Pork Schnitzel

Ready in just 15 minutes, this easy Pork Schnitzel recipe is about to become your new favorite weeknight dinner idea. Calling for just 7 ingredients (plus salt and pepper) you might already have everything you need to whip up this classic German entree.

Course Main Course

Cuisine German

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings servings (1 schnitzel each)

Calories 259kcal

Author Meggan Hill

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs (see note 1)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon plus 2 cups vegetable oil divided
1 (1 1/4-pound) pork tenderloin trimmed and cut on an angle into 4 pieces (see note 2)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped, for serving
lemon wedges for serving

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Prepare a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet, and line a plate with a triple layer of paper towels. Place bread crumbs in a large shallow dish. Spread flour in a second large shallow dish. In a third shallow dish, beat together eggs and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil.
Working with one piece of pork at a time, place pork between two sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap, and pound to an even thickness, between 1/8- and 1/4-inch thick. Pat cutlets dry with paper towels and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Bread the cutlets one at a time by first dredging thoroughly in flour and shaking off excess flour. Next coat with egg mixture, and allow excess to drip back into dish. Coat cutlet evenly with bread crumbs, pressing crumbs to ensure they adhere to the cutlet. Place cutlets on prepared wire rack and allow coating to dry, about 5 minutes.
In a large Dutch oven, heat remaining 2 cups vegetable oil over medium-high heat to 375 degrees. Lay 2 cutlets into the oil without overlapping and cook, moving cutlets continuously and gently until wrinkled and light golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to prepared paper-lined plate. Flip and blot cutlets several times to remove excess oil. Repeat with remaining cutlets.
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

Video

Notes

Bread crumbs: Light and fluffy, extra-crispy panko is a form of Japanese bread crumb. Find it in boxes or canisters at most major grocery stores or Asian markets, or learn how to make your own fried bread crumbs.
Pork tenderloin: Trim off any pieces of visible fat, which can err on the chewy side, then slice at an angle into four portions that you can pound into cutlets.
Yield: This Pork Schnitzel recipe makes four (5-ounce portions); each serving is enough for one adult main dish.
Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Make ahead: The cutlets can be pounded out, breaded, and stored covered in the refrigerator one day in advance. Unfortunately, they cannot easily be frozen and then reheated in a pan or oven.

Nutrition