Walnut Crusted Chicken

Walnut Crusted Chicken is a healthier alternative to your typical fried chicken. This rosemary chicken recipe is packed full of flavor and crunch! The whole family will fall in love with this Walnut Crusted Chicken!

Walnut Crusted Chicken is a crunchy, oven-baked chicken with a zesty yogurt dipping sauce. Perfect for those craving crispy chicken cutlets, but without the fat.

A few weeks back, California Walnuts sent me a little note asking if I’d like to try their product and, of course, I accepted because I love walnuts! One interesting fact I learned before my burlap bag of walnuts arrived was that they actually stay fresh longer when refrigerated. I had no idea!

How many walnuts have sat on my pantry shelves in plastic baggies that may not have lived up to their full potential? Who knows!?

Walnuts are also rich with omega-3 fatty acids and have been linked to better brain functioning and lower risks of a variety of cancers.

Super simple to incorporate into any diet, they can be used in baked goods, tossed into salads or eaten plain by the handful! I had some fun perusing through the California Walnuts website to find other fun recipes and also see how walnuts are harvested.

Walnut Crusted Chicken is a “skinny” version of a classic chicken cutlet. Instead of using breadcrumbs and then pan frying in olive oil and butter, I opted for finely chopped walnuts with whole wheat panko crumbs and fresh rosemary. Then baked to perfection with no additional oils.

Paired together, rosemary and walnuts give the chicken a fresh and earthy flavor combination that no bread crumb will ever achieve. The other benefit is that walnuts do not get soggy, so your chicken will never lose the crunch factor, even if you are eating leftovers.

Although Walnut Crusted Chicken does not need much additional flavor, I added an “aioli” for a little but of intrigue and cream. Instead of using mayonnaise, I opted for plain Greek yogurt mixed with fresh lemon, salt and pepper. Simple and fresh.

Very basic, but very good, and it is great on a whole host of other foods such as roasted or grilled vegetables, turkey burgers and salmon. I even use it as a salad dressing.

More easy chicken recipes:

• Garlic Parmesan Chicken
• Chicken Piccata
• Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

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Walnut Crusted Chicken Recipe

4.64 from 19 votes

Walnut Crusted Chicken is a crunchy, oven-baked chicken with a zesty yogurt dipping sauce. Perfect for those craving crispy chicken cutlets, but without the fat.

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 35 minutes mins

Servings: 4

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Equipment

• Interlinking Dredging Bowls
• Whisk
• Rimmed Baking Sheet
• Parchment Paper
• Box Grater

Ingredients

Walnut Crusted Chicken:

• 4 chicken breasts , boneless and skinless
• 1  3/4 cup walnuts , finely chopped
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs*
• 1/3 cup fresh rosemary , finely chopped
• 2 eggs , lightly beaten
• 1 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• Cooking Spray

Lemon Yogurt Sauce:

• 1  1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt
• 2 teaspoons fresh herbs* , chopped
• Zest of one lemon
• Juice of one lemon
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• Dash of black pepper

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.  
• Cut each chicken breast in half, then place it on a cutting board and cover with plastic wrap or wax paper. Using a meat mallet, tenderize until it is a 1/2 inch thickness.
• Arrange three shallow bowls on the counter. In the first bowl, combine the walnuts, rosemary and panko. In the second bowl, lightly beaten eggs and the third bowl, flour mixed with the fine sea salt and pepper.
• Lightly dredge each breast halve in flour, then egg and finally the walnut mixture. Pat in the walnuts to make sure you get a good, even coat. Place them in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake the chicken for approximately 20 minutes.  For the last 2 minutes, change to a low broil to get a nice brown on top.
• While the chicken is cooking, whisk together the yogurt, herbs, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Chill until ready to serve.
• Remove the chicken from oven and check for an internal temperature of 165°F. The sauce can be served on the side or directly on top of the chicken.
• If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Notes

Fresh herbs can include sage, dill, parsley, thyme, mint or anything else you are growing in the garden. 

Nutrition

Calories: 815 kcal, Carbohydrates: 39 g, Protein: 70 g, Fat: 42 g, Saturated Fat: 5 g, Cholesterol: 230 mg, Sodium: 1249 mg, Potassium: 1261 mg, Fiber: 4 g, Sugar: 4 g, Vitamin A: 250 IU, Vitamin C: 3.9 mg, Calcium: 182 mg, Iron: 4.7 mg

Author: Chef Jessica Anne

Calories: 815

Course: Main Course, Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: oven baked chicken, walnut crusted chicken

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