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    You are here: Crunchy Creamy Sweet / Dinner / German Pork Schnitzel

    German Pork Schnitzel

    Published: May 29, 2019 · Modified: Mar 10, 2020 by Anna 23 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    German Pork Schnitzel - crispy and juicy schnitzel made with thin pork loin cutlets, lightly breaded and fried to golden perfection. Pure comfort food at it's best!

    Serve it with Potato Salad, perfectly creamy Mashed Potatoes, or Coleslaw.

    Pork schnitzel with mashed potatoes and green beans on white plate.

    Pork schnitzel is one of those dishes I keep for Sunday specials. It's breaded and fried meat after all, not your every day food. But it is pure comfort food and a classic in many European countries. My Hubby and I had a chance to try it there and it is one of those dishes that you remember being absolutely delicious and want to be able to make at home when the craving or nostalgia hits. Pork schnitzel is a golden crispy cutlet that's perfectly juicy inside. It's served with mashed potatoes and often even with the mushroom sauce.

    What is German Schnitzel?

    Breaded Wiener Schnitzel ( a thin cut of meat, breaded and fried ) originated in Austria and was made with veal. The German version is made with pork and it is also a much more affordable option. It became popular as such in many countries. The word "schnitzel" means meat in crust. Typically, it is served with mashed potatoes or warm potato salad and fried cabbage. If you are traveling through Germany and you will order a schnitzel, most likely it will be served with potato salad or fried potatoes.

    Ingredients:

    • pork loin, cut into cutlets
    • salt and pepper
    • large egg
    • milk or half and half
    • flour
    • breadcrumbs

    Instructions:

    • To make a perfect pork schnitzel, cut pork loin into thin cutlets. Using meat tenderizer, pound each cutlet thin.
    • Next, prepare your breading station: a shallow dish with flour, a shallow dish with beaten egg with a splash of milk or half and half and a shallow dish with breadcrumbs. You can add seasoning of your choice to the flour or the breadcrumbs. Also, adding grated Parmesan cheese to breadcrumbs makes for even more crispy schnitzel with a taste of toasted cheese. That is not the classic way of making schnitzel but definitely one worth trying.
    • After breading each cutlet, fry it in a skillet with enough oil to cover the bottom. Because the cut of meat is thin, the schnitzel does not take long to cook, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.
    Close up shot of a small cut piece of pork schnitzel on fork.

    What is the best cut for this dish?

    To make a pork schnitzel, you need a boneless and thin cut of meat. I always use and recommend pork loin, cut into thin cutlets. Regular pork cutlets you can buy in the meat department are too thick and there is a chance the meat won't cook properly inside before the crust is golden crisp.

    The most affordable option is to buy a pork loin, cut it in half. The part with more fat veins is perfect for pulled pork or smoking in the BBQ. The leaner part can be sliced thinly into cutlets. It will most likely make a lot of cutlets, so I recommend dividing them into portions and freezing that way.

    Variations:

    • chicken: use chicken breast, cut it lengthwise into two cutlets and use meat tenderizer to pound them thin.
    • low-carb: use crushed pork rinds for a keto friendly version without breadcrumbs.
    • with sauce: use mushroom sauce or creamy lemon butter sauce to pour over each schnitzel.

    Sides:

    • Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes ( slow cooker version ) - a classic that everyone loves!  You can also make my Instant Pot pressure cooker version.
    • Fried Cabbage
    • Dill Pickle Potato Salad
    • Garlic Lemon Roasted Potatoes
    • German Potato Salad
    • Braised Red Cabbage

    More recipes with pork:

    • Garlic Butter Mushroom Pork Chops
    • Instant Pot Smothered Pork Chops
    • Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

    If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment! 😀

    Breaded pork cutlet with mashed potatoes on plate.

    German Pork Schnitzel

    Author: Anna
    Crispy and juicy schnitzel made with thin pork loin cutlets, lightly breaded and fried to golden perfection. Pure comfort food at it's best! Best served with potato salad for authentic German dish, or mashed potatoes and coleslaw.
    4.88 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine German
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 335 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 4 pork loin cutlets thin
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 tablespoon milk or half and half
    • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
    • 3/4 cup plain breadcrumbs

    Instructions
     

    • Place cutlets on a cutting board. Using meat tenderizer, pound each cutlet thin.
    • Season cutlets with salt and pepper.
    • Prepare breading station: place flour in a shallow dish, place breadcrumbs in another shallow dish; finally beat egg with milk and pour into a shallow dish.
    • Dip each cutlet in flour, then egg mixture, then breadcrumbs. Shake of access.
    • Heat up enough oil in a skillet to cover the bottom.
    • Fry each cutlet until golden brown and crispy, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.
    • Place on paper towel lined plate to absorb access oil.
    • Serve with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables.

    Notes

    The most affordable option is to buy a pork loin, cut it in half. The part with more fat veins is perfect for pulled pork or smoking in the BBQ. The leaner part can be sliced thinly into cutlets. It will most likely make a lot of cutlets, so I recommend dividing them into portions and freezing that way.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 335kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 113mg | Sodium: 512mg | Potassium: 504mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 2.9mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

    This post was originally published on October 25th, 2017 and updated on May 29th, 2019.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Maria Sands says

      August 25, 2022 at 4:11 pm

      Absolutely WONDERFUL! And so easy. Don't think I will ever have pork another way!

      Reply
    2. Bill says

      April 12, 2021 at 7:12 am

      I find using pork tenderloin cut into 2 + inch "logs" and pounded make to most tender
      Schnitzel.
      I also use seasoned Panko crumbs - delicious result

      Reply
    3. Chris says

      December 18, 2020 at 8:32 pm

      5 stars
      Somehow we accidentally bought pork cutlets. Found this recipe and everyone loved it! Thank you!

      Reply
    4. Diane says

      February 28, 2020 at 4:51 pm

      5 stars
      My father always made this. But he used finely crushed saltine crackers for the breading. Think it was a mid-west thing. Making your recipe this weekend!

      Reply
      • Anna says

        March 02, 2020 at 6:32 pm

        I hope you love it, Diane!

        Reply
    5. Gail Popehn says

      February 12, 2020 at 7:17 am

      Does anyone have a recipe for the brown sauce?? My hubby favorite dinner. I want to make vs go to our special restaurant Thank you!

      Reply
      • rheanell says

        April 21, 2021 at 6:24 pm

        and thats the way the germans do it..also must have fresh lemon squeezed in the top

        Reply
    6. Debbie says

      January 19, 2020 at 4:50 pm

      Serve with spatzle with gravy!!!! Great dish

      Reply
      • Anna says

        January 19, 2020 at 11:50 pm

        Thank you so much, Debbie!

        Reply
        • Sylvia says

          January 31, 2020 at 5:40 pm

          My husband use to make this,but he died and I forgot how he made them,I’m so glad I ran into this recipe,it’s just like what he made(delicious)

          Reply
    7. Kat says

      November 13, 2019 at 6:33 pm

      I made the schnitzel gluten free and turned out great.

      Reply
    8. Dawn says

      August 24, 2019 at 11:23 am

      Doesn’t schnitzel normally have a sauce with it what kind of sauce would you serve with this?

      Reply
      • Anna says

        August 24, 2019 at 9:06 pm

        Hi Dawn! Yes, you can serve it with a white lemon dill sauce, for the classic look. I prefer creamy mushroom garlic sauce. I will be sharing my recipe soon!

        Reply
    9. Aimee Shugarman says

      May 30, 2019 at 8:03 am

      5 stars
      Wow. This was a delicious recipe. My family gobbled it up and said it needs to be made again ASAP!

      Reply
      • Anna says

        June 06, 2019 at 9:51 pm

        Perfect! Thanks, Aimee!

        Reply
        • renee L dingus says

          January 09, 2022 at 10:50 pm

          Hi Anna
          When I was in Germany I used to order deep fat
          fried cordon bleu and I really want to make this. Did you by any chance ever have this or do you have a recipe ?
          Thanks

          Reply
    10. Toni says

      May 30, 2019 at 7:35 am

      5 stars
      This quickly became a favorite dinner in our house!!

      Reply
    11. Jen says

      May 30, 2019 at 7:32 am

      5 stars
      This is my husband's favorite! He always orders it when we go out so I can't wait to surprise him at home with this for dinner. Thank you!!

      Reply
    12. Becky Hardin says

      May 30, 2019 at 1:01 am

      5 stars
      I love that you can prep and make a head of time! So delicious

      Reply
    13. Julie says

      May 29, 2019 at 5:29 pm

      This looks amazing! I just bought some pork cutlets, glad I have a recipe to try with them!

      Reply
    14. JC says

      September 18, 2018 at 5:55 pm

      4 stars
      I had some thin cutlets from a crowd cow shipment (they do heritage pork, too). Found this recipe & decided to try it.

      Figured since they were already thick I didn’t need to pound them out.

      Big mistake.

      Chewy and tough. I probably overcooked them too. I suck at frying food. They were really awful.

      But that’s hardly the recipe’s fault... so hey, people: no shortcuts. Pound those cutlets out!

      Reply
    15. Tonya Lea says

      December 17, 2017 at 8:23 pm

      5 stars
      I just made this for dinner tonight. I am a huge fan of Schwein Schnitzel, and I was surprised at how easy it is to make. My first time to attempt making it, and this recipe made it quick, easy, and delicious! I will definitely make it again!

      Reply
    16. cakespy says

      October 26, 2017 at 7:02 am

      It suddenly got cold last night where I live so I am delighted to see this comfort food recipe. Love the crispy edges, tender interior, and fully cozy flavor of this dish!

      Reply

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