Description
Golden, crispy, and packed with bold flavor, this Zesty Lemon Pecorino Crispy Chicken recipe is a dinner dream come true. Juicy pan-fried chicken breasts coated in a cheesy panko crust are topped with a silky lemon cream sauce that balances richness with bright citrus notes. It’s the kind of easy dinner recipe that feels fancy enough for guests, but simple enough for a weeknight dinner. Whether you’re searching for quick dinner ideas, chicken recipes with flavor, or just something new for your easy weeknight meals, this dish has it all—from crisp texture to crave-worthy sauce. It’s one of those food ideas that always lands a spot on my regular rotation.
Ingredients
2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
½ cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
2 teaspoons lemon zest
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 large eggs
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 garlic cloves minced
¾ cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley optional
Instructions
1. Butterfly and pound the chicken breasts to ½ inch thickness. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Set up three bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with a mixture of panko breadcrumbs and Pecorino Romano.
3. Dredge each piece of chicken in flour, then egg, then press into the breadcrumb-cheese mixture until well coated.
4. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and fry for 4–5 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and keep warm.
5. In the same pan, sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds. Add heavy cream, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Simmer 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Spoon the lemon cream sauce over the crispy chicken. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Let the breaded chicken sit for 5–10 minutes before frying—it helps the coating stick better and crisp up beautifully.
Avoid overheating the pan to prevent burning the crust before the chicken cooks through—medium heat is best.
Add lemon juice to the sauce only after the cream has warmed and thickened slightly to prevent curdling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pan-fry
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken portion with sauce
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 730mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 160mg
Keywords: easy dinner, crispy chicken, lemon chicken, pecorino chicken, weeknight meals, chicken breast recipe, comfort food, food ideas