The best sides for Pork Schnitzel are Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage, Chive and Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Bratkartoffeln, Stuffed Butternut Squash, and Klosse.
Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage -
Let's start with a classic German side dish- sweet and sour red cabbage.
For a lighter option, try Klosse. Klosse -
This side dish is for those times when you have many hungry guests.
There might not be a lot of pork dishes as popular as schnitzel.
It is a typical Austrian and traditional German cuisine consisting of seasoned and breaded pork cutlet fried until crispy.
It is delicious, whether you want to serve it as an appetizer, side, or main course.
But if you're serving it as the main dish, you'd want to couple it with a side dish to enhance and complement its flavors.
Below are some great side dish recommendations that you'd want to try.
10 Traditional Sides for Pork Schnitzel
1 - Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage
Let's start with a classic German side dish- sweet and sour red cabbage.
This bright violet dish called rotkohl is as tasty as it looks.
Sweet and sour red cabbage works as an excellent side dish for many main courses, including pork schnitzel.
Both is it healthy, but it also enhances the meat's flavors and lets you enjoy a filling meal.
The recipe contains red cabbage, sugar, apples, red wine vinegar, and cloves.
It is a staple in German cuisine, so you might as well whip up a bowl and serve it to your guests if you're serving pork schnitzel.
For a similarly tangy pairing, try sweet and sour meatball side ideas that echo the cabbage's flavors.
2 - Chive and Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
Who doesn't love mashed potatoes? But you don't have to serve them plain if you're having important guests coming over for dinner.
Try chive and sour cream mashed potatoes to impress the right people.
Adding chives and sour cream to your mashed potatoes gives a bright yet subtle tangy flavor.
The sour cream also makes the dish even creamier.
The other ingredients are butter, milk, garlic, salt, and pepper.
This side dish is incredibly filling.
And we know we don't need to assure you about how well potatoes and pork go.
If serving varied mains, look at sweet and sour chicken side ideas for complementary tangy sides.
3 - Bratkartoffeln
Another potato dish that's sure to make your guests happy is bratkartoffeln.
Relax. It's just a German name for fried potatoes.
You'd be surprised by how quick and easy the recipe is.
The dish consists of sliced cooked or raw potatoes fried in butter, vegetable oil, or lard.
Other common ingredients include onion and bacon slices.
Salt and pepper are mandatory for seasoning, but you can also use marjoram, caraway, garlic, and rosemary.
Bratkartoffeln looks and tastes great alongside pork schnitzel.
You can make it even better by adding a creamy dip.
4 - Stuffed Butternut Squash
Perfect for fall, stuffed butternut squash is a decadent side dish to pair with pork schnitzel.
It is cozy, heart-warming, and incredibly delicious alongside pork.
You can make any ordinary day special with stuffed butternut squash- it is a crowd-pleaser.
The ingredients needed are butternut squash, onion, olive oil/butter, flour, garlic cloves, cream, milk, parmesan, mozzarella, and salt & pepper.
The best thing about this side dish is that you can prepare it a day in advance.
Cover it with foil and keep it in the fridge, and you can enjoy the side dish like you just prepared it.
For another stuffed side option, see stuffed mushroom side pairings that suit autumn menus.
5 - Klosse
This side dish is for those times when you have many hungry guests.
Klosse is a typical dish in East and Central European cuisine.
It consists of grated potatoes, potato starch, and eggs.
Also called potato dumplings, klosse is an excellent side dish for pork schnitzel because it can absorb the main dish's sauce perfectly.
It also has mild yet decadent flavors that go with the schnitzel and do not overpower it.
For this side dish, you'll need pantry-friendly ingredients like potatoes, eggs, butter, breadcrumbs, ground nutmeg, and potato starch.
You can use parsley and black pepper for garnish.
6 - Easy Rice Pilaf
One of the easiest dishes to round up your meal beautifully is rice pilaf.
You can make it in advance, so there's more time for you and your guests to spend.
However, it takes only around 20 minutes to cook and goes well with pork schnitzel.
So, you won't need to worry about standing too long in the kitchen, even when you start cooking late.
As you might already know, rice pilaf calls for rice, broth or stock, meat, veggies, spices, and dried fruits.
It is one of the side dishes that let you experiment with different ingredients and flavors.
For rice-forward alternatives, browse chicken fried rice side suggestions with complementary flavors.
7 - Pasta al Pomodoro
Are you craving pasta? Go for pasta al pomodoro as it tastes surreal with pork schnitzel.
Pasta al pomodoro uses basic ingredients.
It is a combination of parmesan cheese, tomato sauce, and fresh basil.
Since this Italian dish is intended to be light, it works best as a side dish.
Ensure not to overcook the pasta if you want to create a striking presentation of the side dish.
You can use spaghetti, angel hair, bucatini, or fettucini.
We recommend using high-quality ingredients as there are only a few of them.
San Marzano tomatoes are best for this recipe.
Use them instead of other canned tomatoes if you want to get the best flavors for the sauce.
If light pasta is preferred, also consider Greek pasta salad side ideas that bring bright acidity.
8 - Gurkensalat
Need a quick salad that's more summery and refreshing? Gurkensalat might do the trick.
Gurkensalat is a cool cucumber salad tossed in a dressing made from chopped dill, chives, dried onion, olive oil, sugar, white vinegar, black pepper, and salt.
Remember to salt the cucumber and let it sit for 30 minutes to drain excess water.
This easy side dish is best for hot days, so you can make them for your barbecue or cookouts.
9 - Honey Roasted Carrots
Baked or roasted honey carrots are another excellent side dish option for pork schnitzel.
Since carrots are full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, they make a great pair with protein- and fat-rich food items like pork.
Slice large carrots in halves or fours, drizzle olive oil over them, and roast until tender.
Glaze honey and simple spices for that extra flavor.
You'll love this one if you want to ensure that your side dish gets some attention on the table without overpowering the main course.
To play up sweet-heat notes, check honey sriracha chicken side ideas for similar glazing techniques.
10 - Hasselback Potatoes
Serve this classic Austrian side dish with your pork schnitzel.
The dish preparation includes making several vertical cuts on the potatoes, but all the way through.
Smear vegetable oil, bashed garlic cloves, rosemary sprigs, and sea salt flakes between the cuts, and bake the potatoes at 200 degrees.
The result is a crisp exterior full of flavor of all the condiments used earlier.
Hasselback potatoes are a classic when it comes to serving side dishes for pork schnitzel.
Since they are quick and easy to make, they are popular among households that serve pork schnitzel occasionally.
So, you might want to try, too, this time if you plan to serve pork schnitzel for dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage Let's start with a classic German side dish- sweet and sour red cabbage. Chive and Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes Who doesn't love mashed potatoes?
Most home cooks pick this because it adds contrast and rounds out the meal.
Look for sides with brightness or acidity to cut through richness. This side dish brings the right contrast.
A squeeze of citrus or a vinegar-dressed salad achieves a similar effect if you want something lighter.
A good side dish either contrasts or goes with the dominant flavor. If the main is rich and savory, something with acidity or crunch balances the plate without competing.
Can side dishes be swapped based on dietary needs?
Yes.
Most classic pairings have easy swaps - substitute roasted vegetables for grain sides, or use cauliflower rice instead of regular rice for a lower-carb option.
For other pork pairings, see pork and sauerkraut side pairings and teriyaki pork tenderloin side ideas.