German Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - My Gorgeous Recipes (2024)

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

German Chicken Schnitzel Recipe, golden and crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside. It's ready in about 15 minutes. Great as a sandwich or a meal on its own with a salad on the side, this is the perfect family meal.

German Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - My Gorgeous Recipes (1)

Chicken schnitzel for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Absolutely! There is no easier and quicker way to cook chicken than this super simple recipe, and it just goes down a treat. Golden and crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside, it hardly needs any seasoning and it tastes beautifully.

In a rush in the morning? Just grab two slices of toast and a chicken schnitzel, and you are good to go. For lunch or dinner you can get as creative as you want, it goes nicely with any salad, vegetable, mashed potatoes, rice, or pulses. I love to have it with garlic sauce, but anything else would do.

Schnitzel is so popular all over the world, and rightly so, it's so delicious, even fussy eaters will have a go. And it's so much better than some greasy fast-food that has no real chicken in it.

While schnitzel is a German term, chicken escalope, which is a French term is also widely used, and they are pretty much the same recipe, although techniques could vary.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients needed
  • Step-by-step photos and instructions
  • Expert tips
  • Other similar chicken recipes
  • German Chicken Schnitzel Recipe
German Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - My Gorgeous Recipes (2)

Ingredients needed

  • chicken breasts - if they are too thick, you can slice them in half then tenderize them
  • sunflower oil - for frying
  • egg - for coating the chicken breasts
  • breadcrumbs - any kind you have
  • plain flour - for coating
  • salt and ground black pepper - to taste

Step-by-step photos and instructions

It might not be the healthiest way, but the traditional way rather. The chicken schnitzel is shallow fried in oil, although you can also bake it in the oven. Once you make it once, you will never go back to those fast-foods to buy chicken meals.

The secret to making the very best schnitzel is making sure you have a thin piece of chicken, otherwise it will not cook through.

  • grab a meat tenderizer, or just a rolling pin, place the chicken between 2 pieces of non-stick paper, and flatten is out as much as you can.
  • once you have the right thickness, coat it with flour, then egg wash, breadcrumbs, and it's now ready to cook.

You can season with the herbs of your choice, if you want a deeper flavour, although the good old pepper and salt work just fine.

  • fry in a pan on both sides until golden and cooked through
German Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - My Gorgeous Recipes (3)

Expert tips

It is crucial to have the chicken breasts cut thinly or tenderised really well, otherwise it won't cook through.

Make sure the pan is not set over a too high heat, otherwise the outside will brown too quickly, while the inside is still raw.

Other similar chicken recipes

This chicken schnitzel is a favourite of ours, it's quick, it's delicious, and it goes down well with kids and grown-ups too.

The Japanese Chicken Katsu is based on a similar chicken recipe, but it uses a delicious mild curry to up its flavours. So, if you are looking at something yummy for dinner, I whole-heartedly recommend it.

A similar texture, just different size are the Breaded Chicken Tenders, although these are deep-fried rather than shallow-fried. Still so good though!

The Buttermilk Fried Chicken Burgers use buttermilk for deeper flavours, but are as crispy and so easy to make too.

Do give them a go, these dishes are super popular with us, and definitely recipes that can be cooked again and again with great results every single time.

German Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - My Gorgeous Recipes (4)

If you’ve liked my GERMAN CHICKEN SCHNITZELor any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can alsoFOLLOW MEonFACEBOOK, andPINTERESTto see more delicious food and what I’m getting up to.

German Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - My Gorgeous Recipes (5)

German Chicken Schnitzel Recipe

German Chicken Schnitzel Recipe, golden and crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside. It's ready in about 15 minutes. Great as a sandwich or a meal on its own with a salad on the side, this is the perfect family meal. Even fussy kids love a nice chicken schnitzel. It might be fried, but it's still so much better than any fast-food. Quick, easy, with a few simple ingredients, hard not to love it!

4.43 from 7 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: German

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 969kcal

Author: Daniela Apostol

Ingredients

  • 2 chicken breasts
  • ½ cup sunflower oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup plain flour
  • a pinch of salt
  • ground black pepper to taste

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

  • Place the chicken breasts on the work surface, cut them in 2 lengthwise, and bash them with a meat tenderiser.

  • Next, we need 2 large plates. On one plate we have plain flour, on the other breadcrumbs.

  • Beat the egg lightly using a fork, then season with salt and pepper.

  • Coat the chicken slices in flour, then dip in the egg mixture and in the end toss them well in breadcrumbs.

  • Heat up the frying pan and add the sunflower oil.

  • Fry the chicken schnitzels on both sides for about 2 minutes on each side until golden, then remove from the pan and place on a kitchen towel to remove the excess oil.

  • Serve hot or cold with any sauce.

Notes

  • It is crucial to have the chicken breasts cut thinly or tenderised really well, otherwise it won't cook through.
  • Make sure the pan is not set over a too high heat, otherwise the outside will brown too quickly, while the inside is still raw.

Nutrition

Calories: 969kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 62g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 154mg | Sodium: 558mg | Potassium: 587mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 155IU | Vitamin C: 1.3mg | Calcium: 117mg | Iron: 4.9mg

Tried this Recipe? Share it Today!Mention @GorgeousRecipes or tag #gorgeousrecipes!

German Chicken Schnitzel Recipe - My Gorgeous Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What Germans eat with schnitzel? ›

In Germany, Schnitzel is usually served with fries (you have to try my Pommesgewürz recipe for a German french fry seasoning). Bratkartoffeln (pan-fried potatoes) is another popular side.

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.

Why put schnitzel in fridge before frying? ›

Place into the fridge, uncovered, for one hour before cooking. This step dries the breading and ensures it will stick perfectly to the meat during the frying process. As long as you fry in hot oil, it will come out perfectly crispy with all of its breading intact!

How do you keep chicken schnitzel from drying out? ›

Use a high-heat point oil.

Plus it's worth it for me for this one because it really helps give this schnitzel that perfect crispy crunchy outer coating! Don't over-cook the chicken – over-cooking can result in the chicken drying out and not being tender and juicy – which we don't want!

What is the most famous German dish? ›

Of all these regional and national dishes, Germany is most famous for Currywurst, sausages, pretzels and Black Forest Gateau, but as you can see, there is plenty more to German cuisine than just these.

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 the best oil for cooking schnitzel? ›

I use quality extra virgin olive oil, which has a high enough smoke point to fry the schnitzel. You can use another healthy frying oil of your choice.

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 is the best oil to fry a schnitzel in? ›

Pork Tenderloin: A small pork tenderloin that weighs less than 1 pound. Panko Bread Crumbs: Sometimes called Japanese Panko bread crumbs. Frying Oil: I recommend peanut or canola oil for frying.

What are the secrets to a great schnitzel? ›

It is imperative that schnitzel be breaded very gently — no pressing! — and that it happen the moment before it hits the oil. Store-bought lard is a good option for frying, but vegetable oils like peanut, canola or rice bran will also work.

Why do people 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.

Why do some restaurants deep fry chicken schnitzels? ›

Sadly, most of the schnitzels served in pubs, restaurants and cafes are of the deep-fried variety because it's much easier to whack the frozen slab, bought in bulkstraight into the well of fat - and do the chips at the same time.

What is the white stuff coming out of my chicken schnitzel? ›

The white stuff coming out of chicken as it cooks is simply extra protein that dissolves in water and is forced out of the meat by heat. Food scientist Topher McNeil, PhD, explains, “The [chicken] muscles themselves actually contract and squeeze out the liquid that's in between muscle cells.”

Why do you put flour on schnitzel? ›

  1. The reason you dredge the veal cutlet is so the flour absorbs any excess moisture, enabling the egg to better adhere to the meat.
  2. I double dredge when I want a double coating of egg. ...
  3. I more often flour, egg, bread crumb, egg and bread crumb, when I want a double coating of the breadcrumbs on the cutlet.
Jul 29, 2011

Is it better to fry 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 do you normally eat with schnitzel? ›

The best side dishes to serve with pork schnitzel are mashed potatoes, carrot fries, tater tots, potatoes and carrots, green beans, radish chips, potato rosti, tostada, fried pickles, bok choy, sweet and sour red cabbage, coleslaw, lettuce salad, potato dumplings, baked beans, spicy noodles, and French bread.

What is traditionally served with Wiener Schnitzel? ›

The dish was traditionally served in Austria with butterhead lettuce tossed with a sweetened vinaigrette dressing, optionally with chopped chives or onions, potato salad, cucumber salad, or parsley potatoes. In recent times french fries and rice have become more common.

What is a schnitzel in German culture? ›

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.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5782

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Birthday: 1996-01-14

Address: 8381 Boyce Course, Imeldachester, ND 74681

Phone: +3571286597580

Job: Product Banking Analyst

Hobby: Cosplaying, Inline skating, Amateur radio, Baton twirling, Mountaineering, Flying, Archery

Introduction: My name is Kimberely Baumbach CPA, I am a gorgeous, bright, charming, encouraging, zealous, lively, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.