Creamy Lemon Pasta with Mayo-Crusted Parmesan Chicken

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts (tenderloins removed and sliced horizontally into thin cutlets)
• 0.25 cup mayonnaise (used as a binder for the crust)
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
• 12 oz Mafalda pasta (or similar ribbon pasta)
• 1 cup heavy cream (for the lemon sauce)
• 1 lemon (juiced and zested)
• fresh basil (for garnish)
• salt and pepper (to taste)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and prepare a baking sheet.

2. 2

   Prepare the chicken by cutting the tenderloin off the back of the breasts. Slice the remaining chicken breast in half horizontally to create thin cutlets.

3. 3

   Brush each piece of chicken thoroughly with a thin layer of mayonnaise.

4. 4

   In a shallow bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese.

5. 5

   Spoon the panko and Parmesan mixture over the chicken, covering it thoroughly and pressing firmly to ensure the coating adheres.

6. 6

   Flip the chicken carefully and repeat the coating process on the other side.

7. 7

   Place the chicken on the baking sheet and bake until golden brown and cooked through, approximately 15-20 minutes.

8. 8

   While the chicken is baking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the Mafalda pasta according to package directions.

9. 9

   Prepare the lemon sauce by combining heavy cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a pan. Simmer over medium heat until slightly thickened.

10. 10

    When flipping or moving the chicken, use tongs to grab it from the side rather than a spatula to avoid disrupting the delicate mayo-based coating.

11. 11

    Toss the cooked pasta with the creamy lemon sauce.

12. 12

    Serve the pasta in bowls, top with the sliced Parmesan chicken, and garnish with fresh basil.

Notes

The mayonnaise coating is more delicate than a traditional egg and flour dredge, so handle the chicken carefully with tongs. The author notes this method is used for its superior flavor despite the fragile crust.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• pasta
• chicken
• creamy
• lemon
• baked
• summer