rolling pin works really well. Putting the chicken into a large baggy for pounding, is a great way to keep chicken juices from spraying around your kitchen. Tip: don't zip the baggy or it might pop.

Chicken Schnitzel Recipe (4)

After the chicken cutlets are pounded to ⅓ - ¼ inch thickness, set up a dredging station with a plate of flour, a bowl of beaten eggs, and a plate of bread crumbs.

Chicken Schnitzel Recipe (5)

Coat each chicken cutlet lightly with flour.

Chicken Schnitzel Recipe (6)

Dunk into beaten eggs.

Then coat with crumbs. Your chicken schnitzel is now ready to cook.

Chicken Schnitzel Recipe (7)

You can bread all of your schnitzel ahead of time and keep it covered in the fridge for a few hours until you're ready to cook it.

Schnitzel is best served right after it's browned.

If you have leftovers, be sure to make a delicious "schnitzelwich" - schnitzel on a roll with lettuce and mayo or Russian dressing.

Chicken Schnitzel Recipe (8)

Cool mornings have started to mingle with the hot August afternoons here in New England. I can feel myself waffling between hanging on to the lazy days of summer and gearing up for a busy Fall. I've already started nagging my kids about getting ready for school. Soon our family will be in full swing of the new season - each of us diving head first into our various endeavors. Coming together around the family table for a good comforting dinner will feel better than ever!

Here's the chicken schnitzel recipe. If you try this recipe I hope you'll come back to leave a star rating and comment. I'd love to know what you think!

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Chicken Schnitzel Recipe (9)

Chicken Schnitzel Recipe

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5 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Lisa
  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 mins
  • Yield: 6-8 1x
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Description

Thin scallops of chicken, breaded and sautéed until golden brown on the outside, tender inside. Serve with buttered noodles and salad.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 2 ½ pounds)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2-3 cups panko bread crumbs
  • Vegetable oil, for frying
  • Optional Garnish
  • 1 lemon, cut into eights
  • Fresh grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Pound the Chicken Place a chicken breast half inside a large plastic ziplock bag. Lay it on a flat surface. Pound evenly with a meat mallet or rolling pin until you have an evenly thin scallop, ⅓ to ¼ inch thick. Transfer scallop to a plate and repeat with remaining chicken breasts.
  2. Bread the Chicken Cover a large baking tray with foil or wax paper. Pour the flour onto a large plate. Crack the eggs into a large wide bowl and whisk. Pour the breadcrumbs onto a large plate. Season the chicken with salt and several grinds of fresh flack pepper. Lay a piece of chicken onto the flour plate. Turn it over to coat. Shake off excess flour. Then dunk the chicken into the eggs to coat. Let the excess drip off. Then press the piece of chicken into the crumbs. Turn to coat the other side. Lay the breaded chicken on the prepared tray. Repeat with remaining chicken.
  3. Cook Chicken In a large cast iron or non-stick skillet, heat 4 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. (for speedier cooking, work with two skillets simultaneously). Add 1-2 pieces of breaded chicken to the skillet (or however many fit in a single layer.) Brown each piece for 2-3 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate. Repeat with remaining chicken, adding more oil when needed. You need a good layer of oil over the bottom of your skillet to get a crisp crust.
  4. Serve with noodles or topped with arugula salad. Sprinkle with lemon juice and freshly grated parmesan cheese, if you like. Enjoy!
  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Sauté
  • Cuisine: Global
Chicken Schnitzel Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best oil for frying chicken schnitzel? ›

Peanut Oil

It also has a high smoke point, making it ideal for frying chicken. Plus, peanut oil prevents flavor transfer, which is excellent for establishments serving multiple fried foods.

What is chicken schnitzel made of? ›

For the uninitiated, chicken schnitzel is merely a chicken breast pounded thin, breaded, and fried. It's one of those foods that you can't help but love, which is probably why it's so prolific—versions of the recipe can be found in cultures around the world.

How do you know when chicken schnitzel is cooked? ›

Drizzle more olive oil over each piece. Bake in the preheated oven for 5 to 6 minutes. Flip chicken and continue baking until no longer pink in the center and the breading is lightly browned, 5 to 6 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

What oil makes the crispiest fried chicken? ›

Peanut Oil: Peanut oil is a popular choice for frying chicken due to its high smoke point (around 450°F/232°C) and neutral flavor. It helps create a crispy crust and imparts minimal taste to the chicken. Canola Oil: Canola oil is another good option with a high smoke point (around 400°F/204°C) and a mild flavor.

What's the best flour to use to fry chicken? ›

I got the best results when using a 50-50 blend of potato starch and wheat flour by weight. The wheat flour facilitates browning, while the potato starch provides structure, cohesion, and that all important crunch factor.

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.

Why does the breading fall off my schnitzel? ›

Always dip your chicken in beaten egg before coating

Dipping your chicken in egg helps the breadcrumbs, or whatever coating you use, adhere evenly to the outside of the cutlet. You should start with a thin layer of flour, which gives the egg a better surface to cling to, then the egg, then the coating.

Why is my chicken schnitzel rubbery? ›

Overcooking chicken and buying woody chicken breast are two of the main causes behind rubbery chicken. You can stop this from happening by: buying “slow-growing” chicken. cooking your chicken in moisture.

Why do Jews eat schnitzel? ›

The schnitzel tradition was brought from Europe to Israel by Ashkenazi Jews. During the early years of the state of Israel, veal was not obtainable, and chicken or turkey proved to be inexpensive and tasty substitutes. Packaged schnitzels are widely available in the frozen food section of most supermarkets.

How healthy is chicken schnitzel? ›

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. And spinach is one of the healthiest foods you can eat if you d...

What is the best oil to cook chicken schnitzel? ›

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.

What is the white stuff coming out of my chicken schnitzel? ›

The white stuff that comes out of chicken is actually a protein called albumin. It is released when the muscle fibers in the chicken contract during cooking, pushing out the moisture and causing the protein to coagulate and appear as a white substance.

Why is my chicken schnitzel tough? ›

Due to their thinness, these chicken breasts cook incredibly quickly. When pan-frying, the breading won't have enough time to achieve that desirable golden brown color before the chicken is fully cooked. This will result in undercooked breading or overcooked (tough) chicken.

What is the best fat for frying schnitzel? ›

The trick is in the technique. The cutlet must be very thin, the flour light, the eggs beaten, the breadcrumbs applied with a light hand — and, most importantly, the schnitzel must swim in hot fat. You read that right: not oil, fat. Lard is ideal, as is clarified butter, duck or goose fat.

Should I cook breaded chicken in olive oil or vegetable oil? ›

You want to use an oil that is labeled “virgin” or simply “olive oil”. You do not want to be using extra virgin olive oil here. You can also use any other neutral flavored oil you like. Just make sure it is one that can take high heat since you're essentially frying in it.

Is canola oil good for schnitzel? ›

It is imperative that schnitzel be breaded very gently — no pressing! — and that it happen the moment before it hits the oil. Store-bought lard is a good option for frying, but vegetable oils like peanut, canola or rice bran will also work.

What kind of oil is used to cook all breaded chicken? ›

Think vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil. Don't use olive oil or butter—they both have lower smoke points. The ideal temperature for frying chicken is 350˚ to 365˚, and you'll want to make sure that you bring the oil back to temperature between batches.

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