How Long Should I Cook Chicken Schnitzel For

01.21.19

Updated: 02.28.20

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Learn how to make Chicken Schnitzel that's crispy, juicy, extra crunchy and quick to prepare. A family favorite that's impressive and delicious!

A platter of Chicken Schnitzel with lemon wedges and parsley

Schnitzel is something I grew up with, it was one of those dishes that was a staple at our house. The great thing about schnitzel is that it can be made with any kind of meat, I have made it with pork before, with veal and as seen here with chicken.

What is Schnitzel

Schnitzel is a popular German dish but I think it's popular in pretty much all of Europe. It's usually served with mashed potatoes or spaetzle but lemons and mustard are a must. Squeezing some lemon juice over the schnitzel is a must, it really does make all the difference in the world.

My favorite thing about making schnitzel is pounding the heck out of the meat. It's a way to take out your frustrations, however try to do it in a gentle way, if that's possible because you don't want to tear the meat. But anyway, it's a lot of fun, trust me.

What Kind Of Meat Is Used When Making Schnitzel

Traditionally schnitzel is made with thin pieces of veal chops. It's not always easy to find veal in grocery stores, unless you go to a butcher.

However, I love using skinless boneless chicken breasts or pork tenderloin to make schnitzel.

Overhead of a platter of Chicken Schnitzel with lemon wedges and parsley

How To Make Chicken Schnitzel

To make chicken schnitzel you make it the same way you would make a veal schnitzel or pork schnitzel. Pound the chicken out so that it's very thin, about 1/4 of an inch in thickness.

You then bread the chicken by first dredging it through flour, then egg wash and finally breadcrumbs. Fry the chicken schnitzel in a hot skillet with about 1/4 inch of oil, on both sides.

You could always deep fry this, and I've seen them deep fried in restaurants, but it really isn't necessary. Simply pour a bit of oil at the bottom of a skillet, enough that the oil comes half way up the schnitzel but not fully submerged in it. They also don't take very long to fry either because the meat is thin, but you always end up with juicy meat and really crispy on the outside.

How to serve

Serve chicken schnitzel with these sides:

Mashed Potatoes
Potato Salad
Baked Potatoes
Roasted Potatoes
Spaetzle

I really love sharing these recipes that I grew up with you, because they are my favorites and staples at my house and I hope you're enjoying them as well.

Chicken Schnitzel served on a plate with lemon wedges and mustard

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Learn how to make Chicken Schnitzel that's crispy, juicy, extra crunchy and quick to prepare. A family favorite that's impressive and delicious!

▢ 3 pounds chicken breasts boneless and skinless
▢ 4 teaspoons salt or to taste, divided
▢ 4 teaspoons black pepper or to taste, divided
▢ 1 cup all-purpose flour
▢ 2 cups breadcrumbs (I used Panko)
▢ 4 large eggs
▢ 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
▢ 1 tablespoon fresh parsley for garnish
▢ vegetable oil for frying

Working with one piece of chicken breast at a time, place it in a ziploc plastic bag or between two sheets of plastic wrap. If using a plastic bag, partially close the bag, but not all the way to allow air to flow out. Use a meat mallet to pound out the meat using the flat side of the mallet, gently so you don't tear the meat, until it's about 1/4″ in thickness. Repeat with the rest of chicken breasts.
Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Set aside.
In one shallow plate whisk the flour with 1 tsp salt and pepper. In another shallow plate whisk the breadcrumbs with 1 tsp salt and pepper. In another shallow plate, whisk the eggs with 1 tsp salt, pepper and the Dijon mustard.
Place all plates next to each other like on an assembly line. Start by coating the chicken in the flour mixture first, shaking off any excess. Dip it into the egg mixture next, making sure it's fully covered in egg, and lastly dredge it through the breadcrumb mixture. Place on a plate and repeat with the rest of the chicken.
Heat about 1/4 cup of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot enough place a schnitzel into the skillet and fry, the oil should sizzle. Usually I drop a breadcrumb to see if it sizzles. If your skillet is really big you may be able to fry two pieces of chicken at a time. I used a 10 1/2 inch skillet, and was only able to fry one schnitzel at a time. Add more oil as necessary in between schnitzels. Fry for about 2 to 3 minutes per side or until the schnitzel is a deep golden brown. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat with remaining chicken.
Serve schnitzels with lemon wedges, Dijon mustard and I like to serve mine with mashed potatoes.

The plastic bag or wrap will help prevent splattering the counter all yourself.
I like to use Panko breadcrumbs whenever I make schnitzel because the schnitzel always turns out extra crispy.

Serving: 1 schnitzel Calories: 339 kcal (17%) Carbohydrates: 20 g (7%) Protein: 43 g (86%) Fat: 8 g (12%) Saturated Fat: 2 g (13%) Cholesterol: 201 mg (67%) Sodium: 1600 mg (70%) Potassium: 730 mg (21%) Fiber: 1 g (4%) Sugar: 1 g (1%) Vitamin A: 225 IU (5%) Vitamin C: 2.6 mg (3%) Calcium: 76 mg (8%) Iron: 2.5 mg (14%)

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: German

Keyword: chicken, german recipes, schnitzel

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I'm Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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