Juicy Pork Schnitzel

Welcome to a classic comfort food favorite: the Pork Schnitzel! While its roots are in Austrian and German cuisine, this dish has won hearts all over the world for its incredible simplicity and deliciousness. Our recipe focuses on creating a schnitzel that is wonderfully juicy on the inside with an irresistibly crispy, golden-brown crust on the outside. It's a fantastic choice for a quick weeknight dinner or a special weekend meal, proving that you don't need complicated steps to create something truly spectacular.

Cooking: 20 minutes
Quantity: 4 Servings
Per serving
Calories: 735 kcal
Proteins: 45 g
Fats: 49 g
Carbohydrates: 31 g

Ingredients for Pork Schnitzel

  • 600g pork tenderloin
  • 2 chicken eggs
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs
  • 30 ml neutral vegetable oil
  • 20g butter
  • black pepper, salt
  • Mexican vegetable blend, for serving

How to Make Juicy Pork Schnitzel

Slice the pork tenderloin, with its thin layers of fat, across the grain into pieces about 1.5-2 centimeters thick. Pat the meat dry with a paper towel; it shouldn’t be wet for the cutlets.

Slices of raw pork tenderloin on a cutting board, being patted dry with a paper towel.

Slicing and patting the pork tenderloin dry

Place the pork pieces on a cutting board and cover them with plastic wrap. Pound them with a meat mallet, first on one side, then on the other. The thinner the meat is pounded, the faster the schnitzels will cook.

Grind mixed peppercorns in a mortar and rub the cutlets with the pepper and salt on both sides.

Next, sprinkle the meat with all-purpose flour. You can put the flour in a shallow dish or dust the cutlets directly on the board.

Pork cutlets being pounded thin with a meat mallet on a cutting board.

Pounding the pork cutlets

Seasoning thin pork cutlets with freshly ground pepper and salt.

Rubbing the cutlets with pepper and salt

A thin pork cutlet being lightly coated with all-purpose flour.

Sprinkling the meat with all-purpose flour


So, the first layer of breading is all-purpose flour or starch. A thin layer of flour seals the meat; be sure to shake off any excess.

In a shallow dish, crack the chicken eggs and whisk the egg whites and yolks with a fork until you have a smooth mixture.

Dip the flour-coated schnitzels into the egg.

In another shallow dish, spread the breadcrumbs. Place the schnitzels in the breadcrumbs and coat them carefully, ensuring there are no bare spots.

A pork cutlet fully dredged in flour, ready for the next step of breading.

The first layer of breading is all-purpose flour or starch

A flour-coated pork cutlet being dipped into a bowl of beaten eggs.

Dipping the flour-coated schnitzels in egg

Coating an egg-washed pork cutlet evenly with breadcrumbs in a shallow dish.

Placing the schnitzels in breadcrumbs and coating them carefully


Pour refined oil into a skillet, add the butter, and heat until the butter starts to foam.

Place the schnitzels in the hot oil and fry for 4-5 minutes on one side. Cutlets and schnitzels should be cooked over high heat. During the frying process, do not touch the pieces—don’t lift them, flip them prematurely, or press them with a spatula. Just be patient and wait for the meat to cook through; the specified time is enough for a golden-brown crust to form on the breading.

Pork schnitzels sizzling in a hot pan, frying to a golden brown on one side.

Frying the schnitzels for 4-5 minutes on one side

Flip and fry until golden brown on the other side.

Remove the meat from the skillet, place it on a plate, and let it rest for a few minutes to “relax.”

For the side dish, boil the Mexican vegetable blend in salted water for a few minutes, then drain in a colander, or steam the vegetables.

A perfectly golden-brown pork schnitzel being flipped in a pan to cook the other side.

Flipping the schnitzels and frying until golden brown on the other side. Done!

And there you have it—a perfectly cooked, juicy pork schnitzel that's sure to impress! The beauty of this dish lies in its versatility. Traditionally served with a simple wedge of lemon to cut through the richness, it also pairs wonderfully with creamy mashed potatoes, a light cucumber salad, or even French fries. Don't be afraid to make it your own! We hope this recipe brings a taste of classic European comfort to your kitchen. Enjoy every crispy bite!