Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (2024)

Home Chicken Dinners Chicken Schnitzel

Becky Hardin

4.56 from 34 votes

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When you want a crispy, flavorful meat to serve with side dishes, try this Chicken Schnitzel. The thinly-sliced chicken tastes great with its seasoned panko breading crust.

Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (1)

Crispy Fried Chicken Schnitzel Recipe

Are you always looking for new entrees to serve with different side dishes? If you typically bake or broil chicken, try this flavorful Chicken Schnitzel recipe.

Instead of preparing chicken breast the usual way, you will coat it in flour, bread it in panko breadcrumbs, and then fry it in oil before serving.

Why You’ll Love this Easy Chicken Schnitzel:

  • Super crispy: It is the perfect meat to eat for those who love crispy foods. The crisp texture takes this chicken to the next level.
  • Easy recipe: It is not hard to make. You will only need a few ingredients to use when breading your chicken before frying it.
  • Side friendly: You can serve it with lots of sides. It goes great with mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, rice, and more.
Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (2)

Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (3)

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How to make Chicken Schnitzel

Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!

  1. Heat your oil in a large pot or skillet until it is hot and ready for you to use.
  2. Combine your flour and seasonings in one bowl, eggs and water in a second bowl, and the panko breadcrumbs in a third bowl.
  3. Grab plastic wrap, place your chicken breast between it, and use a meat tenderizer to smash the chicken down until it is thinner.
  4. Dip a piece of chicken into the flour, followed by the egg wash and then the breadcrumbs. Repeat this process with each piece of chicken.
  5. Add your chicken to the pot or skillet and fry for about two to three minutes per side until your chicken becomes crispy and golden.
Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (5)
Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (6)

What is schnitzel?

Schnitzel is a breaded, fried meat. Some people use chicken, but you can also use pork and other meats. The meat gets pounded down until it becomes thinner before it gets breaded and fried in oil.

What type of chicken do I need for schnitzel?

It is best to use chicken breast to prepare this recipe for Chicken Schnitzel. Some people like to make pork schnitzel using boneless pork loin chops.

What can I use instead of panko?

If you do not have panko breadcrumbs, you can crush crackers into small pieces before using them as the breading for your chicken.

Other alternative breading options include crushed cornflakes or crushed potato chips.

Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (7)
Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (8)

Recipe Tips and Notes

  • Place your chicken in a warm oven if you do not plan to serve it right away. If you are going to serve it within an hour or so, the warm oven will keep the chicken at the right temperature while keeping it crispy.
  • Squeeze a bit of lemon juice from a lemon wedge over your chicken for added flavor that goes great with Chicken Schnitzel.
  • Serve with a side of broccoli and seasoned red potatoes to prepare a wholesome, tasty meal.
Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (9)

Chicken Schnitzels is a crispy, tasty entree that you may enjoy eating for dinner. You can always save leftovers and eat them on bread or with various sides for lunch or dinner.

More fried chicken recipes we love

  • Air Fryer Fried Chicken
  • Fried Chicken Sandwich
  • Chicken Flautas
  • Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

If you’ve made this recipe, please be sure to let us know by leaving a star rating or a comment below. Enjoy!

Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (10)

4.56 from 34 votes

Crispy Chicken Schnitzel Recipe

When you want a crispy, flavorful meat to serve with side dishes, try this Chicken Schnitzel. The thinly-sliced chicken tastes great with its seasoned panko breading crust.

Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (11)

Email This Recipe

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 3 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Lemon wedges for serving
  • Fresh parsley for serving

Instructions

  • Pour 1 ½ inches of oil into a large heavy pot or high-sided skillet. Heat the oil over medium-high heat to 360 degrees F.

  • Whisk the flour, paprika, salt, garlic powder, and pepper together in one shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, whisk the eggs and water. Place breadcrumbs in a third bowl.

  • Place each piece of chicken between 2 large pieces of plastic wrap and use a rolling pin or meat mallet to pound the chicken to ½- to ¼-inch thickness.

  • Coat the chicken first in the flour, then dredge in the egg wash, and finally in the breadcrumbs.

  • Fry in batches, flipping once, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, season both sides with salt and pepper to taste. Repeat with remaining chicken.

  • Hold in a warm oven if not serving immediately. Serve garnished with parsley, with lemon wedges on the side.

Nutrition Facts

Crispy Chicken Schnitzel Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 460Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Trans Fat 1g

Cholesterol 189mg63%

Sodium 753mg33%

Potassium 446mg13%

Carbohydrates 57g19%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 34g68%

Vitamin A 393IU8%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 112mg11%

Iron 5mg28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Author: Becky Hardin

Course:Main Course

Cuisine:German

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Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (18)

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin founded Easy Chicken Recipes in 2018. She has been creating trusted, easy, and delicious recipes on the web since 2012. Becky is known for simple dinner ideas, delicious crockpot recipes, creative chicken meals, and so much more. We have built a team of recipe developers, testers, and writers that love to create trust chicken recipes for every family.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review

  1. Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (19)Pat Lawson says

    I really don’t like white meat. Would this work with chicken thigh meat?

    Reply

    • Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (20)Becky Hardin says

      You can give it a try!

      Reply

  2. Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (21)Kay Gregory says

    Can this be baked in oven or air fried instead of frying in oil?

    Reply

    • Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (22)Becky Hardin says

      Just how the breading is made is not the best for air frying or baking but you can sure try!

      Reply

  3. Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (23)Mel says

    Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (24)
    Fantastic recipe ! Just for a change my “Boss” sometimes adds white sesame seeds to the breadcrumbs for a different texture. Either way this is a scrummy meal..

    Reply

    • Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (25)Becky Hardin says

      Thank ya for stopping by, Mel!

      Reply

  4. Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (26)Ann Rickert says

    Can these be frozen for later use?

    Reply

    • Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (27)Becky Hardin says

      I don’t see anything wrong with it!

      Reply

  5. Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (28)Ed says

    Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (29)
    The chicken was nice and crispy but the flavoring was incredibly bland.

    Reply

    • Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (30)Becky Hardin says

      I am sorry this wasn’t for you, Ed. Modify to your liking!

      Reply

  6. Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (31)Catie says

    Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (32)
    So easy! We loved it, my husband said it was just like grandmas:)

    Reply

    • Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (33)Becky Hardin says

      What a compliment!

      Reply

  7. Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (34)Kathy says

    Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (35)
    I made this last night. I had huge chicken breasts so I cut them in half and didn’t need to flatten it. We loved it this will make our weeknight dinner rotation so easy and tasty. Thx

    Reply

    • Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (36)Becky Hardin says

      I’m so happy to hear you loved this recipe, Kathy!

      Reply

  8. Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (37)Joanne.milne17@gmail.com says

    Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (38)
    Excellent!! Seasoned the chicken with garlic & onion powder and seasoning salt before adding to flour etc. this is similar to how I make veal Parmesan. Served with tomato and Boursin pasta and tossed salad. Yummy!

    Reply

    • Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (39)Becky Hardin says

      That sounds delish, Joanne! So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between breaded chicken and schnitzel? ›

Chicken schnitzel is a breaded chicken filet, so if you get down to the nitty-gritty, they're the same thing. How you serve it, meaning garnishes and accompaniments, is what turns a breaded filet into a schnitzel.

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.

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.

Why does the breading fall off my schnitzel? ›

You don't start dry

The first step to breading chicken is crucial: Make sure the chicken is completely dry before starting the dredging process. Using a paper towel, pat the meat dry on all sides. Excess moisture will cause the flour to get soggy, meaning it will not adhere properly to the chicken.

What can I use instead of breadcrumbs for schnitzel? ›

The Best 10 Breadcrumb Substitutes
  • Rolled oats. Rolled oats are the perfect gluten-free binding ingredient, replacing breadcrumbs in meatballs or meatloaf and many more recipes when you need to bind meat and eggs. ...
  • Potato chips. ...
  • Cornflakes. ...
  • Almonds. ...
  • Croutons. ...
  • Crackers. ...
  • Seeds.
Oct 18, 2022

Is breast or thigh better for schnitzel? ›

Chicken breasts are the traditional cut of meat for this dish but I find thighs are juicier and add more flavour. I've been making schnitzel for years, tweaking and perfecting my recipe, never entirely happy with the result. This is my latest version and I think it's delicious.

Are chicken schnitzels healthy? ›

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.

What is a chicken 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 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 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 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".

Why is my chicken schnitzel soggy? ›

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.

Why is my chicken schnitzel tough? ›

Overcooking:Overcooking is a common reason for tough chicken. If chicken is cooked for too long or at too high a temperature, the proteins in the meat can tighten and become dry, resulting in a tough texture. It's important to cook chicken to the recommended internal temperature and not exceed it.

Is chicken schnitzel just breaded chicken? ›

What Is Schnitzel? Schnitzel, which originated in Eastern Europe, is a thin slice of meat that is breaded and fried. You can make it with chicken, pork, veal (wiener-schnitzel), and other types of meat. The word "schnitzel" comes from the German word "schnitt," which means "cut."

Is A schnitzel the same as a chicken? ›

Chicken schnitzel is, quite simply, crispy fried chicken breasts. Schnitzel is Austrian in origin and traditionally made with veal (known as wiener schnitzel) or pork. Likewise, it has also been a popular dish in Germany for centuries. Fried schnitzel later found its way to Israel with European Jews.

Is schnitzel the same as fried chicken? ›

schnitzel is a piece of meat pounded thin and breaded. Fried Chicken, like KFC, is pieces of a chicken with the bone in still, breaded and deep fried. In a nutshell.

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