Description

Achieve restaurant-quality crunch at home with this air fryer pork schnitzel recipe. It offers a shatteringly crispy panko coating and juicy pork interior without the mess or guilt of deep frying.

Ingredients

Scale

1.5 pounds pork cutlets (pounded to ¼ inch thickness)
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
Splash of milk (optional)
2 cups panko breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika (smoked preferred)
1 tablespoon dried parsley
Salt and black pepper to taste
Avocado oil or canola oil (in spray bottle)
2 tablespoons melted butter (optional)

Instructions

Prep the pork: Pound thick pork chops or loins to ¼ inch thickness and pat completely dry with paper towels.
Set up dredging station: Prepare three shallow bowls. Bowl 1: Flour, salt, and pepper. Bowl 2: Beaten eggs with a splash of milk. Bowl 3: Panko mixed with garlic powder, paprika, and parsley.
Bread the schnitzel: Dredge pork in flour, dip in egg, then press firmly into panko mixture. Place on a plate and rest in the fridge for 10 minutes to set the breading.
Preheat and prep basket: Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil.
Cook: Place breaded cutlets in a single layer in the basket (do not overlap). Generously spray tops with oil. Cook for 6 minutes.
Flip and finish: Flip schnitzel, spray the other side with oil (and brush with melted butter if using). Cook for another 6-8 minutes until internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C) and crust is golden brown.
Rest and serve: Transfer to a wire rack to rest for 3-5 minutes to maintain crispness. Serve warm with lemon wedges.

Notes

Ensure pork is pounded evenly to ¼ inch thickness for consistent cooking. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary. Resting the breaded pork in the fridge helps the coating adhere. For gluten-free, swap flour for rice/almond flour and panko for GF cornflakes. For dairy-free, omit the butter brush.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: German

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 pork cutlet
Calories: 380
Sugar: 1
Sodium: 450
Fat: 16
Saturated Fat: 3
Carbohydrates: 28
Fiber: 1
Protein: 32

Keywords: air fryer pork schnitzel, crispy pork, healthy takeout alternative, air fryer recipes, pork cutlets, panko pork