Pork Schnitzel (Breaded and Fried Pork Cutlet) Recipe (2024)

  • Pork
  • Austrian
  • Frying
  • Pork Mains

Big, thinly pounded pork cutlets provide a more accessible take on classic Viennese schnitzel—the perfect meal to raise a beer to.

By

Michael Harlan Turkell

Pork Schnitzel (Breaded and Fried Pork Cutlet) Recipe (1)

Michael Harlan Turkell

Michael Harlan Turkell is a once-aspiring chef and now an award-winning food pho­tographer and writer. He has photographed many prominent chefs’ cookbooks, co-authored a few, and even wrote one of his own: ACID TRIP: Travels in the Word of Vinegar (2017).

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Updated September 15, 2023

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Pork Schnitzel (Breaded and Fried Pork Cutlet) Recipe (2)

Why It Works

  • Using pork instead of the traditional veal makes this dish more accessible for most cooks and allows you to choose from a greater range of quality and cuts.
  • Frying one cutlet at a time ensures more even cooking and browning.

For hearty, down-to-earth fare to enjoy between sips of beer, you can't do much better than schnitzel, a breaded and fried cutlet that's traditionally big enough to overhang the sides of a plate. Though classic Viennese schnitzel is made with thinly pounded veal, pork is more accessible for most of us in the US, and just as tasty.

To balance out the richness of the fried pork, we recommend a helping of bright coleslaw with creamy chile vinaigrette and a hop-heavy brew, such as Sierra Nevada Torpedo, Great Divide Titan IPA, or Cigar City Jai Alai, on the side.

How to Pair IPAs and Other Hoppy, Bitter Beers With Food

October 2018

Recipe Details

Pork Schnitzel (Breaded and Fried Pork Cutlet) Recipe

Prep15 mins

Cook25 mins

Active45 mins

Total40 mins

Serves4 servings

Ingredients

  • Four (1-inch-thick) boneless pork loin chops (about 8 ounces/225g each)

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour(2 1/2 ounces; 70g)

  • 3 large eggs, beaten

  • 2 cups (120g)panko bread crumbs

  • 3 cups (710ml) canola oil

Directions

  1. Working with one pork chop at a time, trim fat and sinew off the chop, then make a cut lengthwise down the middle of one 1-inch-thick edge, about 3/4 of the way through the chop, without cutting it into 2 separate pieces, making a butterfly slice.

  2. Place pork chop between two 12-inch-square pieces of plastic wrap and gently pound pork to 1/4-inch thickness, using a meat pounder or the bottom of a heavy 8-inch skillet. Repeat with remaining cutlets. Season pork cutlets with salt and pepper.

  3. Fill a wide, shallow bowl or high-rimmed plate with flour, a second bowl or plate with beaten eggs, and a third bowl or plate with panko.

  4. Working with one cutlet at a time, dredge a cutlet in flour with your left hand, shaking off excess. Transfer to egg dish, then turn pork with your right hand to coat both sides. Lift with your right hand and allow excess egg to drain off, then transfer to bread crumbs. With your left hand, scoop bread crumbs on top of pork, then gently press, turning pork to ensure a good layer of crumbs on both sides. Using your left hand, transfer cutlet to a clean parchment-lined baking sheet, then repeat with remaining cutlets. Be careful not to over-bread the cutlets.

  5. Heat oil in a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering and just shy of smoking. Working with one cutlet at a time, gently lower cutlet into hot fat, laying it down away from you to prevent both hot oil from splashing toward you and the cutlet from sticking to the bottom of the skillet. This should also help “waves” develop in the cutlet—the sign of true schnitzel success.

  6. Fry cutlet, adjusting heat as necessary to maintain a steady, vigorous bubble, until bottom side is browned and crisp, about 3 minutes. Flip cutlet and fry until second side is browned and crisp, about 3 minutes longer. Transfer to a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet and season lightly with salt. Repeat with remaining cutlets. Serve immediately with coleslaw and a cold beer.

Special Equipment

12-inch cast iron skillet, rimmed baking sheet, cooling rack

Read More

  • Breaded Fried Pork Chops
  • Tonkatsu or Chicken Katsu (Japanese Breaded Pork or Chicken Cutlets)
  • Pork Schnitzel Meatballs
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
817Calories
52g Fat
17g Carbs
67g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories817
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 52g66%
Saturated Fat 10g49%
Cholesterol 321mg107%
Sodium 661mg29%
Total Carbohydrate 17g6%
Dietary Fiber 1g3%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 67g
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 66mg5%
Iron 3mg18%
Potassium 881mg19%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Pork Schnitzel (Breaded and Fried Pork Cutlet) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between pork cutlet and pork schnitzel? ›

Pork Schnitzel or "Cutlet"

"Schnitzel", for the uninitiated, is German for "cutlet" which is usually made with veal and thinly pounded, breaded and fried. As for this schnitzel recipe, it is made with thinly pounded pork cutlets. Those of you looking for a quick, mid-week dinner may be happy with this one.

How do you get breading to stick to pork cutlets? ›

But taking the extra time to soak your meat in buttermilk and let the flour set will ensure that your breading is fully adhered for the perfect breaded pork chops or breaded chicken. This creates a final result that is crispy on the outside, juicy in the middle, and altogether irresistible.

How do you get the breading to stick on a schnitzel? ›

Just as important as the first patting down of the chicken's surface, the final pat down of your meat after covering it with breading helps every piece of crunchy coating adhere. After coating chicken in an egg and breading layer, gently pat all sides.

What cut of pork is schnitzel made from? ›

To make German-style pork schnitzel, pork loin chops are pounded thin, breaded, and quickly pan fried until crisp and delicious. Adam Dolge is a recipe developer and test cook for many leading national food and lifestyle magazines and digital platforms.

Does cutlet mean breaded? ›

Cutlet (derived from French côtelette, côte, "rib") refers to: a thin slice of meat from the leg or ribs of mutton, veal, pork, or chicken. a dish made of such slice, often breaded (also known in various languages as a cotoletta, Kotelett, kotlet or kotleta) a croquette or cutlet-shaped patty made of ground meat.

Is cutlet the same as schnitzel? ›

In Germany, the term Schnitzel means cutlets in general, not just breaded, fried ones. Schnitzel Wiener Art ('Viennese style schnitzel') is a pounded, breaded and fried cutlet, more often made of pork than of veal. Restaurants mostly serve it with a slice of lemon and french fries.

How do you keep breading from falling off when frying? ›

Seal the plate gently with a length or two of plastic cling wrap. Don't pull it too tight, but make sure that all of the edges are sealed. Place the plate into the refrigerator and let the food sit for at least 60 minutes. This helps the coating to harden a bit, which will keep it on the food.

How do you keep breading from falling off fried pork chops? ›

Coat each side of the pork chops, applying pressure to make the batter stay on during cooking. One coat is good for a thin layer of batter. For a thicker coating, dip them in a separate bowl of a little milk with an egg mixed well, and again in the flour.

How do you keep fried cutlets crispy? ›

How do you keep chicken cutlets crispy for a long time? The best way to keep the chicken crispy is to set a rack on top of a sheet pan and allow the cutlets to drain on that rather than paper towels. You can keep them in a 250 degree F oven for up to an hour before serving to keep them hot and crispy.

What is the secret to the perfect schnitzel? ›

Schnitzel enthusiasts agree: A good schnitzel, Viennese, Figlmüller or Milanese style must not only be accurately sliced but also flattened and tenderized. The flattening process should slightly stretch the meat fiber but not destroy it so that a juicy, tender result with a uniform thickness is achieved.

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!

Are breadcrumbs better than panko for schnitzel? ›

For schnitzel, the large crustless flakes of bread don't absorb oil the way regular breadcrumbs do, so the chicken remains crisp and light on the outside. If you can't find panko then use breadcrumbs made from crustless bread and dry them out in the oven on a low heat.

Why do Jews eat schnitzel? ›

By the beginning of the 20th Century, central European immigrants had brought schnitzel to Israel. This dish was ideally suited to the culinary necessities of the period in Israel. At a time when few people owned ovens in their homes, these thin cutlets could be easily prepared over an open flame.

What is schnitzel called in America? ›

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.

What is the best oil for schnitzel? ›

I would also recommend using grapeseed oil for searing because it has a high smoke point and we want to make sure the breading doesn't burn. Once you flip the schnitzel, you can add a tablespoon of butter to finish and give it that extra flavor!

What is another name for pork cutlets? ›

Another name for a pork cutlet is a pork cube steak. A pork cutlet is a tenderized pork tenderloin. A lean cut of the pork pounded thin with a tenderizing mallet. Pork chops and pork cutlets are not the same cut of meat.

What cut of pork is a cutlet? ›

Pork cutlets are usually lean steaks similar to sirloin chops, but meatier and boneless. Sometimes medallions cut from a pork tenderloin a cutlet. Cutlets are classically pounded thinner, to make them even more tender, dredged in breadcrumbs, and pan-fried.

What is a pork cutlet? ›

In the culinary arts, the term cutlet is used to refer to a boneless, thin cut of meat—chicken, veal, pork, or lamb—that cooks very quickly and is usually pan-fried. Most cutlets are made by pounding the meat until there's even thinness and are often dusted with flour or coated in breadcrumbs before cooking.

What's the difference between a pork chop and a pork cutlet? ›

The term 'chop' generally indicates the cut will contain a bone. Pork chops usually come from the loin. Pork chops can also be taken from nearer the shoulder, these chops are referred to as cutlet or rib chops. Cutlet/rib chops tend to contain a little more fat, which in turn adds to their flavour and succulence.

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