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