Golden Crusted Chicken & Zucchini

Name: Golden Crusted Chicken & Zucchini
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 28 min
Yield: 5 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1.5 pound chicken breast (boneless, skinless, pounded to 1/2-inch thickness); 0.5 cup panko breadcrumbs; 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese; 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning; 0.5 teaspoon salt; 0.25 teaspoon black pepper; 2 tablespoon olive oil; 2 zucchinis (medium, thinly sliced or chopped); 8 ounce whole wheat spaghetti; 1 jar marinara sauce; 2 slice garlic bread (store-bought, toasted for serving)

Crispy, golden pan-fried chicken cutlets paired with sautéed zucchini and classic whole wheat spaghetti with marinara, offering a comforting Italian-American flavor profile.

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 18 min
Total: 28 min
Servings: 5
Cuisine: Italian
Difficulty: Easy
Cost: $2.75/serving

Dietary

Nut-Free
Soy-Free
Egg-Free
High-Protein
High-Fiber

Ingredients

1.5 pound chicken breast (boneless, skinless, pounded to 1/2-inch thickness)
0.5 cup panko breadcrumbs
0.25 cup Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
0.5 teaspoon salt
0.25 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoon olive oil
2 zucchinis (medium, thinly sliced or chopped)
8 ounce whole wheat spaghetti
1 jar marinara sauce
2 slice garlic bread (store-bought, toasted for serving)

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add whole wheat spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain.
In a shallow dish, combine panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, dried Italian seasoning, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and black pepper.
Dredge each chicken cutlet in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to coat.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add breaded chicken cutlets and cook for 4-5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
In the same skillet, add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and thinly sliced zucchini. Season with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until tender-crisp.
While zucchini cooks, warm marinara sauce in a small saucepan.
Serve crispy chicken cutlets with sautéed zucchini, whole wheat spaghetti tossed with warm marinara sauce, and a side of toasted garlic bread.

Notes

Ensure chicken is pounded thin for quick and even cooking. You can bake the chicken cutlets instead of pan-frying for a lighter option.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 546
Protein: 44 g
Carbohydrates: 58.4 g
Fat: 17.2 g
Fiber: 9.6 g
Sodium: 1103 mg
Saturated Fat: 3.3 g
Sugar: 10.7 g
Cholesterol: 102 mg