Pork Schnitzel

Enjoy the best of German cuisine with this super easy Pork Schnitzel recipe. With its crispy and flavorful golden breading, this delicious dish is the perfect choice for a tender, juicy, and quick dinner that will satisfy your taste buds in no time.

Classic pork schnitzel is a German recipe that kids love.  If your kids love to eat shake-and-bake chicken, they will love these pork chops fried to golden brown perfection! They taste gourmet but are so easy to make that you can rely on this recipe on busy weeknights. 

The whole family will love the tender cutlets with a crispy crust. Every bite is flavorful – the breading is bursting with flavors of garlic and herbs. And the pork chops are perfectly juicy. Even if your kids think they don’t like pork chops, they will love them! 

Why You’ll Love Pork Schnitzel

• Easy recipe. There are just a few simple ingredients, and the process is as easy as frying chicken. 
• Crispy Coating. The breading and beaten egg make the perfect crispy pork schnitzel. 
• Budget-Friendly. All of the ingredients are easy to find and affordable.
• Easy to make ahead or freeze. Make any night of the week, store it, and then eat it later, saving you time. 

Ingredients

The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

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Here is what you’ll need before you begin. You probably already have all of these ingredients in your kitchen. 

• Thin Cut Pork Chops: Buying thin pork chops is best. If you buy thick-cut chops, you must cut them in half. 
• All-Purpose Flour: Use your favorite type of flour. 
• Garlic And Herb Seasoning: This is the easiest way to season the breadcrumbs, but you can also use garlic powder and Italian seasoning. 
• Sea Salt: This will enhance all the other flavors in the schnitzel. 
• Eggs: The large eggs bind all the ingredients to the pork cutlets. 
• Italian Style Breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs can work too. Panko crumbs are thicker, so they will make the breadcrumb mixture crispier. 
• Canola Oil: This oil has a high smoke point, so it doesn’t burn while frying the pork chops. 
• Lemon Slices: Use fresh lemon wedges on the thin cutlets as a garnish. 
• Chopped Parsley: This is the best way to garnish the schnitzel. 

How to Make Pork Schnitzel

• Step One: Pound the pork chops until they are an even thickness, about ½ inch thick.
• Step Two: Place the all-purpose flour, garlic herb seasoning, and sea salt in a small mixing bowl and whisk to combine.
• Step Three: Pour the flour mixture into a large, shallow dish.
• Step Four: In another small bowl, beat the eggs and water until smooth and combined, then transfer into a second shallow dish. 

• Step Five: In a third, shallow dish, place the Italian breadcrumbs and then a clean plate to the side.
• Step Six:  Dip each pork cutlet in the flour mixture and coat completely.
• Step Seven: Then, using the wet hand, dry hand method, use one hand to dip the cutlet into the egg mixture and the other, dry hand to press it into the breadcrumbs until completely breaded. 
• Step Eight: Place the breaded pork on the plate to the side and repeat until all the pork cutlets are completely breaded.
• Step Nine: Once the pork is breaded, pour 2-4 Tablespoons of the canola oil into a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat until it shimmers. You want enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan completely so that the schnitzel can fry and crisp up.
• Step Ten: Once the oil is hot, use tongs to carefully place the pork into the pan and fry for 2-3 minutes per side or until golden brown and the pork has reached at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit internally.
• Step Eleven: Remove the pork to a clean plate covered with a clean paper towel and allow it to rest for 2-3 minutes.
• Step Twelve: You may need to cook the pork in batches, depending on the size of your pan. Be sure not to overcrowd the pan, and if you need to do multiple batches, add the remaining oil to keep the bottom of the pan well covered. Wait until the oil has heated again before cooking more pork in it.
• Step Thirteen: Once the pork has all been cooked and rested, serve hot with sliced lemons and chopped parsley, optional.

Equipment Needed

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• Meat Mallet – You’ll use the flat side of a meat mallet to pound the pork chops so they are thinner. Alternatively, you can make the pork chops thinner using a rolling pin. 
• 3 Small Mixing Bowls – Use a separate shallow bowl for each ingredient in the breading process. 
• Large Skillet – The skillet should be large enough to hold all pork chops.  
• Tongs – Flipping the pork cutlets is easiest when you use tongs. 
• Instant Read Food Thermometer – It’s important to cook pork until it reaches an internal temperature of 145F. 
• Wire Rack – Use this to let the pork coil after cooking them in hot oil. 

What to Serve with Pork Schnitzel

Easy German pork schnitzel tastes the best when you serve it with simple or German sides. Here are some of my favorite things to serve with it.   

• Rosemary Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Parmesan Roasted Carrots
• Sauerkraut Salad
• French Fries – Save time with these Air Fryer Frozen French Fries.
• German Potato Salad

Variations and Substitutions

• Make It Low-Carb. Use pork rind crumbs instead of bread crumbs.   
• Use Different Oil. Substitute any high smoke point oil, such as vegetable, grapeseed, or avocado. Don’t use olive oil or butter because they could burn when they get hot. 
• Make it Spicier. Add some red pepper flakes to the flour.  
• Use a different kind of meat. Make veal schnitzel or slice pork loin into thin cutlets. Or make chicken schnitzel with chicken thighs. You can also make Wiener schnitzel with brats or sausage. 

Storage Instructions 

Place leftover pork schnitzel in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days. You can freeze it, too. It will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 2 months.

To freeze the breaded pork cutlet, place the pork on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place it in the freezer until it is frozen solid.

Then, transfer the schnitzel to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and put it back in the freezer.

To reheat frozen schnitzel, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and place the schnitzel on a baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until heated through and crispy. Do not refreeze previously frozen schnitzel.

Pork Schnitzel Tips and Tricks

• Feel free to customize the seasoning to your liking. You can add more or less of the garlic and herb seasoning or use different kinds of herbs.   
• Make sure the pork chops are thin enough. They won’t cook quickly enough and could be tough or dry if they are too thick. 
• Homemade gravy made from the pan drippings will taste the best with the pork schnitzel. 

What Is Pork Schnitzel?

Pork schnitzel is a traditional German recipe made with pork chops pounded thin and then breaded in flour and spiced breadcrumbs. Then, they are fried in oil and served with some sort of potato and gravy. 

Sauces and Gravys 

German Schnitzel tastes best when you smother it in gravy. The easiest type of sauce to make is mushroom gravy. Add mushrooms to the pan drippings, then mix in a bit of beef broth, butter, and flour until it thickens into a gravy.

You might also like to make zigeuner sauce. It’s made with paprika, giving the schnitzel a fabulously smoky flavor. 

How To Reheat

I suggest using an oven to reheat the schnitzel the first time. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and place the schnitzel on a baking sheet.

Then, heat it for 10-12 minutes. You can also reheat it on the stove or in the microwave.

To reheat on the stovetop, place the schnitzel in a skillet over medium heat and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side or until heated through and crispy.

To reheat in the microwave, place the schnitzel on a microwave-safe plate and heat on high for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until heated through. However, the stovetop or oven methods are usually better options as they will help retain the schnitzel’s crispiness.

FAQ

Pork Recipes     

Want more tasty pork recipes that you can make at home? Here are some of my favorites:

• Crockpot Italian Pork Chops
• Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork
• Pork Chop Skillet Dinner
• Orange Mustard Pork Tenderloin

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