Pork Chops Milanese

Pork chops Milanese are essentially pork cutlets that are egg battered, coated with seasoned breadcrumbs, and fried until golden and crisp on the outside and incredibly tender and moist on the inside.  These chops are wonderful served with a simple arugula salad and a squeeze of lemon but can be dressed up any way you want!

Pork chops Milanese are proof that good food does not need to be complicated.

There is really nothing fancy about these Italian fried pork chops but they are still so good; tender and juicy on the inside, while golden and crisp on the outside.

Much like chicken cutlets, pork Milanese is wonderful served with a squeeze of lemon and a simple salad of arugula and shaved Parmigiano Reggiano.

We also love these chops served with a spicy arrabbiata sauce or with cherry peppers and a drizzle of vinegar, as you see in our YouTube video.

How to make it

Each number corresponds to the numbered written steps below.

1. Mix 1 1/4 cups of plain bread crumbs with 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, 3 tablespoons of minced flat-leaf parsley, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, and 3 tablespoons of grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and set aside.

2. Heat 1 1/2 cups of olive or vegetable oil  (or enough to fill the pan 1/2-inch high) in a large frying pan to 360f. Using a meat tenderizer (the sharp side of a meat mallet), lightly pound four center-cut bone-in pork chops (roughly 5 hits per side). Pat the pork chops with a paper towel until very dry.
3. Season both sides of the pork chops with salt and pepper.

4. Assemble your breading station with a 1/2 cup of flour, 2 large beaten eggs, and the seasoned breadcrumbs.  Begin by dredging the chop in the flour and shake off any excess. 
5. Coat the pork chop in the eggs until covered on both sides and allow any excess to drip back into the bowl.

6. Coat the egg-covered chop in the seasoned breadcrumbs on both sides and place it on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
7. Repeat the process for each pork chop. Note: Any remaining flour or breadcrumbs should be discarded and not reused.  If you want to make use of it right now, cut up some veggies and fry them as well.

8. Once the oil has reached 360f, begin frying the pork chops.  You may need to work in batches if your chops don’t fit in the pan without overcrowding.  Note:  I am using a 14-inch cast iron pan and was able to fit all of the chops in one batch.
9. Fry the pork chops until golden and cooked through (about 4 minutes per side). The internal temperature of the cooked chops should be 145f. Using a meat thermometer will ensure accurate results.

10. Place the chops on a wire rack or paper towel-lined plates to allow any excess oil to drain.  Serve with lemon wedges and an arugula salad (as shown) or any way you’d like!  Enjoy!

Top tips for pork chops Milanese

• The pork.  We recommend using bone-in center-cut pork chops that have been thinly sliced.  Alternatively, you can use boneless pork chops.  We have found that the bone-in chops are juicier than the boneless ones.  We also recommend taking the time to tenderize and lightly pound the chops as doing so yields a superior cutlet.
• Frying the chops. Be cautious to not burn the chops while frying.  We recommend using an oil thermometer to ensure your oil is at the right temp (360-370f). If you think there is any chance the chops are burning on the outside while not fully cooked on the inside, remove them from the oil and finish them in the oven at 350f until an internal temp of 145 is reached. Also, be sure to not overcrowd the pan when frying.  Depending on the size of your frying pan,  you may need to work in batches.
• How to serve pork Milanese. We’ve provided the recipe for a simple arugula salad below, but the possibilities are endless for these fried pork chops!  You can top with tomato and fresh mozzarella similar to our chicken Milanese.  In the attached  YouTube video, Jim demonstrates how to serve these with a quick arrabbiata sauce, and also with cherry peppers and vinegar. These would also be great with a side of rice or pasta!

More great pork recipes

If you are a fan of Milanese-style pork chops, we think you’ll love these other Italian pork recipes!

• Grilled pork chops – with rosemary and a simple marinade.
• Vinegar pepper pork chops – braised chops with garlic and cherry peppers.
• Porchetta roast – the ultimate pork meal with orange, fennel, and pignoli.

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