Air Fryer Chicken Thigh Schnitzel

Air Fryer Chicken Thigh Schnitzel — This easy-to-make, crispy schnitzel is great for enjoying air-fried chicken thighs. This recipe makes the perfect homemade breading for schnitzel that will rival any restaurant!

German Air Fryer Chicken Thigh Schnitzel is an easy and delicious recipe perfect for any day of the week. The chicken thighs are pounded into thin, tender cutlets, breaded, and air fried up, resulting in a crispy crust and juicy center.

This is an excellent and kid-friendly meal and soon will be on your menu every night of the week. Since you can grab a package of chicken thighs on sale for less than $1.29, this is a budget-friendly meal.

This is a traditional make with pork, but today, I changed it up a bit and came up with this easy recipe that crisped up so nicely in the air fryer. My version of a huge air fryer chicken nugget!

Check Our Video On Chicken Schnitzel In The Air Fryer

What Is Pork or Chicken Schnitzel

Traditionally prepared with pork or chicken, the word Schnitzel is of German word meaning a thin slice of meat fried.

This dish is typically prepared using a meat tenderizer; you can make it from veal, pork, chicken, mutton, beef, turkey, or even cheese. Every country seems to have its version; the Italians have Chicken Milanese, the Japanese have Tonkatsu, and chicken fried steak in other countries.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Thigh Schnitzel

• Boneless and Skinless Chicken Thighs
• Breadcrumbs
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• All-Purpose Flour
• Egg
• Olive Oil Cooking Spray

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Thigh Schnitzel

Line a cutting board with plastic wrap, then place your chicken thighs in a single layer on top of the plastic wrap, and cover with plastic wrap. Pound the chicken thighs with a meat mallet until 1/4 to 1/8 inch thick.

Set up three bowls. In the first bowl, combine the flour. In the second bowl, add your eggs, beating them with a fork. Lastly, add the bread crumbs, salt, and black pepper to the third bowl.

Dredge the pounded chicken thigh into the flour, the egg, and the bread crumbs. Let the excess all off as you dredge them. Spray your air fryer basket with cooking spray.

Place the breaded chicken thighs into the air fryer basket, single layer.

Spray your breaded chicken thighs GENEROUSLY with cooking spray. The entire coating should be sprayed. Otherwise, you will get up with white spots. Set the temperature to 375 degrees F for 12 minutes. Flip halfway and respray the chicken thighs with cooking spray.

FAQ’s

Pro Tips:

• Spray: To get a crispy coating, spray the breadcrumbs or panko with olive oil spray.
• The Key: To spray enough to coat the entire breadcrumbs. This will give you a light and crispy flavoring as it air fries. Otherwise, it will dry out. If you get white or brown spots, it is not oiled enough. If you do not have an oil mister, use a pastry brush and brush it on.
• And don’t forget when you flip, brush or spray it on again. You want both sides of your chicken thighs to come out crispy and delicious.

How Long To Cook Air Fryer Chicken Thigh Schnitzel

This is a straightforward recipe. The most important thing to remember is that it only takes a few minutes for a tender and juicy chicken dish  Chicken thighs that have been pounded with a meat mallet take even less time.

The most important thing to remember is to make sure that the chicken is fully cooked before removing it from the air fryer basket. So, grab your meat thermometer and check to ensure that the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.

What To Serve

Air Fryer Chicken Thigh Schnitzel is a traditional German dish and is very often served with a side of Pommes (French Fries), which are just another name for German French Fries,

There are so many recipes that you can serve these with. Some of my favorites are:

• Pasta, any angel hair, ziti, spaghetti, fettuccine, or linguini
• Air Fryer Garlic Knots
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Air Fryer French Fries
• Caesar Salad

A Healthy Air Fryer Dinner Recipe

My entire family loves this dish; it’s easy and somewhat healthy since it is not deep-fried and, therefore, less oil and fat.  This is what I call my healthier Air Fryer Chicken Thigh Schnitzel. You can also make it with boneless pork loin for a traditional Pork Schnitzel.

But don’t worry, you still get the same fantastic flavor.

What Is An Air Fryer?

The new rage is an air fryer, but what is it? I have been using air fryers for a long time now, and I can tell you, once you get used to them, they cook food faster and beautifully.

The hot air in the air fryer circulates the food to perfectly cook the food. Whether’s it is French Toast or a great plate of Chicken Schnitzel. The food is much healthier since it’s not deep-fried or even fried in a skillet, where you need to use oil to crisp up the chicken.

Is Air Fryer Food Healthy?

I love my air fryer, and I feel that my food is much healthier than what I serve my family. I make the same food that I would make by frying and using less oil.

Deep-fried food needs lots of oil and fat to crips up, while the air fryer does not. You hardly need any oil.  And you get a great dish. You cut down on the calories and fat intake by using the air fryer.

What Can You Cook In An Air Fryer?

There is no limit to what you can make. Here are some of my favorites:

• Steak
• Donuts
• Crab Rangoons
• Cake
• French Toast
• Crab Legs

More Air Fryer Recipes:

• AIR FRYER, GARLIC PARMESAN CHICKEN BREAST
• AIR FRYER CREAM CHEESE AND HERB STUFFED CHICKEN

Some Helpful Products:

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. At no cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

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