One of my first teachers when learning to cook was a lovely German grandmother who was a master of comfort food. So, it’s no surprise that I still love classic German fare! This air fryer chicken schnitzel is my modern adaptation of the crispy, thin chicken cutlets I learned to make as a kid.
Schnitzelis a dish that consists of a boneless meat cutlet that is pounded thin, breaded, and traditionally fried. The seasonings are simple, and it’s often served with lemon wedges for acidity.
Nowadays, It’s available in a variety of meats, including beef, veal, chicken, and pork, so a chicken schnitzel is simply indicating the type of meat used in the dish.
The origins of schnitzel are European, with Germany and Austria being the locations most associated with the classic dish. Of course, over time there have been many variations and influences from other cultures as well!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This air fryer chicken schnitzel recipe is a favorite because it’s easy to make, and delivers crispy crust around a juicy chicken cutlet.
Skip the deep fryer and use just a spritz of oil, and you’ll still achieve that perfect crust, only with far less oil required so you can feel better about it!
Since schnitzel is such a simple dish, you can pair it with a variety of side dishes to compliment it. I’m serving it with some braised red cabbage I made earlier this week, as well as a side of mashed potatoes. But I’ll give you some other serving suggestions later too!
Ingredients List
1 pound chicken breast cutlets
2 eggs, whisked
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
¼ cup all purpose flour
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp paprika
½ tsp parsley
½ tsp salt (or more to taste)
¼ tsp black pepper (or more to taste)
Olive oil spray
Lemon wedges for serving
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
You can use regular chicken breast and slice and pound it thin yourself, or buy thin sliced breast cutlets to cut down on work
All of the seasonings may be adjusted to taste, or even omitted (except for salt and pepper)
Gluten Free: Omit the flour and use gluten free breadcrumbs instead
Keto: Omit the flour and use pork panko
Step-By-Step Instructions
Trim chicken if desired, and pound until cutlets are approximately ¼” thick
Set up a dredging station of flour, eggs mixed with Dijon, and then the panko combined with the garlic powder, paprika, and parsley. Add salt and pepper evenly to all 3 stations
Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (or the closest setting your specific air fryer has)
Coat each piece of chicken first in flour, then dip into the egg mixture, and lastly press into the breadcrumbs until thoroughly coated
Place the chicken into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer, then spray the tops with a light misting of olive oil spray
Cook on the air fry setting for 5 minutes at 375°F, then flip, reapply oil, and cook for an additional 3-5 more minutes, or until breading is browned and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F
Serve with lemon wedges and your favorite sides
What to Serve With Chicken Schnitzel
German potato salad
Red cabbage (sweet or sour)
Green beans
Sauerkraut
Mashed potatoes
Scalloped potatoes
Onion rings
Brussels sprouts
Zucchini
Asparagus
Creamed spinach
Green salad
Spaetzle
Egg noodles
Macaroni and cheese
Brown gravy
Mushroom gravy
Bavarian pretzels
Mushroom soup
There are lots of great choices for sides to serve with chicken schnitzel, from the traditional to more modern pairings. Choose your favorites to complete your meal, and don’t forget a nice, cold German beer as well!
The best choice for schnitzel is boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken tenders. They are lean and tender, making them ideal for schnitzel.
You can purchase thinly sliced versions to save time, or pound them thin yourself with a meat mallet.
Can I Use Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs For a Gluten-Free Version?
Yes, you can use gluten-free breadcrumbs to make gluten-free chicken schnitzel.
Just ensure all other ingredients are also gluten-free, as cross contamination can occur in production.
How Do I Prevent the Breading From Falling Off During Cooking?
To prevent breading from falling off, make sure the chicken is properly coated in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, and press the breadcrumbs firmly onto the chicken.
Also, avoid overcrowding in the air fryer so it gets proper air circulation. This allows the breading to crisp and bond better.
What Should I Do if the Schnitzel is Too Dry?
If the schnitzel turns out dry, it may have been overcooked. In the future, reduce the cooking time slightly, and make sure your chicken cutlets are of uniform thickness.
In the short term, feel free to top them with gravy to add moisture.
Can I Freeze Leftover Schnitzel For Later Consumption?
Yes, you can freeze leftover cooked schnitzel. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap or foil, and store them in an airtight container or freezer bag.
Reheat them in the air fryer when needed at 350°F for 4-6 minutes, until heated through and crispy again.
Are There Vegetarian Alternatives to Chicken Schnitzel?
Yes, there are vegetarian alternatives like eggplant, tofu or a chicken meat substitute.
Follow a similar breading and air frying process with your chosen ingredient.
What Sauces or Condiments Go Well With Schnitzel?
Schnitzel pairs well with various condiments like lemon wedges, cranberry sauce, mustard, or mushroom gravy.
Choose your favorite or try different options!
Can I Make Schnitzel in Advance and Reheat it in the Air Fryer?
Yes, you can make schnitzel in advance and reheat it in the air fryer. This reheating method will help maintain its crispiness.
Reheat at a lower temperature for a shorter time to avoid overcooking. Generally 3-5 minutes at 350°F is sufficient, depending on the size and thickness of your chicken.
What Are the Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making Schnitzel?
Common mistakes include overcooking, overcrowding the air fryer, not pressing breadcrumbs onto the chicken firmly, and using unevenly sized chicken cutlets.
Pay the most attention to these factors for the best results.
How Long Does a Chicken Schnitzel Take in the Air Fryer?
A chicken schnitzel takes between 8-12 minutes on average in the air fryer. Times will vary based on the thickness of the chicken, as well as your specific air fryer.
Always make sure to cook to an internal temperature of 165°F for food safety before serving.
Recipe Pro Tips
The more even your chicken cutlets are, the more evenly they’ll cook. Make sure to pound to a similar size, and cut them into smaller pieces if needed for uniformity
My schnitzel was perfectly cooked and verified via an instant read thermometer after 8 minutes total in a Ninja air fryer. Depending on the size of your chicken and your specific air fryer, times may vary slightly
I can fit about 4 schnitzels in my 8-qt Ninja air fryer’s baskets at a time. Cook in batches if needed for smaller units. Do not try to overlap the pieces, or they will not get brown and crispy (and no one likes a sad, soggy schnitzel!)
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store leftover chicken schnitzel in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Alternatively, wrap schnitzels individually and store in the freezer for up to 6 months
To reheat, air fry at 350°F for 3-5 minutes, or until warmed through and re-crisped. Add an additional 2 minutes if cooking from frozen. This method also works for leftover schnitzel from a restaurant, in addition to homemade
This air fryer chicken schnitzel is a crispy and flavorful dish that’s so easy to make. Whether it’s the star of your Oktoberfest celebration or just a simple weeknight meal, it’s sure to please.
Pair it with a variety of classic German sides, or branch out with different vegetable and potato combinations to truly make the meal your own. It even goes great placed on a bun to make a unique sandwich!
Not only does making schnitzel at home save a trip to the restaurant, but this preparation requires way less oil than the traditional deep fried version, so you can feel even better about enjoying it.
For an even easier option, check out my recipe for Aldi Frozen Pork Schnitzel in the Air Fryer. Just cook and enjoy, no preparation or defrosting required!
Air Fryer Chicken Schnitzel (Panko Breading)
This air fryer chicken schnitzel is so crispy thanks to a seasoned panko breading, and you don’t need to deep fry it! It’s an easy and delicious dinner, served with your favorite sides.
Meat mallet (optional; only if not using thin sliced chicken)
Ingredients
1Poundchicken breast cutlets
2Largeeggs(whisked)
1TbspDijon mustard
¼Cupall purpose flour
1Cuppanko breadcrumbs
1Tspgarlic powder
½Tsppaprika
½Tspdried parsley
½Tspsalt(or more to taste)
¼Tspblack pepper(or more to taste)
Olive oil spray
Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
Trim chicken if desired, and pound until cutlets are approximately ¼” thick
1 Pound chicken breast cutlets
Set up a dredging station of flour, eggs mixed with Dijon, and then the panko combined with the garlic powder, paprika, and parsley. Divide salt and pepper across all 3 stations
2 Large eggs, 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard, ¼ Cup all purpose flour, 1 Cup panko breadcrumbs, 1 Tsp garlic powder, ½ Tsp paprika, ½ Tsp dried parsley, ½ Tsp salt, ¼ Tsp black pepper
Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (or the closest setting your specific air fryer has)
Coat each piece of chicken first in flour, then dip into the egg mixture, and lastly press into the breadcrumbs until thoroughly coated
Place the chicken into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer, then spray the tops with a light misting of olive oil spray
Olive oil spray
Cook on the air fry setting for 5 minutes at 375°F, then flip, reapply oil, and cook for an additional 3-5 more minutes, or until breading is browned and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F
Serve with lemon wedges and your favorite sides
Lemon wedges for serving
Notes
You can use regular chicken breast and slice and pound it thin yourself, or buy thin sliced breast cutlets to cut down on work
All of the seasonings may be adjusted to taste, or even omitted (except for salt and pepper)
Gluten Free: Omit the flour (or use GF) and use gluten free breadcrumbs instead
Keto: Omit the flour and use pork panko
The more even your chicken cutlets are, the more evenly they’ll cook. Make sure to pound to a similar size, and cut them into pieces if needed for uniformity
My schnitzel was perfectly cooked and verified via an instant read thermometer after 8 minutes total in a Ninja air fryer. Depending on the size of your chicken and your specific air fryer, times may vary slightly
I can fit about 4 schnitzels in my 8-qt Ninja air fryer’s baskets at a time. Cook in batches if needed for smaller units. Do not try to overlap the pieces, or they will not get brown and crispy
Store leftover chicken schnitzel in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Alternatively, wrap schnitzels individually and store in the freezer for up to 6 months
To reheat, air fry at 350°F for 3-5 minutes, or until warmed through and re-crisped. Add an additional 2 minutes if cooking from frozen
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients, any sauces or sides added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only. Nutrition facts also assume 100% of the breading will be used, which is not normally the case
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
