Almond-Crusted Chicken: Crispy Baked in 35 Minutes
Crispy almond-crusted chicken breasts baked at high heat until golden and crunchy. Finely chopped almonds seasoned with garlic and sea salt create a naturally gluten-free coating that's ready in just 35 minutes. A simple, family-friendly weeknight dinner.
Equipment
- Large rimmed baking sheet
- Cooking spray
- 2 shallow bowls or dishes (for dipping station)
- Instant-read meat thermometer
- Sharp chef's knife or food processor
- Wire cooling rack (optional)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¾ cup almonds finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 4 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts about 6-8 oz / 170-225g each, thawed if frozen
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder or garlic seasoning blend
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- as needed cooking spray for greasing baking sheet
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F / 220°C (200°C fan-forced). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and spray generously with cooking spray (or place a wire rack on the sheet and spray the rack for extra crispiness on all sides).
- Pour the olive oil into a wide, shallow bowl or dish large enough to lay a chicken breast flat.
- In a second shallow bowl or dish, combine the finely chopped almonds, sea salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir to distribute the seasoning evenly throughout the almonds.
- Working one piece at a time, dip each chicken breast into the olive oil, turning to coat all sides. Let the excess oil drip off for a second, then press the chicken firmly into the almond mixture, turning and pressing to coat evenly on all sides. Use your hands to pat any loose almonds onto bare spots.
- Place the coated chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them at least 2 inches (5cm) apart so hot air can circulate and crisp all sides.
- Bake for 10 minutes, then carefully flip each breast using a spatula. Bake for an additional 8-10 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F / 74°C on an instant-read thermometer and the almond crust is deep golden brown. Rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 406kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 30gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 423mgPotassium: 625mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 35IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 79mgIron: 2mg
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