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 (that is, 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
- â…“ cup all-purpose flour, approximately
- 1.25 teaspoon salt, divided
- ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
- 1 cup unseasoned 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 use vegetable oil)
- 4 (4-ounce) boneless pork loin chops
- 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 clean plate and set aside. Repeat to cook remaining 2 pork chops (heat remaining 2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil before placing last two pork 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.
© Girl Heart Food Inc. Photographs and content are copyright protected.
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!
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 🙂
Girl Heart Food
Haha! Hope you guys love it! Have an awesome weekend 🙂
Jenny | The Baking Skillet
Omg if only i knew that it is so easy to make it, i’d be eating schnitzel atleast once a week!! These look so scrumptious Dawn. I am going to have a mini OctoberFest at home with this and some beer!
Girl Heart Food
Right?! SO easy! Thank you so much, Jenny! Cheers 🙂
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks
This absolutely looks knock-ya-socks-off good, Dawn! I don’t blame hubby for sneaking in and snatching some up. You are making me want some schnitzel right now and it’s only 9:43 am! Cheers!
Girl Heart Food
Haha! Thanks Rachelle! I don’t see anything wrong with having it that early 😉
Georgie | The Home Cook's Kitchen
nom! pork is one thing I rarely cook with! I think that should change though, I love schniztel just never make it!
Girl Heart Food
Definitely! This recipe is really delicious!
jaxx the bearded hiker
Love schnitzel and yours looks amazing! Believe it’ll be on my to do list this week.
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Jaxx! Enjoy 🙂
Kaitie
Wow this looks amazing! My whole family would love it!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Kaitie!
Marie-Pierre Breton
I love Schnitzels! My husband is actually from Munich and I’ve discovered so much nice recipe from there. Nothing like a good schnitzel! Gotta to celebrate Oktoberfest with this recipe. Prost!
Girl Heart Food
Me too! Thank you Marie! Have an awesome weekend 🙂
Sandra
yummy, this look amazing, will ve to try the recipe! txs for sharing
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Sandra! Hope you like it 🙂
Luci's Morsels
This looks amazing! I love that this recipe is so quick and easy, schnitzel can seem so daunting. Tasty!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Luci 🙂
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
Oktoberfest!!! YES! This schnitzel would be the PERFECT way to celebrate! I mean, this definitely looks “Knock-ya-socks-off-good’! 😉 I haven’t had schnitzel in far too long… like, I’m thinking the last time I had it was when my dad made it, and he passed away 3 1/2 years ago.. so it’s been TOO long! Totally trying this! Cheers, doll! XO
Girl Heart Food
Hehehe! Thanks Cheyanne! Wow – that was a long time ago! Have to have again soon 😉 Cheers, my friend! XO
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
I don’t think there’s anything better than a crunchy breadcrumb coating. And this looks like the most crunchy breadcrumb coating I’ve EVER SEEN! Drooling over here, Dawn. It’s a little embarrassing :). Have a great weekend, my dear!
Girl Heart Food
Totally! Thanks Kelsie! Haha – that’s ok 😉 Can’t blame ya! Have a great weekend too!
annie@ciaochowbambina
The first time I tried schnitzel was not too long ago and I was immediately hooked! Yours looks just perfect! And I agree – that little splash of lemon makes all the difference! Brava! XOXO
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Annie! I’m looking forward to making again soon 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend! XOXO
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats
Gotta love a quick recipe that is sure to please everyone! Plus I love that when I make this, I get to use my cast iron skillet! Yum 🙂 xoxo
Girl Heart Food
So true! Yay! Thanks Kelly 🙂
Cathy
I would never wait to eat this! I love that you went cast iron with this….makes it even better with that hot sear. When I should I be over for dinner?
Girl Heart Food
Right?! You’re always welcome 😉 Thanks Cathy!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
When I was partaking in Oktoberfest in my university days, the highlight was always the regular diet of schnitzel! It’s one of my favourite dishes to this day 🙂 And yours looks perfect! (I’m a splash of lemon girl, too 🙂
Girl Heart Food
Thank you so much, Jennifer! The lemon really adds a little somethin’, right?