The Perfect Lemon Pecorino Chicken Recipe for Weeknight Magic

Lemon pecorino chicken brings zesty Mediterranean magic to weeknight dining.

Tangy citrus notes dance perfectly with sharp, salty cheese in this irresistible dish.

Home cooks crave simple yet elegant meal solutions that spark culinary excitement.

Mediterranean-inspired ingredients revamp ordinary protein into a restaurant-worthy experience with minimal effort.

Bright, bold flavors combine seamlessly, creating a harmonious balance between tender chicken and robust cheese.

Crispy, golden edges hint at the deliciousness waiting to be savored.

This recipe promises a quick, delectable journey through Italian-inspired cuisine that will become your new favorite comfort meal.

Lemon Pecorino Chicken Highlights

• Craft Crispy Texture Magic: The combination of panko breadcrumbs and Pecorino Romano creates an irresistibly crunchy exterior that gives each chicken tenderloin a satisfying golden-brown crackle with every bite.
• Elevate Flavor Complexity: Lemon zest and Pecorino Romano cheese blend perfectly to deliver a bright, tangy profile that transforms ordinary chicken into a gourmet experience with sophisticated Mediterranean-inspired notes.
• Master Quick Weeknight Cooking: This recipe offers an elegant meal that comes together in under 30 minutes, making it ideal for busy home cooks who want restaurant-quality dinner without complicated techniques or extensive preparation time.
• Versatile Culinary Canvas: The breading method and creamy sauce can be easily adapted for different proteins or dietary preferences, giving home chefs a flexible technique they can customize and recreate with confidence.

Ingredients in Lemon Pecorino Chicken

• Chicken Tenderloins: Lean, tender cut perfect for quick cooking with a delicate texture.

• Flour: Helps create a light, crispy coating and aids in egg adherence.
• Eggs: Acts as a binding agent for the breadcrumb mixture.
• Panko Breadcrumbs: Light and airy crumbs that provide a crisp, golden exterior.
• Pecorino Romano Cheese: Sharp, salty cheese that adds rich flavor to the breading.
• Lemon Zest: Bright, citrusy notes that enhance the overall dish's freshness.

• Olive Oil: Provides smooth cooking surface and adds subtle flavor.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps achieve golden-brown color.

• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that creates a flavor foundation.
• Flour: Thickening agent for the sauce.
• Milk: Adds creaminess and helps create smooth sauce texture.
• Heavy Cream: Provides luxurious, rich consistency to the sauce.
• Chicken Broth: Adds depth of flavor to the sauce.

• Lemon Juice: Bright, acidic element that balances the rich sauce.

Simple Steps for Lemon Pecorino Chicken

Step 1: Prepare Chicken Tenderloins

Gently flatten chicken tenderloins using a meat mallet to create an even thickness, ensuring perfect cooking throughout.

Step 2: Create Breading Lineup

• First bowl: Flour
• Second bowl: Beaten eggs
• Third bowl: Panko breadcrumbs mixed with
• Lemon zest
• Grated Pecorino Romano cheese

Step 3: Coat the Chicken

• First, roll in flour
• Next, dip in beaten eggs
• Finally, completely cover with breadcrumb mixture

Step 4: Sizzle the Chicken

Heat olive oil and butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Carefully place chicken tenderloins in the pan and cook 3-5 minutes per side until golden brown and fully cooked. Transfer to paper towels to drain excess oil. Cook in batches if needed to prevent overcrowding.

Step 5: Awaken the Garlic

In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant and lightly golden.

Step 6: Build the Creamy Sauce Base

• Milk
• Heavy cream
• Chicken broth

Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil, stirring constantly until sauce thickens (about 3-5 minutes).

Step 7: Finish with Bright Flavor

Remove sauce from heat. Stir in lemon juice and a tablespoon of butter, blending until smooth and velvety.

Tips for Cooking Lemon Pecorino Chicken

• Achieve Perfect Thickness: Use a meat mallet or rolling pin with gentle, even pressure to flatten chicken tenderloins uniformly, preventing uneven cooking and dry edges.
• Enhance Breading Technique: Press breadcrumb mixture firmly onto chicken to create a crispy, well-adhered coating that locks in moisture and flavor.
• Optimize Cooking Temperature: Maintain medium heat to prevent burning while ensuring a golden-brown crust and fully cooked interior.
• Control Sauce Consistency: Whisk continuously while adding liquids to prevent lumps and create a silky, smooth sauce with perfect texture.
• Maximize Flavor Infusion: Let chicken rest for a few minutes after cooking to allow juices to redistribute, ensuring maximum tenderness and flavor retention.

Reheat Lemon Chicken Without Drying It

• Store and Reheat Leftovers
• Refrigeration: Wrap the cooked chicken tightly in aluminum foil or store in an airtight container. Refrigerate within two hours of cooking and consume within 3-4 days. Keep the sauce separately in a sealed container to maintain its creamy texture.
• Reheating Method: Warm the chicken in a preheated oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes to preserve its crispy coating. Gently reheat the sauce in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent separation. Add a splash of milk or chicken broth if the sauce seems too thick.
• Freezing Option: Freeze the chicken and sauce separately in freezer-safe containers for up to one month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

What Works with Lemon Pecorino Chicken

• Zest Up with Crisp White Wine: Pair the lemony, cheesy chicken with a bright Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc to complement the citrus notes and cut through the richness of the dish.
• Elevate with Mediterranean Salad: Serve alongside a fresh Greek salad with cucumber, tomatoes, and olives to balance the crispy chicken and provide a light, refreshing contrast.
• Complement with Herb-Roasted Potatoes: Create a side of lemon-herb roasted potatoes that echoes the dish's zesty flavor profile and provides a perfect crispy accompaniment to the tender chicken.
• Cool Down with Creamy Tzatziki: Add a dollop of cool, tangy tzatziki sauce on the side to offer a refreshing counterpoint to the golden, crispy chicken and enhance the Mediterranean-inspired flavors.

Lemon Pecorino Chicken Twist Ideas

• Mediterranean Magic: Replace Pecorino Romano with crumbled feta cheese and add chopped fresh oregano to the breadcrumb mixture for a Greek-inspired flavor profile.
• Spicy Southern Spark: Mix cayenne pepper and smoked paprika into the breadcrumb coating, then serve with a zesty remoulade sauce for a Cajun-style chicken experience.
• Herb Garden Fusion: Incorporate fresh chopped basil, thyme, and parsley into the breadcrumb mixture, using a blend of Parmesan and Pecorino cheeses to enhance the herbal undertones.
• Nutty Crunch Variation: Substitute part of the panko breadcrumbs with finely ground almonds or pistachios, adding a rich, toasted dimension to the crispy chicken coating.

Lemon Pecorino Chicken Delight Recipe

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4.6 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Lemon pecorino chicken brings zesty Mediterranean flavors to your dinner table. Tangy pecorino cheese and bright lemon create a quick, elegant dish that delivers restaurant-quality excitement in less than 30 minutes.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 8 (2-ounces / 56 grams) chicken tenderloins

Coating Ingredients:

• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
• Zest of 1 lemon

Sauce and Cooking Ingredients:

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• ¼ cup milk
• ¾ cup heavy cream
• ¼ cup chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon butter

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Instructions

1. Prepare chicken tenderloins by gently pounding them to an even 1/4-inch (0.6 centimeters) thickness using a meat mallet, ensuring uniform cooking and tenderness.
2. Create a three-part breading station: first bowl with all-purpose flour, second bowl with whisked large eggs, third bowl combining panko breadcrumbs, freshly grated lemon zest, and finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese.
3. Carefully dredge each tenderloin first in flour, shaking off excess, then thoroughly coat in beaten eggs, and finally press into the seasoned breadcrumb mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
4. Warm a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, adding olive oil and unsalted butter until the mixture is shimmering.
5. Gently place breaded tenderloins in the skillet, cooking for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).
6. Transfer cooked chicken to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil, repeating with remaining tenderloins if necessary.
7. In a separate saucepan, heat olive oil and sauté 2 minced garlic cloves until fragrant and lightly golden.
8. Sprinkle flour into the garlic, stirring continuously to create a roux, then gradually whisk in milk, heavy cream, and chicken broth.
9. Increase heat to medium-high, continuously stirring until the sauce thickens and begins to bubble, approximately 3-4 minutes.
10. Remove sauce from heat, incorporating fresh lemon juice and butter, whisking until smooth and velvety.
11. Drizzle sauce over crispy chicken tenderloins and serve immediately, garnishing with additional lemon zest if desired.

Notes

• Perfectly Tenderize Chicken: Flattening tenderloins creates even thickness for consistent, juicy cooking results.
• Strategic Breading Technique: Create three-bowl station with flour, eggs, and seasoned breadcrumbs to achieve maximum flavor and crispy coating.
• Oil Temperature Matters: Maintain medium heat while cooking chicken to develop golden-brown exterior without burning breadcrumbs.
• Batch Cooking Prevents Overcrowding: Cook chicken pieces separately to ensure each tenderloin gets crisp, even browning.
• Sauce Consistency is Key: Whisk continuously and watch carefully while thickening sauce to prevent lumps and achieve silky texture.
• Finishing Touch Elevates Dish: Adding butter and lemon juice at the end brightens sauce and creates luxurious, restaurant-quality finish.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 582 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 486 mg
• Fat: 43 g
• Saturated Fat: 18 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 22 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 34 g
• Cholesterol: 240 mg