Knock-ya-socks-off-good, this pork schnitzel recipe is made with simple ingredients and easy to prepare. It’s moist inside and so incredibly crispy, golden brown and delicious on the outside. Great for dinner any day of the week!
Oktoberfest is a traditional festival held in Germany around this time of year with lots of beer and good times; this year it runs from September 16th to October 3rd so there’s lots of time to celebrate!
To celebrate the festivities, I’ll be making this easy pork schnitzel recipe. Golden brown and crispy on the inside and moist inside, what’s not to love?
Not only does it taste delicious, this pork recipe is super simple to prepare!
What Is Schnitzel?
Schnitzel is meat that is pounded thin with a tenderizer or mallet (or something of the sort) and then coated with flour, eggs and a bread crumb mixture.
It’s then fried until golden brown. Because the meat is on the thinner side, it cooks rather quickly so it makes for a delicious and easy weekday dinner.
What Type of Meat for Schnitzel?
There are various types of protein that can be used for schnitzel, but today we’re making an easy pork schnitzel recipe for Oktoberfest! However, chicken would work lovely here, too, if you want to branch out and try chicken schnitzel.
How To Make Pork Schnitzel
I have to admit, it was quite therapeutic using that mallet on those pork loin chops.
Other than getting those frustrations out (so much better than yoga, LOL), get your dredging station ready, dredge and cook.
Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- Get your dredging station ready (i.e., flour, panko and eggs).
- Cover pork with plastic food wrap and flatten.
- Dredge pork in flour, egg and panko.
- Fry until the outside is crispy and golden brown and it’s fully cooked through.
Tips for Making This Recipe
- This recipe goes super fast! I would suggest getting all your prep work done, laid out and ready to go.
- You want the pork schnitzel on the thinner side, about ¼-inch think so they brown up and cook through quickly.
- Obviously, I just had to use my cast-iron pan for this one. Don’t have the heat too high. Medium is the way to go. You want to crisp up those panko bread crumbs and make them buttery and golden brown, but not burn them (which can easily happen if your pan is too hot).
- For cooking the pork schnitzel, use something neutral with a decent smoke point, like grapeseed or vegetable oil.
What To Serve With Pork Schnitzel
Schnitzel pairs great with any of these:
- Potato salad
- Potatoes with some parsley and butter
- Lemon
- Sauerkraut
- Simple green salad
- Spaetzle (type of pasta)
How to Garnish
I roughly chopped some parsley for colour and freshness and sprinkled on. There’s absolutely nothing fancy here, folks, just good, comfort food eats.
A little squeeze of lemon is always a good idea too!
If you try this easy pork schnitzel recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!
Traditional Pork Schnitzel Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large egg, approximately
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour, approximately
- 1.25 teaspoon salt, divided
- ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 4 tablespoon grapeseed oil , divided (or vegetable oil)
- 4 boneless pork loin chops, each chop approximately 4 ounces
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 lemon, cut into 4 wedges
Instructions
- Get your dredging station going: crack egg in a bowl and whisk to mix up. On a plate, add flour, ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper. Stir to combine. On another plate, add panko bread crumbs, ½ teaspoon of salt, ¼ teaspoon of black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine. Set aside.
- Place two pork chops at a time, side to side, on top of a heavy-duty board covered with plastic food wrap. Place two layers of plastic food wrap on top of the pork chops. Using a mallet, pound chops to roughly ¼-inch thickness.
- Remove plastic food wrap and sprinkle pork chops with remaining ¼ teaspoon each of salt and black pepper.
- Dip each pork chop in flour, shaking off excess. Then, dip in egg, shaking off excess. Then, dip in panko, pressing down to coat both sides.
- To cook pork schnitzel, heat 2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil In a 12-inch cast-iron pan over medium heat.
- Place two pork chops in the pan and cook for 3 minutes per side or until they're golden brown and crispy on the outside and fully cooked through. Transfer cooked pork chops to a plate and set aside. Repeat to cook remaining 2 pork chops (heat remaining 2 tablespoons of oil of before placing last two chops in the pan). Allow the cooked pork chops to rest for 3 minutes.Note: Cook time may vary, depending on the thickness of your pork chops.
- Garnish with parsley and serve with fresh lemon wedges. Enjoy!
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
I am totally into schnitzel — and yours looks perfect. My family would love this for a weeknight dinner.
Girl Heart Food
So happy to hear that Lisa! Thanks so much 🙂
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Kelly 🙂 So yummy, right??
Jill
I had pork schnitzel for the first time a couple of years ago. Now I make it at home sometimes. Such a simple and delicious dinner option! And can’t skip the fresh lemon on top!
Girl Heart Food
I agree! Really brings it together, doesn’t it? Thanks Jill 🙂
Dannii
That coating looks so delicious and crispy. I bet my husband would love this!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Dannii 🙂 I sure hope so!
Katherine Hackworthy
Oktoberfest sounds like an amazing feast of delicious foods and drinks. Food is such a great way of getting together to enjoy, and very social. This is a very tasty sounding recipe, the coating looks amazing and crispy.
nicole triebe
this is making me so excited for fall! Bring on Oktoberfest and all the schnitzel!!
Girl Heart Food
Right?! Thanks Nicole! I agree 😉
Kim | The Baking ChocolaTess
Pork Schnitzel reminds me of a German Restaurant we used to always go to that we loved because it was authentic German food and I remember ordering it and how good it was! This looks amazing Dawn!!
Girl Heart Food
Food like that is always the best, right? Thanks so much Kim 🙂 Have a lovely week!
Adina
Love the schnitzel, one of my son’s favorite foods! Never had them in Munich though, the only things I seem to crave at Oktoberfest seem to be the Pretzel with Obatzda. 🙂 You should try Obatzda, it is one of the best bread spreads ever, if you ask me. 🙂
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Adina! I’ve never had Obatzda, but I do love pretzels. I’ll have to look it up! I’m sure it’s delish!
karrie @ Tasty Ever After
My Grandfather LOVED German food and he always ordered pork schnitzel out. I used to order it to be just like him too! It’s crispy and perfect with a little gravy, red cabbage, spaetzle, and lots of beer! Def making this for our Oktoberfest dinner at home 🙂 Gorgeous pics girl!
Girl Heart Food
Yay! Happy to hear that! Thank so much, sweets! XOXO
Vicky Chin
Wow, these look mouth-watering and easy to make! My kids would love them ! And yes, I think mom can use the mallet to let out some frustration! ? Thanks for sharing!
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Vicky 🙂