Learn how to make easy chicken breast schnitzel- French Style- from scratch so you can ditch those breaded chicken nuggets and chicken cutlets you buy from the store.
Delicious and healthier for you, these chicken schnitzels can be served with salads, potatoes in any form, cooked vegetables, or just in simple sandwiches. Perfect for picnics, lunches, and dinners.
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Why do I love this recipe:
I grew up in Eastern Europe with a German grandmother who made schnitzel quite often. She used to make it the traditional way, with flour, bread crumbs, and egg, the same way Austrians and Germans always made it.
However, my mom made it slightly different, the French style, with just flour and egg. This type of schnitzel is called Pariser schnitzel, Parisian schnitzel or French style schnitzel.
I always loved schnitzels. For us, the kids, schnitzels were a real treat, and we all loved them in any form or shape.
As an adult, I usually have to make a bunch of schnitzels as my family never gets tired of them. They are also very easy to make and much better than any chicken nuggets or breaded chicken cutlets you had from the grocery stores or fast food places.
We have them for lunch or dinner. We pack them with us when we travel, and we use them in sandwiches. My daughter grew up with them.
Her face lightens up when I say the word "Schnitzel." And I don't even have to mention my husband, who would have them all the time.
Chicken Breast Alternative
The beauty of this recipe is that you can replace chicken with any meat you like. I like pork schnitzels, thin cuts of beef, or turkey breast. In other words, follow the recipe and use the cut of meat you prefer.
How to make
To make chicken breast schnitzels is the same way you would make pork schnitzels or beef/veal schnitzels.
Step 1.
Clean the chicken breast and slice it into thinner pieces horizontally.
The chicken breast is usually very tender, so you do not need to pound the meat before, but if you prefer to do this, go ahead.
However, you will have to pound the pork or beef if you choose these cuts.
Step 2.
Grab two plates or trays. On one plate, we will have flour, salt, and pepper. On the other plate, we will have beaten eggs.
Step 3.
Take one slice of meat and toss it in flour on both sides to cover.
Step 4.
Shake the excess flour. Dip the meat into the egg.
Step 5.
Heat the oil in a skillet and add the coated chicken. Make sure the oil is hot; otherwise, your chicken and batter will absorb a lot of fat. (the temperature should be around 350F).
Fry them on medium heat for about 4-5 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
Make sure you do not crowd the schnitzels in the skillet. When done, transfer them to a plate.
Continue the same process until you use up all the chicken.
How To Serve:
These chicken schnitzels are great served with mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, or French fries (yum!)made from scratch. Here you have a recipe for Baby Potatoes With Butter And Dill that is amazing in the summer.
Any other raw or cooked vegetable you like works as well. Do you like mushrooms, asparagus, peas, or green beans? These vegetables are perfect for the schnitzels.
Schnitzel is often eaten with just a bit of freshly squeezed lemon juice or a sauce.
Make a salad also to complement your meal, and here you have a gorgeous lunch or dinner! It will also become a favorite for your kids, and the frozen bags of chicken nuggets will soon become a sad memory!
Variations:
If you use pork or beef, make sure the cuts are thin. Also, pound them a little bit, as the pork and beef tend to be a little less tender compared with chicken or turkey.
What kind of pan do I need to use?
The pan could be a regular frying pan that doesn't need to be very deep. We pan-fry them, we do not deep fry them.
My grandmother used to fry the schnitzels in lard, but my mom would use sunflower oil because it is neutral. Choose vegetable oil if you don't have sunflower oil.
Expert tip:
The oil needs to be hot if you want to have crispy schnitzels. To figure that out, do a little test: place the handle of a wooden spoon into the oil—if tiny bubbles begin forming around it, you're good to go.
Storage Instructions:
Keep the schnitzels in an airtight container in the fridge, and they will last about 3-4 days. To reheat, place the schnitzels on a baking sheet and bake at 400F for 10-15 minutes. I would not recommend reheating these schnitzels in the microwave because they will get soggy.
I never got to freeze schnitzels because we eat them right away. However, you can go ahead and freeze them if you want. They will store well in freezer bags or airtight containers.
Place them flat on a baking sheet, cover them with some plastic wrap, and freeze them for about an hour before placing them in the bags. This method will keep them from sticking together and freezing into a block of schnitzels.
To reheat, bake the frozen pieces at 400F for 20-25 minutes or until warm to your liking.
Enjoy!
Check out the web story for this recipe: How to make Chicken Breast Schnitzel - French Style
📖 Recipe
Easy Chicken Breast Schnitzel- French Style
Ingredients
- 4-5 medium chicken breasts
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- vegetable oil for frying I used sunflower oil
Instructions
- Clean and slice the chicken breast horizontally into thinner pieces.
- Grab a deep frying pan and pour the vegetable oil into it. Heat the oil while you prepare the chicken.
- Prepare a plate with flour where you add salt and pepper. Mix well.
- Prepare another dish with beaten eggs.
- Take one slice of meat and toss it in flour on both sides.
- Shake the excess flour.
- Transfer to the other plate and dip the meat into the egg.
- Place the coated chicken in the pan and fry on medium-high heat for about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
- When done, transfer the schnitzels to a plate and serve warm or cold.
Anonymous says
Anonymous says
Heather says
Can you make these in an air fryer?
The Bossy Kitchen says
I never made this recipe in an air fryer, so I wouldn't know to tell you at what temperature it needs to cook or for how long. You made me think, though...
Heather says
@The Bossy Kitchen, Me too. I would like to try it.
The Bossy Kitchen says
I would mix the eggs with a little bit of oil, then dunk the chicken pieces in the mixture, coat them with flour, then put them in the air fryer. Maybe at 380F for 10 minutes on one side and for another 7-8 minutes on the other side? I will have to try it too. If you figure it out, let me know, and we make notes on the recipe! :- )