Description
Savory Romano chicken with lemon garlic pasta brings classic Italian flavors to home kitchens. Crispy herb-crusted chicken nestles over silky noodles, delivering robust Mediterranean comfort perfect for weeknight dinners and weekend entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ lb (226 g) chicken breasts, butterflied or thinly cut into cutlets
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup finely grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
- ½ lb (226 g) linguine, spaghetti, or other pasta
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps cold butter, divided
- 2–3 tbsps whipping cream
- 1 egg, beaten
- Juice from 1 lemon
- Zest from ¼ lemon
- Olive oil and sunflower oil combination for frying
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Dry parsley, to taste
Instructions
- Cheese Station Prep: Arrange three shallow dishes – one with grated Romano cheese, another with whisked egg and parsley, and the final with panko breadcrumbs.
- Chicken Coating: Season chicken cutlets, then methodically layer each piece by first coating in cheese, submerging in egg mixture, and finally encrusting with panko crumbs, ensuring comprehensive coverage and pressing gently to create a uniform crispy shell.
- Pan Searing: Warm oil in skillet over medium-low heat, strategically positioning breaded cutlets with adequate spacing, cooking until exterior turns golden-brown and interior reaches perfect doneness, rotating once midway through cooking process.
- Pasta Preparation: Cook pasta according to package instructions, reserving starchy cooking liquid before draining, then set aside.
- Sauce Creation: In separate skillet, combine lemon juice, garlic, zest, salt, and pepper, reducing liquid until slightly concentrated, then gradually incorporate cold butter while continuously stirring, introducing whipping cream and reserved pasta water to develop a smooth, luxurious sauce.
- Final Assembly: Thoroughly coat pasta with lemon-garlic sauce, plate by creating a pasta foundation and crowning with crispy Romano chicken cutlets, ready to serve.
Notes
- Cheese Coating Technique: Press grated Romano cheese firmly onto chicken to create a robust, flavorful crust that locks in moisture and adds rich, salty depth.
- Breadcrumb Press Method: Gently but firmly press panko crumbs into chicken surface to ensure maximum crispiness and even golden-brown coverage.
- Sauce Emulsification Tip: Whisk cold butter gradually into sauce to create a smooth, velvety texture that prevents separation and enhances flavor complexity.
- Pasta Water Magic: Reserve starchy pasta water to help sauce cling perfectly to noodles, adding silky consistency and helping ingredients bind together seamlessly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg