Hen Schnitzel (Simple Traditional Recipe)


Prepared in underneath quarter-hour, this hen schnitzel recipe options tender fillets underneath a coating of crispy golden breadcrumbs. Pair it with some German potato salad for an genuine and hearty meal. 

crispy chicken schnitzel.

For those who’ve made our hen katsu or spicy hen sandwich earlier than, you’re certain to like hen schnitzel. All of them share comparable qualities, however this European model takes fried hen to a different stage! 

Desk of Contents
  1. What’s hen schnitzel?
  2. What’s hen schnitzel made out of?
  3. Learn how to make hen schnitzel
  4. Various cooking strategies
  5. Recipe ideas and variations
  6. Storage directions
  7. Incessantly requested questions
  8. Serving solutions
  9. Hen Schnitzel (Recipe Card)

What’s hen schnitzel?

Schnitzels are basically skinny slices of meat which were breaded and fried to make them crispy. Whereas there may be veal, pork, and eggplant schnitzel, the commonest is made with hen breast fillets. It’s just like my parmesan-crusted hen and Hen Milanese, however the principle distinction is that there’s NO parmesan cheese.

Listed below are some explanation why this recipe makes the most effective dinnertime staple:

  • Solely 6 elements. You solely want six on a regular basis elements to make one of the vital well-known European dishes. 
  • Cooks in 10 minutes. Because the hen fillets for schnitzel are very skinny, they take just a few minutes to cook dinner. The overall time for this complete recipe is lower than quarter-hour.
  • Freezer-friendly. You may bread as many hen fillets as you want and freeze them, raw, for later. 
  • Three cooking choices. Whereas I want the drying technique as a consequence of custom, I’ve examined my authentic recipe in each the air fryer and the oven, so you could have choices!

What I really like about this recipe is simply how versatile it’s! Leftovers are nice in a sandwich or over a salad, and even sliced up on a pizza!

What’s hen schnitzel made out of?

Actually, this recipe requires very fundamental elements. Moreover the hen, eggs, and some pantry staples, there isn’t a lot else that goes into it. Here’s what you’ll want:

  • Hen. Hen schnitzel is made with boneless and skinless hen breasts. Reduce the hen breasts diagonally to get thinner cuts. In case you are wanting to make use of hen tenders, strive my hen cutlets.
  • All-purpose flour. Dredging hen fillets in flour helps eliminate any further moisture and obtain crispy outcomes. Flour additionally helps the egg combination adhere to the hen. 
  • Eggs. Dipping the hen in crushed eggs ensures that the breadcrumbs don’t fall off. 
  • Breadcrumbs. The ultimate coating gives the crispiness of the schnitzels. I like utilizing panko breadcrumbs, however customary breadcrumbs additionally work.
  • Oil. To fry the hen fillets. Go for an oil with a excessive smoke level like vegetable oil or canola oil.
  • Salt and pepper. To style. 
  • Lemon. Recent lemon wedges or a squeeze of lemon juice to serve.

Discover the printable recipe with measurements under.

Learn how to make hen schnitzel

Making completely crispy hen schnitzels is simple in case you comply with three simple steps. Able to cook dinner some up?

Step 1- Pound the hen. Reduce skinless and boneless hen breasts in half diagonally. Place the fillets between saran wrap or two sheets of parchment paper and pound them with a meat mallet or rolling pin till the hen breasts are ¼  inch thick. 

pounded chicken breast fillets.

Step 2- Bread the hen. Get three shallow bowls. In a single bowl, combine flour with salt and black pepper. Crack the eggs within the second bowl and provides them whisk. Add the bread crumbs to the final bowl. Dredge every hen fillet within the flour combine, adopted by the eggs, and the bread crumbs. 

breading chicken cutlets for schnitzel.

Step 3- Fry. Add cooking oil to a deep, non-stick pan or skillet. As soon as sizzling, fry the breaded hen fillets for 4 minutes per facet till golden brown.

frying chicken schnitzels.

Step 4- Relaxation then serve. Take away the schnitzels from the pan and place them on a wire rack to get them further crispy. Serve with sliced lemons.

chicken schnitzel on wire rack.

Various cooking strategies

As talked about earlier, I’ve examined this recipe within the oven and the air fryer so you’ll be able to reduce on the oil and added fats. Right here is how:

Oven baked: Merely place the breaded hen on a lined baking sheet and bake at 180C/350F for 25-Half-hour, flipping midway by. 

Air fryer: As soon as the hen is breaded, place them in a greased air fryer basket and air fry at 200C/400F for quarter-hour, flipping midway by.

Bear in mind, for every possibility, the best solution to verify if the hen is cooked is to verify it’s inside temperature. As per the FDA necessities, hen is suitable for eating as soon as it reaches an inside temp of 165F.

Recipe ideas and variations

  • My #1 tip when deep frying or frying meat is to verify the temperature of the oil. The best temperature needs to be between 325F and 375F. Frying the hen something under that can end in greasy hen versus crispy hen.
  • Don’t put freshly fried hen schnitzels on paper towels. Whereas paper towels take in the additional oil, they have a tendency to make the schnitzels barely soggy. I like to recommend all the time utilizing a wire rack.
  • Combine a tablespoon of Dijon mustard with the crushed eggs or brush it on the hen fillets earlier than seasoning them. This can give the schnitzels a light mustardy kick. 
  • Don’t skimp on salt and pepper. Season the fillets generously on either side to keep away from bland hen. 

Storage directions

To retailer: Place leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.

To freeze: Whereas raw hen schnitzels freeze higher, you’ll be able to freeze them cooked too. Wrap every schnitzel in meals wrap and freeze for as much as 3 months.

To reheat: Whether or not you could have had them within the fridge or within the freezer, the easiest way to reheat schnitzels is by utilizing the oven. Don’t reheat hen schnitzels within the microwave to forestall them from getting soggy. 

chicken schnitzel.

Incessantly requested questions

What makes schnitzel a schnitzel?

The reduce of meat and the preparation approach are the 2 issues that make schnitzel a schnitzel. A schnitzel is made out of a boneless reduce of meat that’s pounded skinny, then breaded and fried to create a crispy coating.

Is schnitzel simply fried hen?

Schnitzel is not only reserved for hen; pork, veal, and even eggplant all work properly utilizing this technique. In comparison with customary fried hen, hen schnitzel is crispier, moister within the center, and fewer greasy. 

Are hen schnitzels pre-cooked?

Whereas there are some manufacturers that merely require fast microwaving, most will must be oven-baked or pan-fried earlier than consumption. 

Serving solutions

I sometimes serve these for my household with loads of greens and a few type of potato.

Stop your display screen from going darkish

  • Place the hen breasts between saran wrap and pound into 1/4 inch thickness.

  • Add the flour, salt, and pepper in a single bowl, eggs in one other bowl, and the bread crumbs in a 3rd bowl.

  • Transferring shortly, dip the hen within the flour combine, adopted by the eggs, after which the bread crumbs. Shake off the surplus from every breast.

  • Add oil to a non-stick pan. As soon as sizzling, fry the hen for 8 minutes, flipping midway by. Take away the hen as soon as golden brown. Place the hen on a wire rack for max crispiness.

TO STORE. Place leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. TO FREEZE. Whereas raw hen schnitzels freeze higher, you’ll be able to freeze them cooked too. Wrap every schnitzel in meals wrap and freeze for as much as 3 months. TO REHEAT. Whether or not you could have had them within the fridge or within the freezer, the easiest way to reheat schnitzels is by utilizing the oven. Don’t reheat hen schnitzels within the microwave to forestall them from getting soggy.

Serving: 1schnitzelEnergy: 198kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 18gFats: 4gSodium: 415mgPotassium: 281mgFiber: 1gVitamin A: 108IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 2mgNET CARBS: 20g

Recipe initially revealed November 2022 however up to date to incorporate new data and a recipe video to your profit.

Disclosure: This submit could comprise affiliate hyperlinks. I could earn a small fee for my endorsement, suggestion, testimonial, and/or hyperlink to any services or products from this web site.



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