Pizza Schnitzel
A kid-friendly mashup of crispy breaded cutlets and cheesy pizza toppings that will have the whole family cheering at dinner time.
Ingredients
- •4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
- •1 cup all-purpose flour
- •2 large eggs, beaten
- •2 cups plain or Italian breadcrumbs
- •1 teaspoon garlic powder
- •1 teaspoon dried oregano
- •1/2 cup vegetable oil or canola oil for frying
- •1 cup marinara sauce or pizza sauce
- •1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- •1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- •12 mini pepperoni slices (optional)
- •Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- 2
Place the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and gently pound them with a meat mallet or rolling pin until they are an even half-inch thickness.
- 3
Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls: place the flour in the first, the beaten eggs in the second, and the breadcrumbs mixed with garlic powder and dried oregano in the third.
- 4
Dredge each chicken breast in the flour, shaking off the excess, then dip it into the beaten eggs, and finally coat it thoroughly in the seasoned breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere.
- 5
Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot and shimmering.
- 6
Fry the breaded cutlets for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy, then transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- 7
Place the crispy fried schnitzels on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- 8
Spoon about two tablespoons of marinara sauce onto the center of each schnitzel and spread it out slightly, leaving a small border for the crust.
- 9
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese generously over the sauce, then top with mini pepperoni slices if desired.
- 10
Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned at the edges.
- 11
Garnish with fresh basil leaves, let cool for a few minutes, and serve warm.
💡 Chef tips
- For an even easier weeknight meal, you can bake the breaded chicken at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes instead of frying, just spray both sides generously with cooking oil.
- Leftover baked pizza schnitzels can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in a toaster oven to restore crispiness.
✅ How it should turn out
The finished dish features an ultra-crispy golden crust topped with bubbling, melted cheese, savory tomato sauce, and tender, juicy chicken underneath.