This air fryer chicken schnitzel with a crispy garlic and herb coating is perfect for a quick and tasty dinner any night of the week. The chicken is succulent, the crumb is perfectly crisp, and it cooks in no time in the air fryer.
Chicken schnitzel is made from flattened chicken breast, coated with seasoned breadcrumbs, then fried until crispy. It’s quick and easy to cook in the air fryer, and comes out just as good as pan fried.
For some other quick and easy air fryer chicken recipes, try: air fryer chicken breast, air fryer chicken wings, or air fryer chicken thighs.
Scroll down for the printable recipe card, or read on for all the details!
What do you need?
Chicken breast
I use boneless skinless chicken breast for the easiest prep. You can also use ready-prepared chicken steaks or schnitzel-sliced chicken breast if they are available at your grocery store.
Breadcrumbs
Use fine white breadcrumbs for a classic chicken schnitzel, or try panko crumbs for extra light and crispy breading. If you are going gluten free, try substituting pork rinds or almond meal.
Flour
Just use regular all-purpose flour, though bread flour (high-grade) will also work if that is all you have. You can also use gluten-free flour like almond flour if you prefer.
Egg
This helps to bind the crumb to the schnitzels. If you don’t have any eggs, you can substitute 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise.
Seasoning
We’ll use salt and pepper to season the chicken, and add some garlic powder and herbs to the breadcrumbs.
Olive oil
To get your chicken schnitzel crispy, it needs a little oil. I use light olive oil, but you can use another cooking oil with a high smoke point (like vegetable oil or avocado oil). You can use an oil spray if you prefer.
Tip
When choosing an olive oil spray for your air fryer, look for the type that spritzes rather than an aerosol. The propellant in aerosol oil sprays can damage the non-stick coating of your air fryer.
Prepare the schnitzels
Carefully slice the chicken breast in half. To do this, place your hand flat on top of the chicken breast and use a sharp knife to slice through the chicken breast horizontally to cut it into two steaks.
Place the chicken steaks between slices of parchment and use a rolling pin to roll them until they are thin.
To bread the schnitzels:
- Place the flour in a large bowl. Place the bread crumbs, garlic powder and herbs in a separate shallow bowl, and mix to combine.
- Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper, then toss with the flour to coat. Add the egg to the same bowl with the chicken, split the yolk, and toss to ensure each chicken piece is thoroughly coated.
- Place each piece of chicken schnitzel into the bowl with breadcrumbs, and turn to coat thoroughly. Transfer to a plate, and press the breadcrumb coating onto the chicken to help it stick.
Cooking the schnitzels in the air fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 360°F /180°C. Then lightly brush or spritz the schnitzels with oil.
Arrange the schnitzels in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a little space between them so they will cook evenly.
You may need to cook the schnitzels in batches or use a layer accessory, depending on the size of your air fryer.
Note: If your air fryer basket is prone to food sticking, you can give it a spritz of olive oil before placing the schnitzels in it.
Air fry chicken schnitzel until golden brown and cooked through. This will take approximately 10-12 minutes (see below for more info on cooking times).
Tip
Some air fryers require food to be flipped over halfway through the cooking time. If you are unsure whether this applies to your air fryer, check your manual.
If you don’t have an air fryer you can also pan fry these schnitzels with a drizzle of oil, or cook them in a regular oven (place on a lined baking tray, and bake for 10-12 minutes at 430°F/220°C).
Getting the cooking times right
The exact cook time will depend on how thick the schnitzels are and how powerful your air fryer is.
The best way to be sure that your schnitzel is cooked correctly is to check the internal temperature with an instant-read meat thermometer. It should read 165°F/ 74°C or higher. Air fry schnitzels for additional 2-minute intervals until done, if required.
Serving ideas
- Pair with a side of slaw and wedges for a tasty family dinner
- Serve in a bun with salad and ranch dressing or lemon herb mayo
- Pile on slices of bread with slaw or salad for the most delicious crispy chicken sandwiches
- Thinly slice, and serve in tacos with salad, salsa, cheese and sour cream.
Storing and reheating
Store any leftover chicken schnitzels in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, and use within 3 days.
You can reheat the schnitzels in the air fryer, air fry for 3-4 minutes until 165°F/ 74°C in the center.
Air Fryer Chicken Schnitzel
Ingredients
- 1 large chicken breast
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup breadcrumbs [Note 1]
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs oregano, thyme, basil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Drizzle of light olive oil
Instructions
- Pat chicken breast dry, then cut in half horizontally through the center.
- Place the chicken steaks between two pieces of parchment or baking paper, and roll them with a rolling pin until they are around ½ inch thick.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides, then place it into the flour and toss to coat. Add egg to the bowl, split the yolk, and toss to coat the chicken with the egg.
- Mix the breadcrumbs, garlic powder, and herbs together in a large shallow bowl.
- Press each piece of chicken schnitzel into the breadcrumbs on both sides, and turn to coat thoroughly. Transfer to a plate, and press the bread crumbs onto the chicken to help them stick.
- Preheat air fryer to 360°F/ 180°C.
- Lightly brush or spritz the schnitzels with oil, then place them in the air fryer basket [Note 2], ensuring they are not touching.
- Air fry chicken schnitzels for approximately 10-12 minutes until golden brown and cooked through [Note 3]. Carefully flip them over halfway through cooking if required for your air fryer.
Notes
- Fine white breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs.
- If your air fryer tends to stick to food, spritz the basket with olive oil before placing the schnitzels in it.
- Use a meat thermometer to test the internal temperature in the thickest part to ensure it has reached the safe temperature of 165°F/74°C.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
