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A crispy pork schnitzel, coleslaw and salad on a teal dinner plate, with a mustard napkin and bowls of chips and coleslaw on the side.

Crispy Pork Schnitzel

By: Deborah
This crispy pork schnitzel is golden, juicy, and packed with flavour. A classic German dish made with tenderised pork, coated in breadcrumbs, and fried to perfection. Perfect for weeknight dinners or Oktoberfest feasts!
PREP: 25 minutes
COOK: 8 minutes
TOTAL: 33 minutes
Course: Main
Cuisine: German
Servings: 4 people
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Ingredients

  • 4 pork loin steaks (weighing approx. 125g each)
  • 50 g (1.8 oz) plain flour
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 large eggs
  • 70 g (2.5 oz) panko breadcrumbs
  • 4 tbsp sunflower, vegetable or rapeseed oil
  • 40 g (1.4 oz) butter (split into 2 x 20g)

Instructions

  • Heat the oven at the lowest setting.
  • Place the pork steaks between 2 sheets of cling film and bash them with a rolling pin, meat tenderiser or heavy pan until they’re roughly 0.5cm thick. You can do this 2 at a time.
  • Put the flour in a shallow dish and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Crack the eggs into another dish and beat them with a fork and then put the panko breadcrumbs into a third dish.
  • Working with one pork steak at a time, coat in the flour, then dip into the beaten egg, and finally coat in the breadcrumbs. Transfer the breadcrumbed pork to a large baking tray as you go.  Once they’re all coated, place the tray in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.
  • When you’re ready to cook, heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a large frying pan over a medium high heat. When the oil starts to spread across the pan, you’ll know it’s hot. Place 2 of the schnitzels into the pan and cook for 2 minutes, until golden. Turn them over and add 20g of the butter and cook for a further 2 minutes. Tilt the pan slightly and baste the schnitzels with the oil and butter.
  • Transfer the cooked schnitzels to a plate with kitchen roll. Pat the tops gently with kitchen roll to dry them and then place them onto a clean baking tray or plate and put them in the low oven to keep warm while you repeat step 5 with the remaining oil and butter for the other 2 schnitzels. Once they’re cooked, transfer them to a plate with clean kitchen roll and gently dry them too. Serve with your choice of side dishes

Notes

  • Gluten-free option – use gluten-free breadcrumbs and flour. 
  • Alternative cooking methods: 
    • Air fryer – spray the schnitzels with oil and air fry at 200C for 10 to 12 minutes, turning them over halfway through. 
    • Oven – heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7.  Spray the schnitzels with oil  and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, turning them over halfway through. 
  • Traditional wiener schnitzel – use veal instead of pork for an authentic Austrian version. 
  • Flavour variations: 
    • Herb and parmesan crust – mix grated parmesan and dried oregano into the breadcrumbs for a richer taste. 
    • Spicy – add some paprika and cayenne to the flour for extra heat. 
    • Japanese-inspired tonkatsu – serve with Japanese katsu curry sauce and shredded cabbage. 
  • This crispy pork schnitzel recipe is easily adapted if you’re cooking for less or more people. 
 
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Nutrition

Calories: 416kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 198mg | Sodium: 298mg | Potassium: 551mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 390IU | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

KEYWORDS crispy pork schntizel recipe, pork schntizel recipe, schnitzel recipe
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