Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Golden, crispy and juicy, this parmesan crusted chicken is kissed with a hint of lemon and garlic, and is the perfect healthy and easy meal!

Parmesan Crusted Chicken, So Crispy, Golden and Delicious!

Chicken is one of my favorite proteins, and probably the one that I cook with most often; it's so versatile, easy to prepare and inexpensive. I even adore the rustic deliciousness of a whole roasted chicken served with nothing more than perhaps a good loaf of bread and some white wine!

But parmesan crusted chicken is one of my absolute favorite ways to prepare it, lightly breaded and seared until crispy and golden in just a touch of olive oil. It's super simple, succulent, and flavorful—the perfect savory chicken dish.

When served with a sprinkle of fresh greens dressed simply with some lemon juice, olive oil and sea salt, this parmesan crusted chicken recipe makes for a wonderfully light and healthy complete meal!

For Extra Flavorful Parmesan Crusted Chicken, Reach for These Ingredients

I'll let you in on one of my personal secrets when it comes to preparing this particular recipe: I always reach for good olive oil, fresh lemon and garlic, and a hefty sprinkle of salt and pepper to boost the flavor. Actually, those three simple ingredients add a lot in terms of flavor when it comes to any chicken dish.

The touch of lemon juice tenderizes the chicken, the garlic makes it nice and savory, and the touch of olive oil makes it perfectly rich. I'll often throw in a combination of dried herbs as well.

For the crispy coating, I like the extra crunch that panko breadcrumbs offer. So I use the panko in combination with grated parmesan cheese, the key flavor component that helps to create that appealing, golden outer crust.

And for this recipe, I don't use the typical “dredging” method that calls for flour and eggs. I simply press the cutlets directly into the coating mixture.

So the list of ingredients for this tasty recipe is super short and simple.

Winner, winner, parmesan crusted chicken dinner! 😉

How to Make Parmesan Crusted Chicken

My steps for this delicious and healthy chicken recipe are quite simple...

Here's a quick overview:

1. I marinate my chicken breast cutlets in the olive oil, lemon zest and its juice, garlic, and salt and pepper for 20 minutes.
2. My panko breadcrumbs get mixed in with my grated parmesan in a large bowl, and I press each chicken cutlet firmly into the mixture to coat every piece well.
3. Once the chicken is coated, I heat some olive oil in a shallow non-stick pan and sear each cutlet for about 3 minutes per side, or until golden-brown, crispy and cooked through.
4. I serve the chicken on a platter topped with some lemon slices and either arugula greens, watercress, or julienned kale greens tossed with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper, and even some quartered cherry tomatoes and shaved parmesan for color.

(The full recipe is below...)

Tips & Tidbits for Parmesan Crusted Chicken:

• Skinless, boneless chicken breasts sliced into cutlets: I use four, skinless, boneless chicken breasts for this recipe. And because I like my cutlets nice and thin for quick cooking, I slice them in half length-wise to create 8 thinner cutlets. This keeps the cook time to roughly 3 minutes per side.
• Marination is your friend: I recommend that you marinate the chicken in the olive oil, lemon and garlic for at least 20 minutes, even for a few hours if you can. This helps to impart more flavor and juiciness!
• Choice of breadcrumbs: I love the crisp crunch that panko breadcrumbs offer; and in combination with the parmesan, they're really tasty! But feel free to use traditional breadcrumbs, or even your favorite seasoned crumbs.
• Fresh grated parmesan: The flavor of the more freshly grated parmesan that you find in the refrigerated section of the market is what I prefer to use here, but you can also use any kind of grated parmesan you have on hand.
• Good oil for searing: I use a light olive oil for the shallow searing here. You can also use avocado oil, or safflower oil, or even vegetable oil.
• Healthy greens: If you'd like to serve some greens with this recipe, arugula is great. Watercress, julienned kale, rainbow chard, or even mixed greens are good as well. Just dress the greens with some lemon, oil, and shaved parmesan for extra flavor.
• Non-stick pan: It’s best to use a non-stick pan for this recipe, otherwise the light coating may be more prone to stick to the bottom.

Feast your eyes on these, or just jump to the recipe:

Recipe

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

by Ingrid Beer

Print Recipe

Crispy, golden and deliciously juicy, this parmesan crusted chicken is first marinated in lemon, garlic and olive oil for a touch of extra savory flavor.

Category: Entree
Cuisine: American

Yield: Serves 4

Nutrition Info: 396 calories (per two cutlets)

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut in half length-wise to create 8 thinner cutlets
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
• ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
• Olive oil (or even avocado oil), for searing
• Lemon slices or wedges, optional
• Greens to serve on the side, optional
• Shaved parmesan, optional

Preparation:

-Marinate the chicken breast cutlets in a large bowl with all of the ingredients up to and including the black pepper, and set aside for about 20 minutes to marinate.

-In a large bowl, mix together the parmesan cheese with the panko breadcrumbs, and lightly dredge each cutlet by firmly pressing it into the mixture; hold on a plate.

-Once all cutlets are lightly dredged, place large, non-stick pan over medium-high heat, and add a few drizzles of oil to coat the bottom of the pan, about ¼ cup.

-Once the oil is hot, work in batches searing the chicken, allowing the cutlets to become golden-brown on each side, roughly 3 minutes per side; keep the chicken warm until you’re ready to serve it.

-Serve the parmesan crusted chicken (2 cutlets per person) on a platter on its own, or with lemon slices and topped with greens.

Here's a few more of my favorite chicken recipes: braised chicken thighs, arroz con pollo, grilled chicken with tomato-basil salsa, chicken cacciatore, or even a whole roasted chicken.

Cook’s Note: This recipe was originally published in 2012, and has been updated with even more love!