Zesty Italian Lemon Pecorino Chicken 😍👩‍🍳👨‍🍳🍷🍋

Zesty Italian Lemon Pecorino Chicken

Ingredients:

• 8 (2-ounce) chicken tenderloins
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• Zest from 1 lemon
• ¼ cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter

For the Sauce:

• 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

Instructions:

Preparing the Chicken:

1. Use a meat mallet to flatten the chicken tenderloins to an even thickness.
2. Prepare three shallow bowls for dredging: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with panko breadcrumbs mixed with lemon zest and Pecorino Romano cheese.
3. Coat each chicken tenderloin first in flour, then dip into the beaten eggs, and finally coat thoroughly with the breadcrumb mixture.

Cooking the Chicken:

1. Heat olive oil and butter in a large nonstick sauté pan over medium heat.
2. Once hot, fry the chicken tenderloins in batches if necessary, cooking each side until golden brown and cooked through, approximately 3-5 minutes per side.
3. Drain the cooked chicken on paper towels to remove excess oil.

Preparing the Sauce:

1. In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
3. Whisk in flour until well combined and gradually pour in milk, heavy cream, and chicken broth.
4. Increase heat to medium-high, bring the mixture to a boil, and cook until the sauce thickens, stirring constantly, about 3-5 minutes.
5. Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in lemon juice and butter until the butter melts and the sauce is smooth.

Serving:

Drizzle the creamy lemon sauce over the cooked chicken tenderloins before serving.

Enjoy this flavorful Zesty Italian Lemon Pecorino Chicken with your favorite side dishes!