Pecan Crusted Chicken is a quick and easy dinner that is ready in just 40 minutes. Juicy and tender chicken is coated in a crunchy pecan breadcrumb topping, then baked to crispy perfection in the oven (or air fryer!). It's simple, delicious, and flavorful.
Crusted chicken has long been a classic dish, but this pecan chicken will reignite your love for it. This beginner-friendly chicken recipe requires just 10 to 15 minutes of prep which includes seasoning and coating, before popping in to the oven to bake the chicken breast until tender and cooked through. Perfect for busy weeknights!
Why You'll Love this Pecan Crusted Chicken
- Quick and easy. In just 40 minutes you can prepare this restaurant-worthy chicken from scratch and pair it with pasta, salad, soup, or vegetables in many forms.
- Crunchy pecan crust. Forget shake and bake chicken, pecan crusted is where it's at! The crispy panko and pecan crust in this breaded chicken perfectly contrasts the tender, juicy chicken cutlet inside. It’s the perfect combination of textures.
- It’s a great main dish for all occasions. Quick dinner with the kids at home? Hosting your closest friends for an elegant dinner party? This pecan chicken has you covered for both — and everything in-between.
- Tangy honey mustard sauce. This chicken with pecan crust can be served alongside a simple, three-ingredient honey mustard sauce that you can memorize and use over and over for all your dipping needs.
Ingredient Notes
To make this delicious Pecan Crusted Chicken, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- chicken cutlets - you can buy cutlets in the poultry aisle or cut them yourself from chicken breast by slicing them in half lengthwise.
- mayonnaise
- pecans - if you swap out the pecans for a similar nut (like walnuts or pistachios) it won’t technically be pecan chicken, but the taste and texture will be similar.
- panko breadcrumbs - these can be substituted with regular breadcrumbs or a gluten-free version to make this recipe friendly to families with Celiac.
- garlic powder - garlic and paprika powders are classic to this dish, but feel free to mix things up by adding your favorite spice blend in place (or in addition to) the simple seasonings listed here.
- paprika
- salt and pepper
- honey mustard sauce - this is optional, for serving. You can use store-bought or homemade. For homemade, you’ll need:
- mayonnaise - or substitute with yogurt. If you use yogurt, make sure it’s plain or unflavored. Greek or regular will work.
- dijon mustard - you can also try stone-ground or brown mustard in place of the dijon called for in the recipe.
- honey - this could be swapped for maple syrup if you have an aversion to honey.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, blender or food processor, shallow plates, and large half sheet baking pan.
How to Make the Best Pecan Crusted Chicken
- Prepare chicken. Use a paper towel to pat the chicken cutlets completely dry. Season on both sides evenly with salt. In a large ziploc bag or shallow plate, evenly coat the chicken with mayonnaise. Set aside for 5 minutes.
- Make pecan coating. In a blender or food processor, add pecans, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix until evenly combined and pecans resemble fine crumbs.
- Coat the chicken. Transfer the crumb mixture onto a shallow plate and press the mayo-coated chicken into the crumbs and coat them evenly.
- Bake. Line a large half sheet baking pan with parchment paper. Place the crusted chicken on the prepared pan and bake in a 425F preheated oven until the crust becomes golden brown and chicken is fully cooked through, about 22-25 minutes. Flip once halfway to ensure the chicken is cooked evenly on both sides.
- Serve. Serve warm with honey mustard sauce (optional) or mayo on the side or drizzled over the chicken. To make the honey mustard dipping sauce, whisk together mayonnaise, dijon mustard and honey in a small bowl until smooth.
How to Cook Chicken in the Air Fryer
You can also cook pecan crusted chicken in the air fryer.
Transfer the coated chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket and spray with cooking oil spray. Cook at 350F for 15 minutes until fully cooked through and the breading turns golden brown. The internal temperature for the chicken should reach 165F as read on a meat thermometer.
How to Serve
Pecan Crusted Chicken is delicious served on its own, with a drizzle of honey mustard sauce or mayo, or paired with some delicious sides. Roasted or steamed seasonal vegetables are always a great companion to chicken.
Some of my favorite sides for chicken include:
- Green Beans Almondine
- Sweet Kale Salad
- Crispy Smashed Potatoes
- Air Fryer Vegetables
- Cheesy Potato Soup
- Microwave Steamed Broccoli
Find more in our collection of 25 Side Dishes for Chicken.
You can also slice up the chicken and add it on top of salads and pastas.
Storage and Freezing Instructions
How to Store
Transfer leftover pecan crusted chicken to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Use the leftovers within 4 days.
How to Freeze
Place leftover cooked chicken in a freezer bag or another freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating, or defrost in the microwave according to the appliance’s instructions.
How to Reheat
Reheat coated chicken in the oven at 375F for 10 minutes until warm and crispy, or in the air fryer for about 5-7 minutes at the same temperature.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Mise en place. That’s just a fancy term for preparing everything ahead of time — making sure your ingredients are measured out, chopped, peeled, etcetera before beginning the cooking process. This will help reduce the possibility of cross contamination and make the cooking process much smoother and more efficient.
- Use a meat thermometer. When cooking chicken (or any kind of meat, for that matter), using a meat thermometer can take the guesswork out of making sure it’s cooked properly, reducing the risk of contracting an illness. The chicken is cooked once it reaches 165F.
More Chicken Breast Recipes
- 50 Best Chicken Breast Recipes
- Parmesan Crusted Chicken
- Oven Baked Chicken Breast
- Stuffed Chicken Breasts
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Mexican Chicken Breast
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Pecan Crusted Chicken
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings
Description
Pecan Crusted Chicken is a simple, delicious, and flavorful, quick and easy dinner ready in 40 minutes that can be baked in the oven or air fryer.
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 6 chicken cutlets, boneless and skinless (about 1 ½ pounds)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
For the crust:
- 1 cup pecans
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
For the honey mustard sauce (optional):
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425F. Line a large half sheet baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Use a paper towel to pat the chicken cutlets completely dry. Season on both sides evenly with salt.
- In a large ziploc bag or shallow plate, evenly coat the chicken with mayonnaise. Set aside for 5 minutes.
- In a blender or food processor, add pecans, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix until evenly combined and pecans resemble fine crumbs.
- Transfer the crumb mixture onto a shallow plate and press the mayo-coated chicken into the crumbs and coat them evenly.
- Place the crusted chicken on the prepared baking sheet and bake until the crust becomes golden brown and chicken is fully cooked through, about 22-25 minutes. Flip once halfway to ensure the chicken is cooked evenly on both sides.
- Serve warm with honey mustard sauce (optional) or mayo on the side or drizzled over the chicken. To make the honey mustard dipping sauce, whisk together mayonnaise, dijon mustard and honey in a small bowl until smooth.
Notes
How to store: Transfer leftover pecan crusted chicken to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Use the leftovers within 4 days.
How to freeze: Place leftover cooked chicken in a freezer bag or another freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating, or defrost in the microwave according to the appliance’s instructions.
How to reheat: Reheat coated chicken in the oven at 375F for 10 minutes until warm and crispy, or in the air fryer for about 5-7 minutes at the same temperature.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: pecan crusted chicken, chicken with pecan coating, pecan chicken, breaded chicken
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