Nut Crusted Chicken with Lemon and Thyme
This Nut Crusted Chicken is made with chicken breasts coated in a toasty pecan panko mixture and baked in the oven until crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. It's made with a few simple ingredients for an elegant yet simple weeknight meal that goes with any of your favorite sides.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- salt
- 1 cup pecans
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 shallot (minced)
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 lemon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (minced)
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3 eggs
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- Process nuts in food processor until they resemble coarse meal. Heat butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Cook, swirling pan constantly, until butter turns golden brown and has a nutty aroma, 4-5 minutes.
- Add shallot and ½ teaspoon salt. Cook stirring constantly until just slightly brown, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, add panko and ground nuts. Cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown, 10-12 minutes. Transfer to pie plate and stir in lemon zest, thyme and cayenne.
- Lightly beat eggs, mustard and black pepper together in second pie plate. Place flour in third pie plate.
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Working with one piece at a time, dredge the chicken in flour, shaking off excess, then coat with egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off. Coat all sides of chicken with panko mixture, pressing gently so that the crumbs stick to the chicken. Transfer to a clean wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet.
- Bake until thermometer registers 160º, 20-25 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Barbara's Notes + Tips
- For the most tender chicken, soak it in buttermilk for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
- If the chicken breasts are thick, pound them so that they are about ¼ inch thick.
Nutrition
Calories: 467kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 370mg | Potassium: 570mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 447IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 2mg
