Winner, Winner, Almond Crusted Chicken Dinner!

Almond Crusted Chicken Recipe

Meal Type:Dinner

Difficulty level: Easy

Dad Rating:👍👍

Kid Rating: 👍👍

Total Servings: 8 servings at 4 oz per serving 
Calories per serving: 349
Cost per serving: $1.32
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes

Gadgets Needed:

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• Air fryer
• Mini food processor
• Knife
• Lemon zester
• Meat thermometer 

So, you want to make almond-crusted chicken? Well, it's a pretty nutty idea, but I think we can crack it. First, you'll need some chicken breasts. Don't worry, they won't be chicken to try this recipe! We're going to give them a nice, crunchy coating that's sure to make your taste buds sing. It's so good, you'll want to write a poultry in motion about it.

The secret to this crispy coating is, of course, almonds! Why did the almond go to the doctor? Because he was feeling a little nutty! Now, the first step is to get all those flavorful ingredients – the almonds, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, rosemary, garlic, and salt – into a mini food processor. It’s like a tiny culinary arena where flavors battle it out to create the ultimate taste sensation. We're going to process them until they form a spreadable paste. It's like making almond butter, but with a citrusy, herby twist. 

Next up, we're taking our chicken breasts and cutting them into halves or nuggets. This part is great if you have little ones – nugget-sized chicken is always a hit. It’s like chicken… but mini! Then, we're going to generously coat each piece of chicken with that amazing almond paste we just made. We want to make sure every nook and cranny is covered in that nutty, herby goodness. It's like giving the chicken a delicious little blanket.

Now for the magic – we’re placing our coated chicken bits into the air fryer basket. This is where the magic happens! The air fryer is like a culinary time machine, cooking food quickly and making it super crispy. We’re going to cook the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 153°F for a juicy result, or 165°F for complete peace of mind. Remember to flip the pieces halfway through for even cooking. It’s like giving the chicken a little tan.

And there you have it – almond-crusted chicken, air fryer style! It's a quick, easy, and delicious way to get a healthy and flavorful meal on the table. It’s so good, it’ll make you want to do the chicken dance! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I enjoyed sharing it. Remember, if you ever feel down, just think about this delicious chicken. It’s sure to lift your spirits… or at least fill your stomach. Share your results in the comment section below.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsalted almonds ($1.99)
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil ($0.12)
• 3/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest ($0.40)
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice ($0.40)
• 3/4 teaspoon dried rosemary ($0.03)
• 1 garlic clove ($0.10)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt ($0.01)
• 4 boneless and skinless chicken breast ($7.49)

Instructions:

1. Place the almonds, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, rosemary, garlic, and salt into the mini food processor. (5 minutes)
2. Process until contents have the consistency of a spreadable paste. (2 minutes)
3. Cut the chicken breasts into halves or nuggets depending on your child’s preference (2 minutes)
4. Cover each piece of chicken with the almond paste from the food processor.
5. Place covered chicken bits in air fryer basket. (1 minute)
6. Cook until internal temperature of chicken pieces maintains 153° for 1.3 minutes or 165° for instant bacterial death. Flipping pieces halfway through cooking cycle. (15 minutes)