Air Fryer Chicken Schnitzel
Can you air fry chicken schnitzel? Yes! This air fryer chicken schnitzel recipe uses pork panko to make it keto, low carb, and gluten free!
Ingredients
- 6 thin chicken breast cutlets (¼-inch/0.64 cm thick, about 3 ounces/85 grams each)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 cup pork panko
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- lemon wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Pound your chicken breasts to ¼-inch (0.64 cm) thick and trim them to about 3 ounces (85 grams) each. (Or just purchase thin chicken cutlets that are the right size and save yourself a lot of work!)
- Whisk the eggs and mustard together in a bowl. In a second bowl, stir together the pork panko, garlic powder, dried parsley, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.
- Bread each chicken piece by coating it first with the egg mixture and then with the panko mixture. Pat the panko on to each cutlet so it sticks well.
- Put the breaded cutlets on an air fryer tray in a single layer. My air fryer has two trays, and I was able to cook four cutlets at a time (two per tray). I had to cook the schnitzel in two batches since there are six breaded cutlets in this recipe. If you have a smaller fryer, you may need to cook the cutlets in three batches.
- Air fry the chicken for 5 minutes at 375°F (190°C). Then switch the position of the trays in the air fryer oven (don’t flip the chicken). Air fry the chicken an additional 5 minutes at 375°F (190°C). Switch the position of the trays in the air fryer oven once more (again, don’t flip the chicken). Air fry for 3 minutes at 375°F (190°C). (That's 13 minutes of air frying time total.)
- Half batch directions: If you only have schnitzel on the top rack, air fry for 7-8 minutes total at 375°F (190°C). No need to flip the chicken!
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken has reached a safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Serve the chicken schnitzel with the lemon wedges. Squeeze a bit of lemon juice on the chicken right before eating. Enjoy!
Notes
This is a level 1 recipe (may help support fat loss). Here’s the deal. One piece of this scrumptious air fryer chicken schnitzel is a mere 239 calories and 0.4 grams of net carbs. With 37.3 grams of protein per serving, this satisfying entrée is a good fit for many low calorie and low carb dietary patterns.
That said, it is generally better for weight loss (and overall health) to choose plain chicken breast versus chicken breaded with crushed pork rinds. Though the pork panko is low carb, it adds more calories to this entrée than the chicken! If you aren’t on a low carb diet, whole wheat panko is a lower calorie choice than pork panko.
I know that sometimes I simply feel like eating something breaded. Completely depriving myself of schnitzel (and other breaded foods) wouldn’t be sustainable for me. If you’re the same, and you’re using a low carb or keto approach, I hope this tasty air fryer recipe helps you out!
To keep this meal at level one, I recommend paying attention to the sides you pair with your schnitzel. Pile on the non-starchy veggies to keep things keto and low calorie. If you have a salad, I would choose a low or no oil dressing, since the pork panko already has plenty of fat.
To make a higher calorie meal, add buttered egg noodles, rice, or fries on the side. (Note: I had trouble finding short, wide egg noodles that were 100% whole grain. I found a brand that was half whole wheat and half refined grain. The other option is to make your own noodles, but that’s too much work for me on a weeknight.)
Nutrition information is for one serving of the recipe. Carbohydrates listed are net carbs (total carbs minus the fiber).
Nutrition
Calories: 239kcalCarbohydrates: 0.4gProtein: 37.3gFat: 10.3gSaturated Fat: 2.4gSodium: 676.5mgVitamin C: 1.8% DVCalcium: 3.5% DVIron: 1.8% DV
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