Chicken schnitzel, the classic Austrian chicken dish, is traditionally made from thin slices of chicken breast breaded in white breadcrumbs and fried in oil. For a more nutrient-dense alternative, bread the meat in a wholemeal spelled pretzel instead of breadcrumbs. Extra bonus: Cooking the chops in the air fryer gives you juicy meat and a golden brown, crispy exterior with less fat and mess.
Active time: 15 minutes | Total time: 40 minutes
Air Fryer Pretzel Chicken Schnitzel
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 12 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup low-fat buttermilk, divided
- 2 oz. spelled pretzel sticks (or wholemeal pretzels)
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups kale, thinly sliced
- 1 medium tart green apple, cored and sliced ​​in July
- 1 small fennel bulb, thinly sliced
Directions
Preheat the air fryer to 390°F (200°C) and coat the roasting basket with cooking spray.
Cut each chicken breast in half horizontally into two thin cutlets, about 1/4-1/2 inch thick, then season with black pepper and salt.
Place the flour on a large plate. In a shallow bowl, whisk the egg with 3 tablespoons of buttermilk. Finely crush the pretzels in a food processor or with a rolling pin in a zip lock bag and place them on a separate plate. Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour, then the egg mixture and finally the pretzel crumbs, pressing gently to adhere. Lightly mist the breaded chicken with cooking spray.
Place two chops in the air fryer and cook for 6 minutes. Turn and continue to fry for approx. 6 more minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining chops.
While the chicken is cooking, prepare the slaw by whisking together the remaining 1 tablespoon buttermilk, mayonnaise, and vinegar in a large bowl. Add cabbage, apple and fennel and stir. Serve the chicken schnitzels with slaw.
Serves: 4 | Serving size: 1 schnitzel, 1 cup slaw
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 309; Total fat: 7g; Saturated fat: 2g; Monounsaturated fat: 2g; Polyunsaturated fat: 2g; Cholesterol: 115mg; Sodium: 406mg; Carbohydrate: 35g; Dietary fiber: 7g; Sugar: 11 g; Protein: 26g
Nutritional bonus: Vitamin D: 3%; Calcium: 9%; Iron: 12%; Potassium: 762mg; Vitamin A: 12%; Vitamin C: 43%
Originally published January 10, 2021; Updated March 2026