Garlic Parmesan Chicken

One of the hardest things about cooking is figuring out WHAT to cook! I’m always looking for a new recipe to try. This is one that I’ve added to my rotation – everyone likes it! This chicken is tasty enough for guests and easy enough to prepare quickly.

I’ll admit it – I don’t cook as much as I used to. My children are out of the nest and my husband and I eat simply most days. We also like to pick up food or eat out a couple of times during the week. But I do like to cook and it still feels therapeutic to prepare a home cooked meal.

That doesn’t mean that I always plan though. Plans change quickly sometimes, too. This is one of my “go-to” recipes when I don’t have anything planned. It’s flavorful and the chicken is melt-in-your-mouth tender. It’s also a quick and easy recipe that uses ingredients I usually have in my kitchen.

What you will need:

8 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, flattened or use thinly-sliced chicken breasts
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup Panko bread crumbs (crispier than regular bread crumbs)
Salt and pepper to taste

In a saucepan, over low heat, heat olive oil with minced garlic. Heat long enough to infuse the flavors – do not boil. Mix Panko bread crumbs with the parmesan cheese, salt and pepper in a separate bowl (I use separate pie or dinner plates for the olive oil mixture and the Panko mixture).
Dip chicken into the garlic infused olive oil and roll into bread crumb mixture. Place chicken on a rack (crispy on both sides) or in a 13 x 9 glass baking dish. You can drizzle any leftover olive oil on the chicken. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes or until juices run clear.  The baking time will vary depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts.

Need a great dessert to go with this delicious chicken? We love this  Key Lime Pie .