Air Fryer Pretzel Chicken Schnitzel

Chicken schnitzel, the classic Austrian chicken dish, is traditionally made of thin slices of chicken breast breaded in white bread crumbs and fried in oil. For a more nutrient dense alternative, bread the meat in a whole-grain spelt pretzel crumbs instead of bread crumbs. Added bonus: Cooking the cutlets 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 breasts
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup low-fat buttermilk, divided
• 2 oz. spelt pretzel sticks (or whole-wheat pretzels)
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 cups green cabbage, thinly sliced
• 1 medium tart green apple, cored and julienned
• 1 small fennel bulb, thinly sliced

Directions
Preheat the air fryer to 390°F (200°C) and coat the fry basket with cooking spray. 

Cut each chicken breast in half horizontally into two thin cutlets, about 1/4–1/2 inch thick, then season all over with black pepper and salt. 

Place the flour on a large plate. In a shallow bowl, beat the egg with 3 tbsp of the buttermilk. Finely crush the pretzels in a food processor or with a rolling pin in a zip-top bag and place 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.

Arrange two cutlets in the air fryer and cook for 6 minutes. Flip and continue cooking for about 6 more minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining cutlets. 

While the chicken cooks, prepare the slaw by whisking together the remaining 1 tbsp buttermilk, mayonnaise, and vinegar in a large bowl. Add the cabbage, apple, and fennel and toss to coat. Serve the chicken schnitzels with the 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: 11g; Protein: 26g

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin D: 3%; Calcium: 9%; Iron: 12%; Potassium: 762mg; Vitamin A: 12%; Vitamin C: 43%

Originally published January 10, 2021; Updated March 2026