Source: https://verify-veg.com/blog/is-schnitzel-vegetarian/
Language: en

# Is Schnitzel Vegetarian? (It's Breaded Meat)

Schnitzel is a pounded, breaded, fried cutlet, and the cutlet is meat. The breading contains egg
too, which is why even the coating is not vegan. Here is what makes it non-vegetarian, and the
swaps.

> **Key Takeaways**
> - Schnitzel is not vegetarian: it is a thin cutlet of veal, pork or chicken.
> - The breading contains egg, so the coating is not vegan either.
> - A vegetarian "schnitzel" uses breaded cheese, mushroom or plant cutlet.
> - A vegan version needs egg-free breading and a plant cutlet.

**TL;DR: Schnitzel is not vegetarian**: it's a thin cutlet of veal (Wiener schnitzel), pork or
chicken, breaded and fried. A vegetarian "schnitzel" (breaded cheese, mushroom or plant cutlet)
is a common substitute.

## What schnitzel is

Schnitzel is a pounded **meat cutlet** coated in flour, egg and breadcrumbs, then pan-fried. The
coating contains **egg**, and the cutlet itself is meat: so it's neither vegetarian nor vegan.

- **Wiener Schnitzel**: veal (Austria).
- **Schnitzel / Jägerschnitzel**: pork or chicken (Germany).

## The vegetarian version

"Vegetarisches Schnitzel" replaces the meat with breaded **cheese, mushroom, eggplant, soy or
seitan**. For a **vegan** version, the egg in the breading is replaced with plant milk or starch.

## The bottom line

- **Vegetarian?** No for meat schnitzel: order a breaded cheese/veg cutlet.
- **Vegan?** Only a plant-based cutlet with egg-free breading.

See our [Schnitzel dish guide](/food/germany/schnitzel/) for the full breakdown.

**Check before you eat.** The Verify Veg app scans a barcode or reads an ingredient list from a
photo and flags ingredients against your diet (vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher, Jain and more).
[Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verifyveg-vegan-scanner/id6758276834) - 
Android is coming soon.

*Written by Samir Narain, founder of Verify Veg. Verify Veg helps people check packaged food
against their diet by scanning barcodes and reading ingredient lists from photos.*

*Note: Verify Veg provides ingredient-based compatibility checks, not certification. Recipes and
preparations vary by restaurant, region and cook, so always confirm with the restaurant, brand or vendor.*