Air Fryer Pork Schnitzel

There are two places I have eaten a pork schnitzel in my life and they were THE BEST introduction to German cuisine for me. I never thought I could make them and I don’t know much about German cooking either,  but I played around with some recipes to get this simplified air fryer version that anyone could be successful with.

Normally this dish is made with pork loin and pounded out into the size of a dinner plate:) I opted with a leaner pork tenderloin and smaller pieces that will fit into the air fryer better and can be customized to macros a little easier. I also like that the breading can be made gluten free for those who need it.  Since this version is not pan fried or deep fried you save on a lot of excess oils/fats, making this the perfect option for health conscious people who still want something restaurant worthy.  

Apparently this is often used as a holiday dish in German culture and with the holidays are right around the corner, this might be a fun new addition to your meal routine. I like serving with braised red cabbage and mashed potatoes. I hear some people like to make leftovers into a schnitzel sandwich!

Instructions

1. Preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees.
2. Slice a pork tenderloin into 4 pieces. Tenderloin will provide smaller schnitzels than pork loin. If using pork loins pound them out first, then you can cut to the size you like.
3. Place one piece of the pork in between two pieces of plastic wrap and use a mallet to pound out the meat until it is about ¼ inch thick. Repeat for all the pieces. You can also ask your local butcher to do this when you buy your pork, which is what I did to save time on this step.
4. Season each cut of pork with salt and pepper.
5. Get out three shallow-ish bowls to create an assembly line. In one, mix together the flour with onion powder and garlic powder. In another bowl whisk the eggs. In the third bowl, add the breadcrumbs. Make sure each bowl in the assembly line can fit the schnitzels in it!
6. Dip the seasoned pork in the flour mixture, then in the egg wash, and then finally in the breadcrumbs.
7. Spray the outside of the pork schnitzel with a high heat spray such as avocado oil on both sides and place in the air fryer basket. Make sure you do not crowd the air fryer and work in batches if needed.
8. Air fry the pork schnitzel at 380 degrees for 12-14 minutes until the outside is light brown and crisp. Cooking times can vary by air fryer. Ensure the center of the pork schnitzel reaches 145 degrees.