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Chicken schnitzel is a traditional German dish that is pounded thin with a meat tenderizer and is coated with breadcrumbs and then lightly fried. There isn't much better or easier than this when it comes to chicken.
I thought today was about exploring my roots a little bit. My dad's side of the family is German if the last name Beck didn't give it away. No I'm not related to Beck's Beer sadly. Who knows, maybe I'll randomly start seeing some checks from them some day. And while my distant relatives hail from Germany, I have never actually been.
But I feel most cities this days have an authentic German restaurant. For me it was Hollerbach's in Sanford. My memories of Hollerbach's consist of live music, lots of dancing, beer and schnitzel. Now I was too young for the beer and didn't care for the dancing but I remember loving the schnitzel.
Schnitzel is usually either chicken, pork or veal that is pounded very thin. I either would order the pork or chicken and always loved it. In fact, I don't think I ever ordered anything else besides schnitzel from Hollerbach's. Since I don't live close by anymore, I thought I'd make my own version of a German chicken schnitzel recipe.
Thankfully, it tasted exactly how I remembered. It really is a super simple dish. It also pairs great with potato latkes or German spaetzle, or if you really want to step you game up - cheddar pierogies. So if you're like me and crave some German chicken schnitzel, this recipe is for you.
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Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken breasts - can also use chicken cutlets that are already thin.
- All-purpose flour - coats the chicken to create a crispy exterior.
- Eggs - helps the breadcrumbs bind to chicken.
- Breadcrumbs - fresh breadcrumbs are best but you can use store-bought.
- Garlic powder, salt, black pepper - enhances the flavor.
- Canola oil - vegetable oil also works.
- Lemons - adds some acidity.
- Parsley - adds freshness.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Place chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound to 1/4" thick. Season with salt and pepper.
- Make breadcrumb mixture by pulsing three slices of bread in food processor. You can also use plain breadcrumbs.
- Place flour, eggs and breadcrumbs in three separate bowls, adding some garlic powder to breadcrumbs.
- Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Dip chicken in flour, then eggs, then breadcrumbs.
- Cook chicken in skillet until golden brown, 3 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining chicken.
What is Chicken Schnitzel?
Chicken schnitzel is chicken that is pounded thin and tenderized and then is coated with breadcrumbs and lightly fried. You typically squeeze some fresh lemon over it as well.
Do I Have to Use Chicken?
Nope! Traditional, you can make schnitzel with chicken, veal or pork. The recipe is the same except for the meat. While I've never made veal schnitzel, I've made pork from time-to-time and it's outstanding as well.
How to Reheat
Leftovers that tastes as great as the day it was made it important. Place the chicken on a baking sheet and cover with foil. Place in 400°F oven for 15 minutes and check if it's crispy. If it isn't yet, pop back in the oven for another 5 minutes.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Do not skip pounding the chicken. It needs to be pounded to 1/4 inch thickness which allows for even and fast cooking so you don't burn the breading or overcook the chicken.
- Fresh breadcrumbs take 5 seconds extra work, but lead to a quality tasting exterior of the chicken that store-bought can't replicate. However you can use regular or panko breadcrumbs if needed.
- Add cold oil to a cold skillet and let heat up to proper temperature before adding the chicken. You'll know it is ready when the oil starts to shimmer.
- You know the chicken is cooked when it reaches 165°F with an instant-read thermometer or if you cut into the chicken and the juices run clear and there is no pink. Honestly, I always just cut the chicken to see when it is done. If it isn't just cook slightly longer.
- Leftovers will store well in the fridge for 1 day but as is the case with anything pan fried, it's better fresh.
Other Chicken Recipes
If you’ve tried this chicken schnitzel recipe or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.
Chicken Schnitzel
Ingredients
- 4 (6 oz) chicken breasts
- salt and black pepper
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs (pulse 3 slices of bread)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- canola or vegetable oil for frying
- lemons and chopped parsley for serving
Instructions
- Place the chicken between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound them until they are 1/4 inch thick. Lightly season both sides with salt and black pepper.
- To make breadcrumbs, pulse 3 slices of bread in food processor until you get crumb mixture. You can also use plain breadcrumbs if you don't have fresh bread.
- Place the flour, egg and breadcrumbs in 3 separate shallow bowls. Add garlic powder to breadcrumbs and mix to combine.
- Preheat oven to 200°F. Place wiring cooling rack on baking sheet and set aside. Heat 1/4 inch oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. While skillet is heating up, dip the chicken in the flour, then the eggs, then the breadcrumbs, coating both sides and all edges at each side. Gently shake off excess breadcrumbs.
- Cook 2 cutlets at a time until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to wire rack and place in oven while cooking the remaining cutlets. Squeeze fresh lemon juice and top with chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
- Do not skip pounding the chicken. It needs to be pounded to 1/4 inch thickness which allows for even and fast cooking so you don't burn the breading or overcook the chicken.
- Fresh breadcrumbs take 5 seconds extra work, but lead to a quality tasting exterior of the chicken that store-bought can't replicate. However you can use regular or panko breadcrumbs if needed.
- Add cold oil to a cold skillet and let heat up to proper temperature before adding the chicken. You'll know it is ready when the oil starts to shimmer.
- You know the chicken is cooked when it reaches 165°F with an instant-read thermometer or if you cut into the chicken and the juices run clear and there is no pink. Honestly, I always just cut the chicken to see when it is done. If it isn't just cook slightly longer.
- Leftovers will store well in the fridge for 1 day but as is the case with anything pan fried, it's better fresh.
I’ve only had pork but this looks good!
I am confused as to why we preheat the oven to 350? I made this recipe, but cooked it using the stovetop. Was it suppose to cook in the oven? Thanks!
Good catch. That was meant to place the already cooked chicken the oven if you are cooking multiple pieces so it stays warm. I updated it so it made more sense. Hope you liked it!
I was looking for a schnitzel recipe and knew this was the one when I saw your reference to Hollerbach’s! Love that place!
Not much better than Hollerbach's!