Chicken Schnitzel Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best oil for chicken schnitzel? ›

The oil needs to be hot enough (it should be shimmering but not smoking) so that the chicken will cook well and crisp up. If the oil is not hot enough, the chicken will absorb too much oil and give you soggy, oily schnitzel. I use quality extra virgin olive oil, which has a high enough smoke point to fry the schnitzel.

For the uninitiated, chicken schnitzel is merely a chicken breast pounded thin, breaded, and fried. It's one of those foods that you can't help but love, which is probably why it's so prolific—versions of the recipe can be found in cultures around the world.

Drizzle more olive oil over each piece. Bake in the preheated oven for 5 to 6 minutes. Flip chicken and continue baking until no longer pink in the center and the breading is lightly browned, 5 to 6 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Lard is a great choice for frying chicken because it gives your chicken an excellent flavor and unparalleled crispy crust.

Originally brought from Europe to Israel by Ashkenazi Jews, schnitzel instantly became a hit. During the early years of the state of Israel, veal was not widely available, so chicken or turkey became a substitute. Nowadays, the meat used is generally chicken or turkey breast to keep it kosher.

German Schnitzel translates to Slovene as zrezek thus Wiener Schnitzel is called dunajski zrezek (Vienna is Dunaj in Slovenian). As in Austria a real dunajski zrezek is made of veal. Restaurants serving the dish can be found throughout the country, though typically it is made of pork or chicken.

Cornflakes. Delicate and ultra-crisp, sugar-free cornflakes also make a great breadcrumb or panko substitute, especially for coating chicken. Crush them with a rolling pin in a large plastic bag to turn them into crumbs.

You can use whatever you have in the fridge or freezer for vegetables! Steamed green beans, oven-roasted broccoli, glazed carrots, or coleslaw all pair fantastically with pork schnitzel.

Schnitzel is not typically highly seasoned, relying instead on bold toppings such as fresh lemon wedges, mushroom sauce, or cream sauce to add a boost of flavor.

What is the white stuff coming out of my chicken schnitzel? ›

The white stuff coming out of chicken as it cooks is simply extra protein that dissolves in water and is forced out of the meat by heat. Food scientist Topher McNeil, PhD, explains, “The [chicken] muscles themselves actually contract and squeeze out the liquid that's in between muscle cells.”

Use a neutral tasting oil. I like rice bran as it gives a great golden finish to the crumb. Pour enough oil to come 2cm up the side of the frying pan and heat over medium-high heat. Getting the temperature right is an important step.

Overcooking might play a role in your chicken's tire-like texture. Leaving chicken in a pan, oven, or grill for just a little too long can suck the moisture right out and leave you with a dry, rubbery bird. Without moisture, the protein fibers in the chicken become elastic.

Think vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil. Don't use olive oil or butter—they both have lower smoke points. The ideal temperature for frying chicken is 350˚ to 365˚, and you'll want to make sure that you bring the oil back to temperature between batches.

Standard olive oil is a good choice when it comes to frying beef schnitzels, since it has a high smoke point of 210ºC. You can also use grapeseed, canola, sunflower or rice bran oil.

To prevent the chicken from sticking to the pan, use a high-heat cooking oil like canola. Searing is great for chicken tenders, boneless chicken breasts, and thighs (boneless, skinless, or otherwise). With skin-on cuts, you'll want to sear the chicken skin-side down until the skin is golden brown.

Heat a large frying pan to a medium/high heat. Generously coat the pan with avocado oil. Cook for 4-5 minutes each side, ensuring that the chicken is cooked through and crumbs are golden. Serve the chicken schnitzel with mushroom sauce over the top and fresh parsley alongside.