Cutlets, fried and breaded thin pieces of meat, are a classically delicious dish, popular in many cultures and culinary traditions. While there are many variations among the different preparations of cutlets, one thing remains constant: they’re DELICIOUS!
In this version of cutlets, we’re making Air Fryer Pork Schnitzel! We’re going for the most authentic German dish with this recipe today.
✦ Fun Fact: Schnitzel = German dish, usually pork. However, you can also make it out of chicken breast, veal, turkey,etc.
This air fryer schnitzel dish is very similar to the pork tonkatsu air fryer recipe, except that the latter uses exclusively panko breadcrumbs, creating a light and almost tempura-like texture when cooked.
Now, let’s fry up some crispy schnitzel!
Table of Contents
Ingredients for Air Fryer Pork Schnitzel
✦ You can find the exact measurements of the recipe ingredients and customize the serving size in the recipe card after the detailed step-by-step instructions section.
For a dish with such ancient roots, this recipe doesn’t require too many ingredients at all!
- Boneless, skinless pork chops (about ½ inch thick)
- Cornstarch
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Egg
- Fine panko breadcrumbs
- Avocado oil spray
It’s best to use pork loin chops. If you get thicker pork chops, simply butterfly them before starting the recipe. The key to good schnitzel is very thin meat!
If you don’t have panko, you could also use regular breadcrumbs but know that the outer coating on the meat won’t be quite as crisp.
Recipe Video
How To Air Fry Pork Schnitzel?
Air frying pork schnitzel is a straightforward process. All in all, you only need 15 minutes from preparing the cutlets to achieve a golden and crispy result. Here are the steps.
Step 1: Flatten your pork loin chops.
Trim the cutlets of any excess fat and pat them dry with a paper towel. Next, on the cutting board, cover the cutlets with a piece of plastic wrap.
Then, using a meat mallet or a heavy-bottomed sauté pan, pound the cutlets thin (to about a ¼-inch thickness) without piercing through the center of the meat.
Step 2: Setup your breading station.
Prepare the three mixtures for breading the cutlets.
In the first wide, shallow bowl, combine the cornstarch, salt, garlic powder, and paprika. In a second container, whisk an egg with 1-2 tbsp of water until smooth. In the third shallow bowl, add the breadcrumbs.
Step 3: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C).
If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheating option, you can set your desired temperature and then let it cook for 5 minutes without food.
🚨 Important: Reduce the cooking temperature to 380°F (193°C) if you’re using a 4-quart air fryer or smaller. They are hotter due to the heating element being closer to the food.
Step 4: Bread your pork cutlets.
Bread each cutlet. First, dip the cutlet into the cornstarch mixture and flip to evenly coat both sides.
Then, transfer each cutlet to the egg mixture, flipping to coat, then allow any excess to drip off before finally adding the cutlet to the breadcrumbs. Evenly coat each cutlet in breadcrumbs and then transfer to a clean plate.
Step 5: Air fry pork schnitzel for 6-8 minutes.
When the air fryer is preheated, add the cutlets in a single layer and spray with avocado oil (make sure your oil spray doesn’t contain any propellants or it could damage the air fryer basket).
Air fry the schnitzel for 6-8 minutes, flipping once halfway through and spraying the other side with more avocado oil.
Step 6: Allow your air-fried schnitzel to rest for 3-5 minutes.
When the schnitzel is golden and crisp, remove from the air fryer and transfer to a cooling rack. This step helps prevent the crust from steaming from the residual heat and getting soggy.
Allow to rest 3-5 minutes before enjoying.
Step 7: Serve and enjoy your crispy air fried pork schnitzel!
The best way to serve these deliciously crisp cutlets is with a sprinkle of flaky salt and some lemon wedges!
The fresh lemon juice really complements the crispy coating of the chicken and enhances all the flavors, creating a burst of flavor in your mouth!
Schnitzel pairs well with mashed potatoes, a fresh salad, or any of your favorite side dishes.
A very classic way to serve pork schnitzel is with egg noodles!
Delicious no matter how you serve it, pork schnitzel is surprisingly easy and fun to make in the air fryer.
Now, enjoy your golden brown air-fried pork cutlets!
Freezing & Storage
Freezing: Allow the air fryer schnitzel to cool completely before adding to a zip-top bag or to an airtight container.
Either way, we recommend that you separate the cutlets from each other with parchment or wax paper. Freeze for up to 6 months.
Fridge: Allow the cutlets to cool completely before adding to a zip-top bag or to an airtight container. Either way, we recommend that you separate the cutlets from each other with parchment or wax paper. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating: To reheat your air fryer pork schnitzel, preheat your compact convection oven to 380°F (193°C). Then, add the cutlets and air fry for 2 minutes per side, or until hot and re-crisped. If cooking from frozen, simply add 2 more minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can cook schnitzel in the air fryer. In fact, any breaded food works well with air fryers.
It typically takes about 6-8 minutes to air fry pork schnitzel. Since it’s been flattened and tenderized, it cooks quickly at 380°F to 400°F.
To cook frozen pork schnitzel in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 380°F to 400°F and cook your cutlets for 8-10 minutes, flipping them halfway through for even cooking. For thicker portions, continue cooking for 2 more minutes.
The number of calories in a pork schnitzel can vary depending on the size and preparation method, but it typically contains around 300 to 400 calories per serving.
This ingredients checklist is interactive; you can use it as your grocery list.
Ingredients
- 4 pork chops boneless skinless, (about ½ inch thick)
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- â…› teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoons paprika
- 1 egg
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs fine
- 1 tablespoons Avocado oil spray
Instructions
- Flatten your pork loin chops. The first step is to transform your pork chops into ¼ inch cutlets. Begin by patting them dry with a kitchen towel and removing any fat or silver skin from the meat. Then, cover both sides of the meat with cling wrap or place it in a zip-top bag with the sides cut open. Proceed to pound the meat until it reaches a flat thickness of at least ¼ inch. Repeat this process for all of your cutlets.
- Setup your breading station: In a shallow container, combine cornstarch, salt, garlic powder, and paprika. This mixture will serve as your dry batter station. In a medium bowl, whisk an egg until smooth. In a separate shallow container, place your breadcrumbs.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C). If your air fryer has a capacity of 4 quarts or smaller, please see the note for more info.
- Meanwhile, bread your pork cutlets. Start by dredging them in the dry batter mixture. Then dip them in the egg wash, ensuring they are well coated. Lastly, transfer them to the breadcrumbs station. Grab a handful of breadcrumbs and cover each pork chop, pressing gently to help them adhere. Repeat the process until all your cutlets have been breaded.
- Air fry pork schnitzel for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through. After carefully adding your breaded pork cutlets, generously spray them with cooking oil until there's no dry area left. Cook for 3-4 minutes, then flip the cutlets. Spray any remaining dry sections with cooking oil and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes. Air fry until the schnitzel turns golden brown and crispy!
- Allow your air-fried schnitzel to rest for 3-5 minutes. To prevent the crust from becoming soggy, it's best to place them on a cooling rack.
- Serve and enjoy your crispy air fryer schnitzel with lemon wedges on the side. It pairs well with mashed potatoes, a fresh salad, or any of your favorite side dishes.
Notes
- For 4-quart air fryers and smaller, reduce the cooking temperature to 380°F (193°C). They generate more heat because of the heating element’s proximity to the food.
- If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheating option, set your desired temperature and then let it cook for 4-5 minutes without food.
- Remove any sinew, fat, or silver skin from the meat. They prevent the meat from expanding and becoming thin and flat.
- Meat Mallet Alternatives: If you don’t have a meat mallet at home, you can also use the bottom of your pan or any flat and solid surface to flatten your chops.
- For thicker cuts, score them diagonally to make it easier to thin them out.
- The safe internal temperature of pork chops is around 145°F (63°C) or higher. However, if you want a crispy crust, the temperature will likely exceed that range.
- I used a 6-quart Instant Vortex Plus to test the air fryer pork schnitzel recipe. Cooking time and temperature may vary depending on your air fryer and the number of servings you are making. For optimal results, begin with the lower end of the suggested cooking time.
- Spraying the pork schnitzel with cooking oil is a necessary step for achieving a golden and crispy finish. Without it, the schnitzel may appear dry and unappetizing.
Nutrition
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