Cheater’s Chicken Schnitzel Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Why is my chicken schnitzel tough? ›

Due to their thinness, these chicken breasts cook incredibly quickly. When pan-frying, the breading won't have enough time to achieve that desirable golden brown color before the chicken is fully cooked. This will result in undercooked breading or overcooked (tough) chicken.

HEAT A NONSTICK FRYING PAN OVER MEDIUM HEAT WITH A LITTLE OIL PAN FRY THE SCHNITZEL FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES ON EACH SIDE – PREHEAT OVEN TO 200 AND BAKE THEM FOR 10 MINUTES OR SO TO CRIPS THE SCHNITZEL.

Luckily cream worked well, adhering the crumbs nicely. THE BOTTOM LINE: We recommend using heavy cream when breading foods if you cannot use eggs. CREAM IS BEST: If you can't use eggs, use heavy cream to hold breading in place.

Bake it in the oven on 420F for 15 minutes, flip them to the other side, and bake for 10 more minutes. 9. Spray olive oil and transfer to a convection broil on 450F for 7-8 minutes to get a nice golden color.

You Don't Start Dry

The first step to breading chicken is crucial; make sure the chicken is completely dry before starting the dredging process. Using a paper towel, pat the meat dry on all sides. Excess moisture will cause the flour to get soggy and thus will not adhere properly to the chicken.

One rule of schnitzel is the meat must be pounded thin — about a 1/4-inch thick— otherwise it is not schnitzel. Pounding the meat also tenderizes it, making a juicier piece of meat that also cooks faster. Meat tenderizers and pounders abound, but I find my French rolling pin the most effective tool for the job.

Heat 1.5cm / 3/5" oil in a heavy based deep skillet over medium high heat. Dip the end of a schnitzel in to check if the oil is hot enough - it should sizzle straight away (see video). Carefully place 2 schnitzels in the oil and cook for 3 minutes until deep golden, turn then cook the other side for 3 minutes.

If your chicken breast are tough, you cooked them too long. Chicken breasts are hard to get right because they have a fat end and a skinny end. The fat end takes a bit longer to cook. Cooked perfectly, a chicken breast is moist and tender, with no pink flesh in the middle of the thickest part.

Bake in the preheated oven for 5 to 6 minutes. Flip chicken and continue baking until no longer pink in the center and the breading is lightly browned, 5 to 6 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

What's the difference between breaded chicken and chicken schnitzel? The main difference between breaded chicken and chicken schnitzel is that chicken schnitzel is made with pounded chicken breasts. What are some side dishes for schnitzel? Potato salad, mashed potatoes, or spaetzle make great sides.

Can I use mayo instead of eggs for breading? ›

There are more than a few reasons why mayo makes sense as a substitute for egg wash. Since they both share the same main ingredient (eggs), they function in very similar ways. Much like egg wash acts as a binding agent to help seasonings and breadcrumbs stick to meat, creamy mayonnaise also manages to do the same.

You could also try milk or yogurt. For heavier coatings (like panko or breadcrumbs), you might dust the fish with flour first. Once the floured fish is dipped in the butter or milk, it will get a little gummy and help the coating adhere better.

Overcooking might play a role in your chicken's tire-like texture. Leaving chicken in a pan, oven, or grill for just a little too long can suck the moisture right out and leave you with a dry, rubbery bird. Without moisture, the protein fibers in the chicken become elastic.

I've found that seasoning the chicken directly first gives me more flavor. Heat the oil well. The oil needs to be hot enough (it should be shimmering but not smoking) so that the chicken will cook well and crisp up. If the oil is not hot enough, the chicken will absorb too much oil and give you soggy, oily schnitzel.

Cooling the breaded schnitzel in the fridge for an hour or so before frying will help keep the breading on while cooking. Placing the cooked schnitzel on a wire rack while the rest of the batch cooks will help it keep crispy.

Track the Temperature, Then Verify

It's important to pull the chicken from the oven once as soon as it reaches its target temperature, and not a degree later. If it's pulled at too high of a temperature, the chicken will be dry and tough.

Slow cooking your chicken is one of the greatest ways to achieve a tender piece of meat. The long cooking process allows for a tender and delicious chicken, giving the juices and flavor time to blend and fuse. You can choose to cook or smoke the chicken, depending on your recipe.