Air Fryer Chicken Schnitzel or Cutlets with Keto Option + Video

Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside air fryer chicken schnitzel or cutlets made with herbs, parmesan cheese, panko, and served in a creamy cheese and mushroom sauce! This recipe is gluten-free and low-carb, with a keto option, and uses two methods, namely using frozen pieces, or fresh (raw) cutlets.

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Don't you just love how the air fryer has revolutionized today's cooking? I recently bought an air fryer and I cannot hide how excited I am to use it for several recipes! To be honest, I have been busy making instant pot recipes and never really bothered to buy one. I now regret having waited for so long as it is a game-changer.

Living in Germany, I can tell you that I have had and made many different versions of schnitzel (Wiener, Pariser, Altbayerishes just to mention a few) and I can never really seem to make up my mind to which version I like best! Now, if you are wondering what all these strange names mean, they are simply the names of the towns, cities, or regions from which the different recipes originated.

Jump to:

• 💭 is there a difference between schnitzel, scallopini and cutlets?
• 📋ingredient notes
• 🔪instructions
• 🍳creamy cheese and mushroom sauce
• 🔪 make this recipe Keto-friendly
• 💭cook from frozen
• 📖useful tips and serving suggestions
• other air fryer recipes for you to try!!
• 📖 Recipe
• 💭common questions

💭 is there a difference between schnitzel, scallopini and cutlets?

Schnitzel, scallopini, and cutlets all mean the same and all refer to thin pieces of meat tenderized by flattening using a cubing steak machine, kitchen hammer, or mallet and normally crumbed or breaded in egg and breadcrumbs, panko, or flour. They can be made using different types of meat such as pork, veal, lamb, or chicken. The difference in name only comes about because of the location.

📋ingredient notes

While this recipe uses chicken, it can also be adapted so that you can easily use other types of meat such as veal (just like in the traditional Austrian way), beef, or even pork.

Here are the ingredients you will need to make the air fryer chicken schnitzel or cutlets. (This is a summary; see the exact measurements and video, in the recipe card below).

• Boneless and skinless chicken breast (alternatively, ready-made frozen schnitzel).
• 1 cup panko - I used gluten-free panko, but regular will also do. You can easily find gluten-free panko online or at your local supermarket. For those worried about net carbs, this recipe stays low carb at 33g net carbs but has a keto option using pork rind panko.
• seasoning - garlic powder, ground paprika, marjoram, some sprigs of thyme leaves, without the stems (alternatively, use a tablespoon of dried thyme), and some salt and black pepper.
• grated parmesan cheese.
• eggs.
• cooking spray - use regular extra virgin olive oil, if you do not have cooking spray.
• some dijon mustard.
• lemon - this is optional and will be used when serving. But I feel that a squeeze of fresh lemon juice always adds a wonderful fresh taste to the finished cutlets.

These are the ingredients you will require for the cheese and mushroom gravy:

• button mushrooms - cleaned and finely sliced.
• extra virgin olive oil.
• some butter.
• minced garlic.
• shallots - finely diced (alternatively, ½ of a small yellow onion).
• sour cream (or crème fraîche).
• white wine - this can be substituted for an equal amount of chicken broth.
• some chicken or vegetable broth.
• grated parmesan cheese - substitutable with cream cheese.
• pinch of salt and black pepper to taste (use more, if desired).
• fresh or dried thyme leaves.

🔪instructions

This is a summary of how to make air fryer chicken schnitzel or cutlets. Please see the full step-by-step instructions in the recipe card provided below.

• Trim off any visible tendons, cut and set aside any flaps of hanging tenderloins.
• Cut the chicken breast in the middle into two.

• Place the cut chicken pieces between two pieces of baking paper or plastic wrap. Use the flat side of your kitchen mallet to gently pound until each piece is thin, about an inch in size then set aside.

• In a bowl, combine panko, Parmesan cheese, chopped herbs, spices, salt, and pepper. . Next, use a third bowl to beat the eggs with the dijon mustard until properly combined.
• Dip each of the now thin chicken breast first into the bowl with the egg mixture making sure to properly coat each piece.

• Place the chicken breast in the bowl with the panko crumb and seasoning mixture then combine, shaking off any excess breading.

• Next, open the air fryer and spray the basket or rack with cooking oil, then lay the coated chicken breasts on top, taking care not to overcrowd. Depending on the type of air fryer you have, you should be able to fit about 2-4 pieces. My ninja foodi fits two large pieces.

• Spray the tops of the chicken pieces with cooking oil and close. Set the temperature at 180°C/360°F and the time at 14 minutes. Air fry until the tops turn golden brown and the internal temperature is at least 165°F (about 73°C), making sure to flip mid cooking.
• Repeat the steps from breading with panko to cooking, for all the chicken pieces. Finally, transfer the chicken cutlets to plates, squeeze some lemon juice on top and serve with the cheese mushroom sauce, and your favorite side dishes.

🍳creamy cheese and mushroom sauce

Now, while this creamy cheese sauce or gravy for chicken schnitzel is totally optional, I highly recommend it as it is just the best! It tastes amazing served with the schnitzel plus, it is very simple to make!

• Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet under medium heat. Add the shallots and mushrooms and allow these to cook for 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
• Next, stir in the white wine and use it to deglaze the skillet, making sure to scrape off all the delicious bits from the bottom of the skillet. The alcohol should have evaporated after about 1 minute.

• Add the broth, sour cream or crème fraîche, and parmesan cheese, then allow this to simmer and thicken, for about 3 minutes.

• Finally, add the thyme leaves, season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve the gravy over the air-fried chicken schnitzel.

🔪 make this recipe Keto-friendly

To make keto air fryer chicken schnitzel, substitute the gluten-free panko for pork rind panko, using a 1:1 ratio. In a bowl, combine pork rinds, garlic powder, ground paprika, parmesan cheese, marjoram, salt, and pepper. Next repeat the rest of the steps above, from the egg-wash and breading process to air frying the cutlets.

💭cook from frozen

One of the best things about owning an air fryer is the ability to cook food from frozen. Let's be honest, there are instances where one may not be in a position to cook fresh unfrozen food, especially when pressed for time. During such times, being able to cook frozen food definitely comes in handy.

To cook frozen schnitzel in the air fryer:

• First, open the basket or rack and spray with cooking oil. Lay the breaded or coated chicken on top. Depending on your brand of air fryer, you should be able to fit in 2-4 frozen chicken schnitzel pieces on each shelf.
• Once you have placed the chicken schnitzel pieces in the rack or basket, spray tops with cooking oil, return it in place and close.
• Next, set the temperature at 180°C/360°F and the time at 8 minutes then press the start button.
• Once this time is up, use a pair of tongs to turn the chicken schnitzel pieces up. Spray the tops again with some cooking oil and set the temperature this time to 160°C/320° F and the time at 9 minutes. Cook until nicely browned and the pieces have attained an internal temparature of at least 165°F (approximately 74°C). The total cooking time will vary, depending on the size and thickness of cuts you have.
• Finally, lay onto plates, drizzle with some lemon juice and serve with your favorite side dish.

📖useful tips and serving suggestions

• Replace the panko crumb mixture for regular panko or breadcrumbs, if not having any special dietary requirements.
• Use your favorite herbs (cilantro, sage, oregano and tarragon are a few examples of herbs that go well with cutlets).
• Depending on the type of brand, you may need to rotate the middle and top shelves, so you don't end up with air fried cutlet pieces that are more cooked than others.

I like to serve these air fryer chicken cutlets alongside this simple Shirazi Salad (Persian tomato and cucumber salad), my Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Potato Wedges, or with some Jamaican coleslaw. It also goes well with southern mashed potatoes, air fryer frozen chips, Wirsing (German savoy cabbage), and rice.

other air fryer recipes for you to try!!

• Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
• Air Fryer Chicken Breast
• Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

Loving this recipe? You may also want to check out these tasty chicken recipes!

• Honey Mustard Chicken-Instant Pot + Video
• Instant Pot Chicken Wings Three Ways
• Mascarpone Chicken and Mushroom Recipe

📖 Recipe

💭common questions

Here are a few common questions related to making air fryer chicken schnitzel or cutlets.