Make this Air Fryer Chicken Schnitzel Recipe if you are looking for the best pub grub at home. Juicy fried chicken that's pounded extra thin, and it's really, really crispy!
Everyone would know how to make a perfectly panko-breaded and fried chicken cutlet.
When plating chicken schnitzel, serve it as a sandwich, with a side salad, or with these Boursin Mashed Potatoes.
Check out What To Serve With Chicken Schnitzel, where I offer my top side dishes all in one place!
Chicken Schnitzel is Austrian by origin but is extremely popular in Germany, so it's recognized as part of German cuisine.
I will show you how to make an authentic chicken schnitzel in the air fryer. Of course, you can fry these breaded cutlets in canola oil, but I wanted to show you a healthier approach.
If you like pub food, give my Crispy Air-Fried Buffalo Cauliflower, and Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs a try.
Follow along to learn the steps to make Chicken Schnitzel from scratch!
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⭐️ Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Panko breadcrumbs transform your chicken breast into a juicy and crispy Chicken Schnitzel!
- Enjoy a crispy Chicken Schnitzel without frying in oil.
- Utilize this breading procedure for chicken breast or chicken thighs.
📝 Key Ingredients
Here is a visual overview of the chicken schnitzel ingredients in this recipe. Scroll to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.
- Chicken - You can use chicken breast or chicken thighs in this recipe. Smaller chicken breasts offer less resistance when flattening, making them the right choice. If the chicken breasts are too thick, you can butterfly them open.
- Flour - We used all-purpose flour, but you can use almond flour for a gluten-free option. Flour adds a dry coating to the chicken, allowing the eggs to stick. (Alternatively, use this all-purpose gluten-free flour paired with a gluten-free breadcrumb).
- Eggs - Dunking your chicken in the egg mixture will allow the panko breadcrumbs to stick.
- Panko - This Japanese breadcrumb gives chicken schnitzel its crispy exterior.
- Dijon - A small amount of Dijon mustard mixed with the eggs gives this recipe a tangy component.
- Lemon - It's mandatory to serve German Chicken Schnitzel with lemon wedges!
See recipe card for quantities.
🥘 Substitutions + Variations
- Chicken: If you are not a fan of white meat, you can swap our chicken breast for boneless chicken thighs.
- Gluten-Free: Use this breading station. 1 cup of arrowroot powder, 2 eggs, 1 cup of almond meal. (Check out my Whole30 Dynamite Shrimp for another gluten-free breading option).
- Sauce: Chicken Schnitzel is often served with a mushroom sauce or mustard cream sauce.
- Alternative Meats: If you are looking for a different protein swap out chicken breast for veal or pork schnitzel.
🔪 Step-By-Step Instructions
Learn the secret to the perfect chicken schnitzel with these easy-to-follow instructions.
Step 1. Place the chicken breasts on your work surface. Cover with a large piece of plastic wrap.
Step 2. Use a meat mallet to flatten the chicken breast to about ¼ inch thickness. You want to pound as thin as possible without breaking the chicken.
Step 3. Time to set up our breading station. Gather 1 bowl of flour, 1 bowl of mixed eggs and Dijon, and 1 bowl of panko breadcrumbs.
Step 4. Dip the chicken into the flour mixture and shake off the excess flour. Next, dunk it in the egg mixture, then the panko breadcrumbs to make it really crispy.
Step 5. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F/204°C. Place the breaded chicken cutlets in the basket and spray the tops with cooking oil. As you can see, I can only fit 2 chicken breasts at a time.
Step 6. Cook for 8 minutes and flip, then cook for another 8 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C. The exterior should look golden brown and crunchy.
Serve Chicken Schnitzel with spaetzle, arugula salad, noodles, or with my Whole30 Greens Beans Almondine.
Egg or Flour First?
We always start our breading process with flour first. The flour adds a coating to the chicken that allows the egg wash to stick.
To achieve the crispiest chicken the process goes flour, egg, and breadcrumbs.
👨🏻🍳 Chef Tips
- When your breading station is set up, use one hand for dry (flour and breadcrumbs) and the other hand for wet (egg wash).
- For a finishing touch, squeeze a fresh lemon over the top of the Chicken Schnitzel.
- For the crispiest golden chicken breast, spray the air fryer basket and the tops of the chicken with a cooking spray. (Speaking of crispy chicken, have you tried my Crispy Air Fryer Whole Chicken?)
- Be careful not to overcook the chicken. Since the chicken breast is pounded thin, it won't take long to cook.
- Make flattening easier by removing the small chicken tender attached to the chicken breast. Save these tenders for kid's chicken fingers.
❓Recipe FAQ's
Air Fryer chicken schnitzel makes for an easy weeknight dinner. Serve chicken with my Air Fryer Cabbage Wedges. This German classic also pairs well with noodles, mashed potatoes, and green beans.
Yes! Make sure the chicken thighs are boneless and pounded very thin.
It all depends on the air fryer model you have. From my experience, it takes 15-16 minutes to cook at 400°F/204°C. Your instant-read thermometer should read 165°F/74°C when cooked through.
Yes! You can prep many chicken breasts all at once and flash freeze. (Freezing uncovered until frozen) Place breaded chicken into an air-tight container and turn them into Chicken Schnitzel and Chicken Parmesan dinners.
Place your cooked chicken schnitzel into an air fryer preheated to 350°F/176°C. Cook for 5 minutes. If you need to make the exterior more crispy, increase the temperature to 390°F/198°C for the last minute of cooking.
🍽 More Air Fryer Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Schnitzel
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts tender removed
- salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup flour
- 2 large eggs whisked
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- lemon garnish
- parsley garnish
Instructions
- Place chicken breast on your work surface. Cover with a large piece of plastic wrap.
- Use a meat mallet to flatten the chicken breast to about ¼ inch thickness. Season with salt and pepper on both sides. You want to pound as thin as possible without breaking the chicken.
- Set up your breading station by gathering ½ cup of flour in a bowl, mixing 2 eggs with 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard in a bowl, and 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs in a bowl.
- Dip the chicken into the flour mixture and shake off the excess flour. Next, dunk it in the egg mixture, then the panko breadcrumbs.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F/204°C. Place the breaded chicken cutlets in the basket and spray the tops with cooking oil. Most air fryer baskets can only fit 2 chicken breasts at a time.
- Cook for 8 minutes and flip, then cook for another 8 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F/73°C. Make sure the exterior looks golden brown and crunchy.
Notes
- When your breading station is set up, use one hand for dry (flour and breadcrumbs) and the other hand for wet (egg wash).
- For the crispiest golden chicken breast, spray the air fryer basket and the tops of the chicken with cooking spray.
- Be careful not to overcook the chicken. Since the chicken breast is pounded thin, they won't take a long time to cook.
- Make flattening easier by removing the small chicken tender attached to the chicken breast. Save these tenders for kid's chicken fingers.
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