Pecan Crusted Chicken With Honey Mustard Sauce Wellplated Com

This baked chicken breast recipe has elements of an elegant meal—toasty, crunchy pecan crust; juicy, meaty interior; creamy sauce you can plate alongside it—yet requires less than a half-hour of active effort. It also feels fancy, without being too fancy. At the risk of giving myself away here, it’s essentially a grown-up version of my Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders. Translation: kids of all ages (and kids at heart) will love it! I started cooking pecan crusted chicken when Ben was in law school. We both loved our evenings out but didn’t have the budget to make it a regular event. A newer cook who had dining-out tastes on a dining-in budget, I sought recipes that were affordable and easy to make, but still tasted special. This pecan crusted chicken was a fast favorite and, all these years later, it is still a staple on our menu. Similar to this Baked Chicken Parmesan and Baked Fried Chicken, the golden, crispy exterior and tender, moist interior reminds me of a meal you’d order out, but it’s lightened up significantly and surprisingly simple to prepare.

How to Make Pecan Crusted Chicken

Breading the chicken does take a few extra steps, but it’s not hard to do and is 100% worth it. This recipe is quick enough for a fast weeknight dinner, but elegant enough for a leveled-up evening in.

The Ingredients

Chicken Breast. Lean, protein-packed chicken breast is incredibly nutritious and versatile. Coating it in the pecan breading makes it feel special and will certainly please everyone at your table. Eggs. Eggs help the breading stick to the chicken breasts. Pecans. Crunchy, toasty, nutty goodness that tastes wonderful with chicken. Plus, pecans are packed with healthy fats, protein, and fiber. Panko. Panko is extra coarse, crunchy breadcrumbs, and I love the texture it adds to the breading.

Basil + Salt + Pepper. Dried basil, salt, and black pepper pep up the pecan mixture.

The Directions

Storage Tips

To Store. Refrigerate the chicken in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days. To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F. To Freeze. Freeze chicken in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Baking Sheet. A must-have in every kitchen. Food Processor. Perfect for chopping up the pecans. Non-Slip Cutting Board. This cutting board won’t slip away from you during prep.

While pecan crusted chicken with mayonnaise might be the standard, I skipped it here in favor of Greek yogurt, which (unlike mayo) is low calorie and high in protein.Feel free to use the honey mustard sauce suggested here, swap one of your own favorite dips, or enjoy the baked pecan chicken all on its own.

^^This twist is especially delicious with a drizzle of honey.