Go Back
+ servings
Red plate holding mexican baked chicken sitting on mixed greens, surrounded by slicd avocado and cherry tomatoes, and topped with salsa verde and sour cream.
Print Recipe
No ratings yet

Crispy Baked Mexican Panko Chicken

Crispy panko chicken gets bold Mexican flavor from a salsa verde egg wash used in breading the chicken, then bakes in hot butter until the crust is golden and crunchy and the chicken stays juicy inside - without frying. Served over greens with avocado, tomatoes, more salsa verde, and cheese, it's a complete, colorful dinner that's easy and elegant enough for guests.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main dish
Cuisine: Southwestern
Keyword: Baked Mexican Chicken, Baked Panko Chicken
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 546kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups purchased salsa verde see Note below
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 1/4 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast halves 3 large
  • 3 tablespoons butter cut into 3 to 4 pieces
  • 6 cups shredded lettuce
  • 6 tablespoons sour cream
  • 6 tablespoons chopped green onion
  • 36 grape or small cherry tomatoes cut in half
  • 3 avocados peeled, seeded and sliced
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 6 tablespoons grated sharp Cheddar cheese
  • 6 lime wedges

Instructions

  • In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, 3 tablespoons of the salsa and salt. In another shallow bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs, chili powder, cumin, garlic salt and oregano.
  • Butterfly larger breasts and cut into two pieces; pound smaller breasts to roughly an even thickness. Dip each breast in the egg mixture, allowing the excess to drip off. Then, dredge in the breadcrumb mixture, coating all sides evenly. Press down on the breadcrumbs to ensure they adhere.
  • Place coated chicken pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes (up to 8 hours) to allow the coating to set.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Once oven is preheated, place the butter in a large shallow baking dish (not glass) large enough to hold the chicken breasts in one layer, and place in the oven. As soon as the butter melts (just takes a few minutes), remove the pan from the oven (watch closely as the butter burns easily).
  • Carefully place the chicken pieces in the hot pan, turning to coat both sides with the melted butter. Bake, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes or until chicken is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest portions registers 165 degrees.
  • Let cooked panko chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
  • To serve, place 1 cup of shredded lettuce on each serving plate. Top with a chicken breast. Place a dollop of sour cream and salsa on top of each chicken breast. Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of green onion over chicken. Arrange 12 tomato halves and slices from 1/2 avocado equally on each plate, placing them decoratively on the lettuce around the chicken breast. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper. Sprinkle Cheddar cheese over each serving. Place a lime wedge on each plate. Pass additional salsa and sour cream on the side.

Video

Notes

Salsa verde: Also called tomatillo-green chile salsa. I like Trader Joe's or La Victoria, or use my homemade Tomatillo Avocado Sauce on page 124 in my cookbook Fresh Tastes.
Pan: Use metal, not glass or ceramic. It heats faster and browns the crust instead of trapping moisture.
Spacing: Don't crowd the chicken. Give each piece room, or trapped steam will soften the crust even in a metal pan.
Make ahead: The chicken breasts can be coated with the breadcrumbs, covered with plastic wrap, and refrigerated earlier in the day. You may need to increase cooking time by 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how long they are refrigerated.
 
Note: This recipe was originally published in my cookbook Fresh Tastes.

Nutrition

Calories: 546kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 210mg | Sodium: 1497mg | Potassium: 1367mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 2241IU | Vitamin C: 45mg | Calcium: 223mg | Iron: 4mg