This lemon panko chicken breast is juicy and delicious on the inside and crispy and airy on the outside. The panko crust is flavored with fresh lemon zest, onion and garlic powder, salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper flakes.
How to prepare the chicken:
To ensure that the chicken breast cooks evenly you have to pound it into an even thickness. To do that, set the chicken on a cutting board or cutting mat, then cover with plastic wrap. Lightly pound the thick end either with a meat mallet or a rolling pin.
How to make the breading and coat the chicken:
See full ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card below!
- Add all seasonings to a plate. Mix well using a fork. (Make sure to get all dry seasonings well combined with the fresh lemon zest. Having the dry seasonings moistened by the zest will help them stick to the panko bread crumbs.)
- Mix panko into the seasonings.
- Dry the chicken breast with paper towels.
- Rub both sides of the chicken with olive oil.
- Press both sides into the panko mix until all of the mix is on the chicken.
- Fry on both sides until golden-brown, then transfer in the pan to the oven. Bake until fully cooked.
Full Recipe
Lemon Panko Chicken
This lemon panko chicken breast is juicy, tender and has a crispy, lemon- and pepper-flavored shell.
Equipment:
Ingredients:
Method:
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Add salt, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, black pepper and lemon zest to a shallow bowl or pie plate.⅛ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder, ⅛ teaspoon onion powder, ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ¾ teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest (you need about ¼ of a large lemon for that)
- Mix with a fork until well combined and all dry seasonings are evenly moistened by the lemon zest.*
- Add the panko and mix in well, using a fork. Set aside.2 tablespoons unseasoned panko bread crumbs
- Set the chicken breast on a cutting board or a cutting mat. Cover with plastic wrap and pound into an even thickness using a meat mallet or a rolling pin.8 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast
- Dry the chicken well using paper towels, then rub with olive oil on both sides.1 teaspoon mild olive oil (to rub on the chicken)
- Press both sides of the oiled chicken breast into the panko mix until all of the mix is on the chicken. Set aside.
- Heat the remaining oil in a cast iron pan until shimmering.1 tablespoon mild olive oil (for frying the chicken)
- Fry the chicken breast on both sides until the panko crust is golden-brown (about 4 minutes on each side).
- Transfer the pan with the chicken into the oven. Bake the chicken until it is fully cooked and reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. (About another 5 minutes, for a ¾-inch thick chicken breast.)
- Transfer the chicken onto a plate and let cool for 3 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with a few drops of lemon juice to taste.
Recipe notes:
*Make sure to get all ingredients well combined with the fresh lemon zest. Having the dry seasonings moistened by the lemon zest will help them stick to the panko bread crumbs.
Did you make this recipe?Please consider leaving a review- THANK YOU!
Nutrition (estimate only):
More recipes with fresh lemon zest:
- Crispy Lemon Roasted Potatoes with Fresh Basil30 Minutes
- Spicy Basil Marinated Shrimp22 Minutes
- Oregano Sauce5 Minutes
Sha says
Oh boy this recipe isn't that good!! The ingredients are great, I love the lemon zest idea but the measurements are all wrong! Only two tablespoons of panko? I ended up using at least 3/4 of a cup and I had to add more of all the rest of the ingredients as well. The ingredient list is great, just add to your liking.
Nicole B. says
Hi Sha,
I'm sorry to hear that this recipe didn't turn out for you! I just tested it again after seeing your comment and all measurements worked perfectly for me. The idea with the small amount of panko is to mop up all of it with the chicken and leave nothing behind (as shown in the photo for step 5). That way you only need 2 tablespoons, in my experience. I'll go into the post and be sure to make that clearer. Anyway, thank you for your feedback, I do appreciate it!
Nicole