Easy German Schnitzel Recipe {From a German!} - Plated Cravings (2024)

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Schnitzel pan-fried to golden perfection with a crispy breading just like at your favorite German restaurant! This easy step by step recipe shows you how easy it is to make the best Schnitzel at home.

Being German we sure love German food like our Black Forest Cake, German Apple Cake, or Vanillekipferl.

Easy German Schnitzel Recipe {From a German!} - Plated Cravings (1)

Easy German Schnitzel

Making Schnitzel at home is easier than you think! One of my favorite foods growing up in Germany was probably Schnitzel with Fries. You can get it in every restaurant but my Grandmother made the BEST Pork Schnitzel ever. Today I want to share all the tips and tricks!

A traditional German or Wiener Schnitzel should be golden brown and have a crispy breading with bubbles. Yes, air bubbles! This is very important – the goal is to get as many air-filled bubbles between the meat and the breading as possible after frying.

What is Schnitzel?

A schnitzel is a thin piece of meat that is coated in a breading and pan-fried in butter or oil. There are many variants made from different meats like pork, chicken, and veal.

What is Wiener Schnitzel?

Wiener Schnitzel is traditionally made from veal cutlet and originates from Austria.

Easy German Schnitzel Recipe {From a German!} - Plated Cravings (2)

What cut of meat is used for Schnitzel?

For Schnitzel you want to use a boneless cut of meat. You can use boneless pork chops for German Schnitzel, boneless veal chops for Wiener Schnitzel, or chicken breasts to make chicken schnitzel. I often buy the fast fry version that is already pretty thin and only needs a little bit of pounding and just make smaller schnitzel.

How to Make Schnitzel

Making Schnitzel at home is a lot easier than you might think.

  1. Pound the meat as thin as possible without making any holes in it. (see photos above for reference)
  2. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Drench through some flour.
  4. Drench through the egg mixture.
  5. Turn schnitzel in the breadcrumbs.
  6. Fry until golden.
  7. DONE

To pound the Schnitzel, use a meat pounder, tenderizer, or a small pan. Always use the flat side and not the raised side because the little holes in the meat will make it drier.

Easy German Schnitzel Recipe {From a German!} - Plated Cravings (3)

How to Fry Schnitzel

Schnitzels are shallow-fried instead of deep-fried. That means they are not submerged in fat but only swim in about a finger deep of fat.

Traditionally Schnitzels are fried in clarified butter which is called Butterschmalz in German. This gives you the great taste of butter combined with a high smoke point. Normal butter will not work in this recipe, because it has such a low smoke point.

You need to use about 1/2 inch of oil in the pan so the schnitzel cooks evenly and can ‘swim’ in the pan. It is also important that the fat is not too hot, the perfect temperature is 320-340F (160-170C) otherwise the breadcrumbs will burn.

Easy German Schnitzel Recipe {From a German!} - Plated Cravings (4)

What to serve with pork schnitzel

Always serve Schnitzel with a slice of lemon to squeeze over the hot Schnitzel and ketchup on the side.

Starchy sides: Fries, German potato salad, German Spaetzle, or tater tots make a great side dish.

Vegetable sides: Green salad, German Cucumber Salad, or coleslaw.

You can also serve schnitzel with a mushroom sauce which is called Jaeger Schnitzel.

What do to with leftovers?

Store leftover schnitzel in an airtight container in the fridge. They keep for a few days and taste great cold. My favorite thing to do is to make a schnitzel sandwich.

Easy German Schnitzel Recipe {From a German!} - Plated Cravings (5)

Tips for making the BEST Schnitzel

  • Pound meat until it is super thin about 0.2 inches or 0.5 cm. The thinner the better!
  • Don’t press the schnitzel into the breadcrumbs otherwise, you won’t get air bubbles.
  • Immediately fry the Schnitzels! Don’t let them sit.
  • Use enough fat or oil in the pan! 0.5 inches or 1.5 cm – about the thickness of a finger.
  • Clarified butter is best tastewise! Check out my easy recipe here. Taste-neutral Vegetable oil with a high smoke point can be used too. Add a Tbsp of butter to the oil for taste.
  • Make sure the fat is hot before you put the schnitzel in the pan! Drop a breadcrumb in the pan, if it sizzles it’s hot or use a thermometer (340F is perfect).
  • Don’t overcrowd the pan because the temperature of the fat will drop when you put the schnitzel in!
  • Only turn the Schnitzel once!

Tools used to make this Recipe
Meat Pounder: Using a meat pounder makes it so easy to get the meat to the right thickness.
Frying Pan: I love this brand for pots and pans.

Easy German Schnitzel Recipe {From a German!} - Plated Cravings (6)

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5 from 22 votes

Schnitzel

By: Julia Foerster

Schnitzel pan-fried to golden perfection with a crispy breading just like at your favorite German restaurant!

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless pork chops, or more if small
  • Salt, to season
  • Pepper, to season
  • 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup dried white breadcrumbs
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 Tbsp cream or milk
  • Clarified butter, or vegetable oil and 2 Tbsp of butter
  • 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Instructions

  • Place the pork chops on a cutting board and put a large piece of clingfilm over it and pound with a rolling pin, large knife, or mullet to about 0.2 inches (0.5cm) without making holes in it. Season with salt and pepper on each side. Repeat with the other pork chops.

  • In a shallow bowl, beat the eggs lightly with the cream. Put flour on a plate and the breadcrumbs on another.

  • Dip each schnitzel in the flour on both sides, then drench through the egg mixture, and lastly turn in the breadcrumbs until evenly covered but don’t press the schnitzel in the mixture.

  • In a large frying pan, heat 1/4-inch oil or clarified butter (about the thickness of a finger) over medium heat until a breadcrumb sizzles and quickly browns. If using oil then add 2 Tbsp butter to the pan, it will foam a bit.

  • Drop escalopes in the pan (depending on the pan you have to cook the schnitzel in batches) and cook until golden brown on the bottom about 2-4 minutes depending on the size, then turn over and cook until the other side is golden and the schnitzels are done about 1-3 more minutes.

  • Transfer to a plate lined with kitchen paper to quickly blot the excess oil, then immediately serve garnished with a lemon slice.

Nutrition

Calories: 407kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 182mg | Sodium: 297mg | Potassium: 620mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 229IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 3mg

Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

Categorized as:
German Recipes, Main Dishes

About Julia Foerster

Hi, I'm Julia! Born in Germany, I call Canada now my home and love to share my favorite dishes with you! Here you'll find hundreds of recipes, all made from scratch, with lots of tips and detailed step-by-step instructions.

Read More About Me

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Easy German Schnitzel Recipe {From a German!} - Plated Cravings (2024)

FAQs

What is the best oil for pan frying schnitzel? ›

I typically prefer to use olive oil over canola oil because it's healthier (see this article), but I hardly ever use it and it's fine in moderation! Plus it's worth it for me for this one because it really helps give this schnitzel that perfect crispy crunchy outer coating!

Is it better to cook schnitzel in butter or oil? ›

The best way to cook chicken schnitzel is to fry it. I like to use a combination of oil and butter for the best flavor/crispiness combination. When cooking chicken schnitzel, you need to heat the oil and butter in a frying pan until it is bubbling hot, then add the schnitzel. It should sizzle as it hits the pan.

What is traditional schnitzel made of? ›

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).

What kind of pan is best for schnitzel? ›

Over the past few years, I've absorbed her schnitzel recipe, which she'd learned from her mother, making one notable tweak: switching its cooking vessel from a stainless steel skillet to a cast iron pan, which helps the thin cutlets brown more evenly (cast iron cookware is far less prevalent in Israel… their loss).

How do you keep schnitzels crispy? ›

Tips For Making Crispy Schnitzel
  1. Use a French rolling pin to pound the meat at about 1/4-inch thick.
  2. Coat the meat in flour, dip it in egg wash, and then coat it with fine breadcrumbs.
  3. Fry right away after breading the meat.
  4. Pan-fry the meat in a straight-sided skillet or cast iron pan.

Why put schnitzel in fridge before frying? ›

It is best to put your schnitzels into the fridge for as long as possible before cooking; this will help to "set" the crumb and avoid the crumbs coming off when cooking. 3. Drain your schnitzels on absorbent paper after cooking to soak up any excess oil before serving.

What is the secret of schnitzel? ›

Clark reckons the secret to great schnitzel is to "trap air in the crust when you cook the meat by moving and shaking the pan".

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

Dip egg-coated chicken in breadcrumb mixture. Gently press on with fingertips to secure.

What is the secret to puffy schnitzel? ›

Head over to Germany and you are more likely to find schnitzel with a crust that adheres to the meat. Both versions can be fantastic. For an extra-puffy crust, brush the cutlets with vodka before breading them. The volatility of the alcohol produces steam that inflates the schnitzel as it fries.

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.

What is schnitzel called in America? ›

schnitzel, a thin meat cutlet, pounded until tender and then breaded and fried, that is a culinary staple in German-speaking countries and communities. The Americanized version of the dish is chicken-fried steak.

Why do you put lemon on schnitzel? ›

Wiener Schnitzel , a breaded cutlet of veal sauteed in butter or deep-fried in oil, can be greasy, so an acid helps 'cut' the grease and make it more delicious. Lemon slices also add to the visual appeal, as does the common accompaniment of parsley.

Can you use peanut oil for schnitzel? ›

The absolutely best way to perfect schnitzel is to shallow-fry them in neutral-tasting cooking oil (Vegetable, Canola, Peanut, Sunflower). So you don't need to use a lot of oil, but you want to use enough oil so that the schnitzel will “float” in the oil as it cooks and not touch the bottom of the pan.

What do you serve with German schnitzel? ›

Additional serving options include mashed or roasted potatoes, Sauerkraut, German Red Cabbage, and roasted or steamed veggies. Non-German sides that pair well with Schnitzel include: Creamy Coleslaw. Macaroni Salad.

What's the difference between Wiener Schnitzel and schnitzel? ›

Basically, all schnitzels are breaded and fried thin pieces of meat, but only wiener schnitzel is made with veal. Cooking term: Schnitzel is a cooking term used to describe any meat pounded thin, then breaded and fried.

What kind of oil do you use for Wiener schnitzel? ›

Wiener Schnitzel
  1. Season the veal with salt and pepper to taste.
  2. Place the flour and eggs in separate shallow dishes. ...
  3. Dredge the veal in the flour, shaking off any excess. ...
  4. Heat a sauté pan over medium heat and add the grapeseed oil.
Nov 4, 2021

Can you fry schnitzel in vegetable oil? ›

Heat Vegetable oil, for shallow-frying in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook chicken, in batches, for 4 to 5 minutes each side or until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towel to drain. Serve.

Can you use vegetable oil to fry schnitzel? ›

Heat 1/2 to 1 inch of vegetable oil in a heavy skillet to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). You can also use a deep fryer. Put chicken slices in the egg mixture and knead until fully coated. Press chicken in the bread crumbs until evenly coated.

What is the best fat for frying schnitzel? ›

A large pan with a generous amount of lard or clarified butter is best. Use a thermometer to check the fat reaches 160–170C: too high and the schnitzel will burn, too low and it won't crisp up. Continually swirl the pan for the best result, frying for 2-4 mins on each side.

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