Air Fryer Pork Schnitzel

This recipe for homemade air fryer pork schnitzel is quick and easy to prepare and cook. The meat is tender, the crumb is crisp, and it cooks in no time in the air fryer.

How to make crumbed pork schnitzel in an air fryer

Pork schnitzel may sound like a difficult dish to prepare at home, but it’s really just a crispy, breaded pork cutlet. The best part is that it can be cooked in an air fryer, which is easy to use and makes this dish taste incredible. 

An air fryer does a great job of cooking crispy schnitzel without adding any excess oil. The air fryer that I have* even claims to remove the saturated fat from food making it even healthier!

Some of my other favorite pork recipes to cook in an air fryer are: air fryer pork roast, air fryer pork chops, air fryer pork steaks, and air fryer pork tenderloin. 

Scroll down for the printable recipe card for this air fryer pork schnitzel recipe, or read on for all the details.

Ingredients 

• Pork schnitzel. I buy ready-prepared pork schnitzel from my butcher. Thinly sliced pork steaks, cutlets or boneless pork chops will also work for this recipe. You can pound the pork with a meat mallet to get it really thin if they haven’t been pre-prepared for you. 
• Breadcrumbs. This recipe calls for panko crumbs for the breading. I like to use these as they tend to come out crisper and lighter, but you can use whatever type of bread crumbs you like. Use fine white breadcrumbs for a classic pork schnitzel. 
• Flour. Use all-purpose flour. 
• Egg. This helps to bind the crumb to the schnitzels. If you don’t have any eggs, you could use mayonnaise instead.

Variations

For a low carb pork schnitzel/ keto pork schnitzel:

• Substitute flax meal or ground hemp hearts instead of breadcrumbs
• Use low carb flour in place of the all-purpose flour (try coconut flour or almond flour)

You can make a gluten-free version of this pork schnitzel by substituting flour and breadcrumbs for a gluten-free alternative.

Directions

• Step 1: Pat pork schnitzel dry with paper towels, and cut any large pieces in half. Season pork with salt on both sides. 
• Step 2: Place the bread crumbs and flour in separate shallow bowls. 
• Step 3: Add pork into the flour and toss to coat. Add the egg to the same bowl with the pork, split the yolk, and toss pork to coat. This is a good time to preheat the air fryer (360°F /180°C). 
• Place each piece of pork into the bowl with breadcrumbs, and turn to coat thoroughly. Transfer to a plate, and press the breadcrumb coating onto the pork to help it stick.
• Arrange pork schnitzels in air fryer basket in a single layer. Ensure they are not touching. 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 pork schnitzel until golden brown and cooked through. This will take approximately 7-10 minutes. The exact cook time will depend on how thick the schnitzels are and how powerful your air fryer is. Check the internal temperature with an instant-read meat thermometer to ensure that it has reached the safe temperature of 145°F/ 63°C, and air fryer for additional 1-2 minutes if required. 

Note: 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).

Serving

Pork schnitzel makes a great weeknight dinner, and I love that it can be served so many ways. Here are some ideas to try:  

• Pair with a side of slaw and wedges for a tasty family dinner
• Serve in a bun with salad and ranch dressing
• Pile on slices of bread with slaw or salad for the most delicious crispy pork sandwiches
• Thinly slice, and serve in tacos with salad, salsa, cheese and sour cream. 

Storing and reheating

Store any leftover pork schnitzel in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, and use within 3 days.

You can reheat the pork schnitzel in the air fryer – air fry for 3-4 minutes until warmed through. Alternatively, you can reheat it in the microwave, 1-2 minutes on high, though the crumb won’t be as crisp if you reheat it this way.

Air Fryer Pork Schnitzel Recipe Card

You may also like: 

• Air fryer pork recipes
• Air fryer pork belly
• Air fryer beef schnitzel
• Air fryer pork burgers
• Air fryer frozen chicken patties