Air Fryer Pork Milanese is a crispy, golden breaded pork cutlet that looks and tastes like something from a restaurant, but comes together in under 20 minutes on a weeknight. Serve with a squeeze of lemon juice over the top and a simple salad on the side.
I’ve been making breaded cutlets in the air fryer for a while now, and the technique is one of my favorites. I started with Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets and quickly realized the same flour-egg-panko method works just as well on thin pieces pork. We throw in some grated Parmesan in the breading for extra flavor as well.
These have that satisfying crunch you’d expect from a pan-fried cutlet, but without the splatter and work of standing over a hot stove. Serve them with a squeeze of lemon and a simple salad and it feels like a fancy dinner even on a busy week.
3 Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
Crispy crust, no pan frying. The air fryer circulates hot air all around the breaded cutlet, so you get that golden, crunchy coating on every bite without a greasy stovetop to deal with afterward.
Done in under 30 minutes. Pounding, breading, and air frying happens fast. This is a legit weeknight dinner that also happens to feel a little fancy.
Easy to customize. The same technique works great on chicken, and you can swap the seasonings to fit whatever you’re in the mood for. Once you know the method, you’ll use it on repeat.
Ingredient Notes:
Thin boneless pork loin chops are readily available and already quite thing. Once you’re ready to cook, you’ll pound them to about 1/4 inch thick. The thinner the chop, the crispier the exterior gets before the inside overcooks. If you can only find thicker chops, just spend a little extra time with the meat mallet.
The breading is made up of flour, egg, and a mixture of panko and grated parmesan. Very simple, but very effective.
Lemon for serving is optional but also a favorite addition of mine. A squeeze right before eating brightens everything up and cuts through the richness of the breading. Have wedges ready on the plate or just give it a little squeeze before serving.
Step by Step:
Place the pork chops between two sheets of plastic wrap or in a zip-top bag and pound them out to about 1/4 inch thick using a meat mallet or the bottom of a heavy skillet. Even thickness means even cooking.
Season the pork chops with the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and salt. Make sure to coat both sides in the seasoning.
Dip each pork chop first in flour, then egg wash, then panko. Make sure you press the pork into the panko to make it stick and really coat everything.
Spray liberally with oil spray and then arrange in a sinlge layer in your air fryer basket. Air fry at 400 degrees for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Serving:
My favorite way to serve these is with a simple arugula salad: toss arugula with halved cherry tomatoes, a little shaved Parmesan, fresh lemon juice, and a drizzle of olive oil. It’s light and bright alongside what is essentially a fried pork chop, and it balances the whole plate really well.
Air fryer red potatoes or air fryer fries are a natural side if you want something more filling. A simple pasta with olive oil and garlic also works great and keeps the Italian theme going.
For a more casual dinner, slice the cutlets and serve them over a bed of greens as a salad topping. The crispy breading holds up well enough that it doesn’t go soggy too quickly.
Storage:
Store leftover pork Milanese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat in the air fryer at 375 degrees for 3 to 4 minutes. This brings the breading back to crispy and heats the pork through without drying it out. The microwave works in a pinch but you’ll lose the crunch.
Freezing is not recommended once the chops are cooked and breaded, as the coating tends to get soggy after thawing.
More Air Fryer Pork Recipes You’ll Love!
- Air Fryer Boneless Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Breaded Pork Chops
- Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
- Air Fryer Shake and Bake Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
Air Fryer Pork Milanese
Ingredients
- 4 thin boneless pork loin chops
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup seasoned panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated parmesan
- 1 Lemon for serving
Instructions
- Pound the pork chops out to an even thickness, about ¼ inch thick.
- Stir together the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and salt. Season both sides of the pork chops with the spices.
- Add the flour to a shallow dish. Crack the eggs into a second shallow dish and whisk well until smooth. Add the panko and Parmesan to a third shallow dish.
- Dip the pork chops first into the flour, then the egg, and then the panko pressing the pork chop in to make sure everything adheres nicely and fully coats the pork chop.
- Spritz each side of the pork chops with oil spray, making sure to fully coat the breading so you don’t have any dry spots, and arrange in a single layer in your air fryer basket. You may need to work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Air fry at 400 degrees for 4 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy. The internal temperature of the pork should be between 145 and 150 degrees.
- Squeeze a bit of lemon over the top and serve hot.
Notes
Nutrition
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