Easy Pork Schnitzel Recipe

Pork Schnitzels are breaded and fried to perfection for an easy and delicious meal the whole family will love. Total cozy comfort food!

If you love German recipes, check out this Awesome German Chocolate Cake or the Best Ever German Oven Pancake.

pork schnitzels on a plate with lemon wedges

Pork Schnitzel Recipe

Hi! It’s Natasha from Salt & Lavender bringing you a recipe that I grew up with. Schnitzels were a treat in my house, and whenever I make them now, it takes me right back to my childhood dinner table. Schnitzels (typically made with pork or veal) are breaded and fried to crispy deliciousness, and they’re a staple in eastern/central European cuisine (like Germany and the Czech Republic). They’re easy to make, and this blog post is full of tips so you will soon be enjoying them too!

Pork Schnitzel Ingredients

Boneless pork chops: pounded thin so they’re tender & cook fast
Salt & pepper: for flavor
Flour: part 1 of the dredging mixture to help the egg stick
Eggs: part 2 of the dredging mixture to help the breadcrumbs adhere
Breadcrumbs: part 3 of the dredging mixture (I prefer panko for extra crunch, but you can use regular breadcrumbs if you want)
Olive oil: for frying (or try another neutral tasting oil with a high smoke point e.g. vegetable oil)
Butter: adds extra flavor and browning when you fry them
Lemon wedges: for serving

What Cut of Meat to Use for Pork Schnitzels?

Use boneless pork steaks or chops (sometimes they’re called “boneless loin chops”). You could even use veal if you prefer!

collage (pork chops on a plate and pork chops being pounded between two layers of cling wrap with a meat mallet)

How to Make Pork Schnitzels

Get the dredging station ready: Prepare 3 shallow bowls (or a bowl for the egg and one plate each for the flour and panko).
Pound the pork thin: Place the pork chops between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound them until they’re 1/4″ thick (or even thinner) using the flat side of a meat mallet. Season them generously with salt & pepper.
Prepare the skillet for frying: Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter to a large skillet. The pan should be well coated, so add more oil if needed. Let the pan heat up for a few minutes over medium-high heat. You will be doing two batches, so for the second batch add at least one more tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and the remaining tablespoon of butter.
Dredge the pork: Coat the pork chops in flour, followed by the egg (let excess drip off), and finally the panko breadcrumbs (you may need to gently pat it down to make them stick).
Time to fry! Fry two schnitzels at a time for about 3 minutes/side. Easily flip them using cooking tongs. If the pan starts to smoke, turn the heat down a bit. Repeat with the next batch (add remaining oil and butter).
Serve & enjoy. Schnitzels are best enjoyed with lemon wedges.

Tips for the Best Pork Schnitzels

Pound the pork as thin as you can. It tends to shrink back up a bit, and when you fry it, it also contracts.
Use tongs to easily flip the pork while you’re frying it.
Use the largest skillet you own and fry the pork in batches. You don’t want to crowd the pan or the breading may come off and it won’t be as crispy.
Ensure the skillet gets nice and hot. I let it heat up for a few minutes prior to adding the schnitzels to the pan. If the skillet gets too hot (starts to smoke or the breading starts to burn), feel free to turn the heat down a bit as needed.
You can definitely play with the flavorings of the schnitzels. This is a simple, classic recipe, but you can definitely change it up a bit by adding some garlic powder, paprika, or dried herbs (try Italian seasoning) to the flour or breadcrumbs.
Don’t omit the butter or the lemon wedges! These two ingredients really up the flavor in this otherwise simple recipe.

pork schnitzels frying in a skillet

What to Serve with Pork Schnitzels?

In Germany, it’s typical to serve them with potato salad or spätzle. You could serve them with anything from pasta to mashed potatoes or rice, though.

pork schnitzels on a plate with lemon wedges and one schnitzel cut into showing a bite on a fork

More Tasty Pork Recipes to Try