Best Crispy Chicken Schnitzel
Make tender, crispy yet moist chicken schnitzel in less than 30 minutes. A quick and easy meal that's perfect for a busy weekday meal, lazy weekends or to impress family and friends.
Who doesn't love chicken schnitzel? Though, not everybody calls them chicken schnitzel. My mom made these all the time but didn't call them chicken schnitzel; we just called it breaded chicken breast. Did you know the word 'Schnitzel' is a German word for cutlet? So technically these are chicken cutlets; chicken breast dipped in egg mixture then coated in dry breadcrumbs.
Schnitzel is breaded slices of meat like veal, pork, or chicken. Today, we use thin slices of chicken breast dusted in flour, marinated in an egg mixture then coated with breadcrumbs before being pan-fried. This gives us a nice crispy golden crust
We often serve these with rice or mashed potatoes. Today I have served them with Lemon Rosemary Roast potatoes and salad.
About this chicken schnitzel
The recipe is fairly simple and easy to make. If you have chicken breast this is a no-fail method to make ensure it is not overcooked, overbaked, or dry. The breadcrumb coating keeps the chicken tender and juicy.
The chicken takes less than 30 minutes to make. Simultaneously, you can also make a starch such as mashed potatoes, roast potatoes or rice such as my turmeric rice or rice pilaf with fruit and nuts
Useful tools and tips
- You will need a shape chef's knife to split the chicken and mallet meat tenderizer tool to thin the chicken
- A few mixing bowls to combine and make the marinate
- I like to use a baking tray or plate to combine the dry ingredients
- It is best to use a non-stick frying pan or skillet to cook the chicken
Ingredients and substitutes
- Chicken breast - You want something that cooks quickly and won't burn the breadcrumbs which makes chicken breast the best candidate for Schnitzel. You can use turkey breasts as well but chicken is more traditional. Most supermarkets these days offer pre-prepared chicken breast for schnitzel or breading. We love using those and they turn out perfect. Sometimes if you ask the butcher, he will prepare it for you as well.
- Parmesan - I love adding Parmesan to my breadcrumbs but I put it in the optional ingredients because here in Israel it's not commonly used.
- Sour Cream - I love serving a little sour cream with my chicken schnitzel which makes adding a little in the egg mixture even more wonderful. You must try; it really does add a nice creaminess to the egg mixture. (again it's not commonly used here so I have put it as optional)
- Mustard - Just a touch of mustard goes a long way with chicken in adding flavor.
- Herbs - Personally I love chopping parsley really fine and adding it to my breadcrumb along with the Parmesan and some Paprika but I'll share that recipe another time.
How to make chicken schnitzel (save/pin)
Chicken
- Cut each chicken breast into two horizontally, so you have 4 slices
- Use mallet, meat tenderizer or rolling pin to flatten the pieces (you can ask your butcher to make these for you too)
- Pat dry the pieces, season with salt and pepper
Flour mixture - bowl 1
- In a third bowl - place flour.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Set aside.
Egg mixture - bowl 2
- In one bowl - whisk an egg with one tablespoon water.
- Season with salt, pepper, mustard.
- Set aside.
Breadcrumb mixture - bowl 3
- In a second bowl - add breadcrumbs and parmesan
- Season with salt, pepper, and herbs - combine well
- Set aside.
Coat chicken
- Coat each chicken piece in the flour mix (bowl 1). Dust off any excess flour.
- Drop the chicken piece into the egg mixture (bowl 2). Use a fork to ensure it's well coated on all sides.
- Then coat it with the breadcrumb mixture (bowl 3). Use your hands to press lightly making sure it's well coated.
- Remove from the breadcrumb mix and place it on a clean plate.
- Do the same with all the pieces and set aside. These can be made up to two days and kept in the fridge
Pan-fry chicken
- To a frying pan (preferably non-stick) add 1 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp butter
- Place three to four chicken pieces (do not overcrowd the pan)
- Let cook on one side without touching for one minute on medium-high. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the chicken for 2 minutes more
- Flip the chicken, add another tablespoon of butter or oil as necessary
- Cook on the second side for one minute on medium-high then lower the heat and cook for another minute on medium-low.
- Tip - The one-minute high cooking is what makes the crust crispy. But, be careful not to burn it.
- Remove the chicken on a clean paper hand towel to absorb excess fat.
Description
Ingredients
- 4 (1 kg) Chicken breast each divided into 2
- 2 tbsp Cooking oil up to 4 tbsp
- 2 tbsp Butter
Bowl 1
- 1 cup (125 g) All purpose flour
- 1/4 tbsp Salt or to taste
- 1/4 tbsp Pepper
Bowl 2
- 1 Egg large
- 1 tbsp Mustard
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Pepper
Bowl 3
- 2 cups (200 g) Breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp Parmesan cheese grated, optional
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Pepper
- 2 tbsp Parsley or other herbs, finely chopped (optional)
Serving
- 4 tbsp Sour cream for serving, optional
Instructions
Chicken
- Cut each chicken breast into two horizontally, so you have 4 slices
- Use mallet, meat tenderizer or rolling pin to flatten the pieces (you can ask your butcher to make these for you too)
- Pat dry the pieces, season with salt and pepper
Flour mixture - bowl 1
- In a third bowl - place flour.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Set aside.
Egg mixture - bowl 2
- In one bowl - whisk an egg, mustard, and water.
- Season with salt and pepper
- Set aside
Breadcrumb mixture - bowl 3
- In a second bowl - add breadcrumbs and parmesan
- Season with salt, pepper, and herbs - combine well.
- Set aside.
Coat chicken
- Coat each chicken piece in the flour mix (bowl 1). Dust off any excess flour.
- Drop the chicken piece into the egg mixture (bowl 2). Use a fork to ensure it's well coated on all sides.
- Then coat it with the breadcrumb mixture (bowl 3). Use your hands to press lightly making sure it's well coated.
- Remove from the breadcrumb mix and place it on a clean plate.
- Do the same with all the pieces and set aside. These can be made up to two days and kept in the fridge
Pan-fry chicken
- To a frying pan (preferably non-stick) add 1 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp butter
- Place three to four chicken pieces (do not overcrowd the pan)
- Let cook on one side without touching for one minute on medium-high. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the chicken for 2 minutes more
- Flip the chicken, add another tablespoon of butter or oil as necessary
- Cook on the second side for one minute on medium-high then lower the heat and cook for another minute on medium-low.
- Tip - The one-minute high cooking is what makes the crust crispy. But, be careful not to burn it.
- Remove the chicken on a clean paper hand towel to absorb excess fat.
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Chicken schnitzel make Perfect freezer meals
I usually make more than what I need for one meal so I can put them in the freezer for busy days.
- Cook them as we do above. When they are cold just place them in a ziplock bag. These make amazing sandwiches and wraps. If you have teenagers (who are always hungry) these are great to have on hand. Just thaw as many as you need in the microwave.
- Freeze them uncooked as you see in the image below. All you do is place them uncooked in a ziplock bag, remove as much air and lay them flat in the freezer until frozen. Once they are frozen you can stack them up and store away in the corner of the freezer until you need them.
To re-use just thaw them in the fridge for a couple of hours and cook them as we do below. My kids love chicken schnitzel so I have these on hand for busy cake days and it's such a blessing.
Why pan-fried not baked
Personally, I'm not a big fan of putting chicken breast in the oven. If you don't take them out at the right time they can be dry. I love cooking them with a little oil in the pan which not just cooks them thru nicely and evenly but also caramelizes them a bit on the outside giving it so much more flavor. If you follow my method as directed you will never ever have a dry chicken schnitzel.
Frequently asked questions
This chicken schnitzel will keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Absolutely, these can be made a few days ahead of time and kept in the fridge
Yes, of course. This recipe can be easily doubled and multiplied many times successfully.
You can serve it over any of your favorite pasta. Or, try buttered noodles, mashed potatoes, or alongside some sautéed veggies or salad too. My kids love turmeric rice or rice pilaf with fruit and nuts along with their chicken schnitzel, breaded chicken or this parmesan crusted chicken
This is a very versatile dish and can pair with almost any veggies. Try sauteed green beans or asparagus, baked butternut squash, or carrots. You can even try a side of simple salad like celery, carrots, cabbage, etc.
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Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life
This sounds like the most delicious schnitzel EVER! I can't wait to give this recipe a try.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Claire - Let me know what you think.
Elena
My toddler would love it! I'm certainly making this recipe for him soon! Thank you for sharing!
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely Elena my kids loved these when they were toddlers.. Always a winner with kids.
Marissa Zurfluh
Just imagining the crisp of this makes my mouth water. This is such a great dinner recipe!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Marissa - Definitely a great dinner recipe
Abby @ WinsteadWandering
I love that you got such a gorgeous golden color without frying! My whole family would LOVE this chicken.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Abby. I think a good color makes it more appetizing right?
Leslie Haasch
As a German, I look forward to giving your family's schnitzel recipe a shot - it sounds great!
Veena Azmanov
Thanks Leslie. I think you have some amazing Schnitzel recipes in germany too!
Jenni LeBaron
I love chicken schnitzel and I think your recipe looks wonderful - straightforward and tasty!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Jenni. This is definitely a wonderful recipe.
Anne Murphy
I like making extra to freeze! I mean, as long as you have the setup, might as well... And I will add the optional dairy - sounds delicious!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Anne. yes, I love making extra so the kids can have snacks and I have a buffer for my busy days.
Monica | Nourish & Fete
I love that this is breaded but NOT fried - and it looks so, so good. I bet this would be an amazing weeknight dinner for my family!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Monica. Yes I am not a huge fan of deep frying stuff so this is perfect for our family.
[email protected] Cake's Pantry
I think it's interesting that almost every culture has a fried and breaded chicken cutlet that's made by grandma. I love that you've added spices and seasonings to the egg mixture as well as the flour and breadcrumbs, and I really appreciate that these are pan fried instead of deep fried. I really need to save on calories. I can't wait to try this.
Veena Azmanov
SO true Patti. All cultures and all grandmoms have a few of these recipes that are always popular. I love adding as much flavor as I can. Thanks
Patti
Isn't it interesting that every culture has a fried chicken cutlet recipe? I love how you added seasoning to the milk mixture as well as to the flour and bread crumbs. This looks delicious.
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely Patti - all grandmoms definitely have one of those recipes in every culture. Thanks
Patti @Patty Cake's Pantry
Isn't it amazing how every culture has a fried chicken patty recipe, and it's a favorite with children from many cultures. I love how you have added seasonings to the eggs as well as to the flour and bread crumbs. These chicken cutlets are loaded with flavor, and I love that you've saved some calories by not deep frying them. This is a great recipe.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Patti. Absolutely every culture has one of those recipes that grandma whips and it's always the best. These are definitely loaded with flavor.
Monica Le
oh this Breaded chinckesn breast looks so delicious… wish I had some right now!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Monica. It really is so easy to make.
Monica Le
oh this breaded chicken breast looks so delicious… wish I had some right now!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Monica. It's really so easy to make too.
Carrie | Clean Eating Kitchen
These look so tasty and easy too! Great for a weeknight dinner!
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely Carrie. Great for busy days or lazy weekends.
Marissa
I made these today.. Amazing, the kids loved it.. You make everything look so easy.
Thanks
Marissa
keegan hanif
u want belive it at 2 in the morning i made it it was aawsome i tried it at night only bcs was getting board and all etccc itzz really niceee 😀