Schnitzel Recipe {30 min Pork Cutlets}

Name: Pork Schnitzel
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 4 boneless pork chops (1 pound total), 1/2 inch thick; 1/4 cup flour; 1 teaspoon seasoned salt (Spike or Lawrey's, or just substitute plain salt); 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1 egg, beaten; 2 tablespoons milk; 3/4 cup fine dry breadcrumbs or panko; 1 teaspoon paprika; 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or canola oil; 3/4 cup chicken stock; 1/2 teaspoon dried dill or 2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup sour cream (full fat)

The first time I traveled to the land of my Austrian ancestors I was taken to a restaurant where I saw "schnitzel" on the menu.

Of course, I ordered it, thinking I could use a good German sausage in a bun. (You have my permission to pound your head on the wall now.)

I mean, who in America didn't grow up with those fast food joints with the giant hot dogs on the top of them? That was schnitzel, right?

When the order came, I was stunned by how far off it was from what I was expecting; even my gracious hosts had a hard time believing me when I told them that in America, a wiener schnitzel was a hot dog (at least where I was from in suburban California).

Pork Schnitzel or "Cutlet"

Curses! Yes, we tend to distort some traditional dishes here in America, but this one? We weren't even close.

"Schnitzel", for the uninitiated, is German for "cutlet" which is usually made with veal and thinly pounded, breaded and fried.

As for this schnitzel recipe, it is made with thinly pounded pork cutlets. Those of you looking for a quick, mid-week dinner may be happy with this one. I love it.

The sauce alone is worth making this pork schnitzel for, and could easily be used on chicken, for turkey meatballs, or over fish.

We updated this recipe on January 10, 2022 to increase the amount of breading and paprika.

A plate of pork schnitzel on a white plate served with lemons and dill. — Alison Bickel

How To Make Schnitzel That Shines

To ensure your schnitzel turns out well, follow these tips.

For less pounding, start out with thin cutlets, no more than 1/2 inch thick.
Pat the cutlets dry with a paper towel. The flour will stick to dry cutlets better.
If you're concerned about the breading staying on the cutlets, bread them an hour before cooking. Put them in a single layer, uncovered, on a tray in the refrigerator; the breading will adhere better. The cooking time may increase a minute or two for cutlets straight out of the refrigerator.
If you're cooking the cutlets in batches, place a metal rack on a baking sheet, and keep the cooked cutlets in a preheated 180°F oven on the rack. Placing the cutlets directly on the baking sheet may result soggy breading.

The Best Cuts of Meat for This Schnitzel Recipe

While this recipe calls for pork chops, you can substitute other meats.

Veal cutlets
Chicken cutlets
Turkey cutlets
Round steak

What To Serve with Pork Schnitzel

Pork Schnitzel

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Servings 4 servings

4 boneless pork chops (1 pound total), 1/2 inch thick
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon seasoned salt (Spike or Lawrey's, or just substitute plain salt)
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons milk
1 cup fine dry breadcrumbs or panko
1 1/4 teaspoons paprika
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or canola oil
3/4 cup chicken stock
1/2 teaspoon dried dill or 2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup sour cream (full fat)

Use a meat hammer to pound the pork cutlets:

Pound the cutlets to 1/4-1/8 inch thickness. Cut small slits around the edges of the cutlets to prevent curling.

Eliezer Martinez

Eliezer Martinez
Set up a breading station:

Place flour, seasoned salt, and pepper mixed together in a shallow bowl. Whisk the egg and milk together in a second shallow bowl. Combine the breadcrumbs (or panko) and paprika in a third shallow bowl.

Eliezer Martinez
Dredge cutlets:

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet on medium high heat. Dredge the cutlets first in the seasoned flour, then dip the cutlets in the egg mixture, and then dip them into the mixture of bread crumbs and paprika, turning them over to get the bread crumbs on all sides.

Eliezer Martinez

Eliezer Martinez

Eliezer Martinez
Working in batches, sauté the cutlets for 3 to 4 minutes on each side:

Remove the cutlets from the skillet and cover with foil or place in a warm oven to keep warm.

Eliezer Martinez
Deglaze pan, make dill sauce for schnitzel:

Add the chicken stock into the skillet to deglaze the pan, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen the brown bits.

In a small bowl mix the dill and salt into the sour cream. Stir the sour cream mixture into the chicken stock.

Heat and stir until mixture thickens (do not let boil).

Serve the cutlets with the sauce, and lemon slices if you like.

Eliezer Martinez

Eliezer Martinez

Eliezer Martinez

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
637	Calories
38g	Fat
29g	Carbs
45g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	637
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 38g	49%
Saturated Fat 11g	57%
Cholesterol 168mg	56%
Sodium 1055mg	46%
Total Carbohydrate 29g	11%
Dietary Fiber 2g	6%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 45g
Vitamin C 1mg	3%
Calcium 118mg	9%
Iron 3mg	18%
Potassium 700mg	15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.