Pistachio Crusted Chicken
Switch up your normal dinner routine and give this pistachio-crusted chicken a try! Even if you aren't a huge fan of pistachios or mustard, I bet you'll like this combination. This fancy breaded chicken is baked in the oven so you can focus on the other parts of your dinner while it bakes.
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Pistachio Crusted Chicken Recipe
I love making breaded chicken. It's one of my go to dishes that has become a comfort meal for us. So this pistachio crusted chicken is now on repeat on our family menu because it's a great easy weeknight dinner.
I've definitely opened my taste buds up to recipes that use mustard in them. For example, we love this maple mustard chicken from my friend at The Clean Eating Couple, and this recipe for juicy chicken with a pistachio coating is a favorite too!
Even if you're not a pistachio fan, you've gotta give this recipe a try. Even my kids love this chicken dish. I mean, who doesn't love breaded chicken, right? And this chicken has the best crunchy texture and delicious flavor.
You can opt for a "crunchier" version of this chicken by grinding the pistachios less for a coarser texture, it's totally up to you! If you have larger pieces, they may not stick to the chicken as good, so you may need to pat some on top of the chicken once it's sitting in the baking dish so they don't fall off when transferring to the dish.
Serve this perfect dinner recipe with simple side dishes like oven roasted green beans, and then your dinner is ready to go!
Why You'll Love this Recipe
The crunchy crust on this chicken is my favorite thing, but there are so many reasons to love this super simple recipe:
- This is the easiest method to make pistachio chicken and is super quick to make. Mix a few ingredients together, then just dip your raw chicken into the sauce ingredients first, then into the bread crumb and pistachio mixture.
- I know breaded chicken can be a bit intimidating if you've never made it before. That's why I love this recipe, it's really simple to follow.
- While this chicken is easy enough for a weeknight meal, it's got a bold enough flavor for a dinner party. It's a perfect meal to dress up and dress down!
Ingredients
This pistachio chicken recipe only requires a few simple ingredients. Here's what you'll need to have on hand:
- chicken breasts
- pistachios, no shells
- bread crumbs
- dijon mustard
- olive oil
- honey
- ground pepper
Substitutions and Variations
You can use salted or unsalted pistachios, both will work. Just keep in mind that if you use unsalted then you'll probably need to add some salt to the coating.
It doesn't matter what type of breadcrumb you use, just whatever is your favorite! Some plain breadcrumbs are a great way to season things on your own, but you can also use Italian breadcrumbs.
Avocado oil is a great substitute for olive oil if you don't have it on hand.
Stone ground mustard and honey mustard are both great swaps for dijon mustard.
To add even more flavor into the pistachio coating, add some parmesan cheese into the mix. You can also add seasonings like garlic powder and onion powder for more flavor.
How to Make Pistachio Crusted Chicken
Follow these step by step instructions to make the most crispy, crunchy chicken ever:
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and then grease a baking sheet or Pyrex dish and set it aside.
In a food processor, pulse pistachios until coarsely ground. You can also make crushed pistachios by putting them in a large zip top bag and smashing them with a rolling pin. Crush to a fine crumb if you want, but I recommend a coarse crumb.
Mix together ground pistachios and panko bread crumbs in a shallow bowl.
In a separate bowl, stir together Dijon mustard, olive oil, honey, and pepper until smooth.
If needed, cut full size boneless skinless chicken breasts in half or pound thin to about ½ inch.
Dip chicken into liquid mixture to coat then coat with bread crumbs mixture.
Place the coated chicken onto previously prepared baking sheet and then bake until the chicken is no longer pink and the pistachio coating is golden brown. This should take about 20-23 minutes.
Serve with your favorite side dishes and enjoy!
How to Store Leftover Pistachio Crusted Chicken
Allow your chicken to cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container. You can also wrap each of the chicken cutlets in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place in a zip top bag.
This tender chicken can also be frozen! Store in the freezer for up to 3 months, allow to thaw before reheating.
What to Serve with Pistachio Crusted Chicken
Serve these juicy chicken breasts with easy sides like sautéed zucchini or Instant Pot mashed potatoes. It'd be delicious alongside parmesan risotto and easy drop biscuits too.
Some fluffy dinner rolls make this a next level comfort food meal, and roasted vegetables are a great quick side to serve with it too.
Need an even easier side? Some steamed broccoli is super simple and goes great with this salty, crunchy chicken!
Tips for Success
This is truly the easiest method to make crispy chicken! Check out these simple tips so that you can have the best chicken the first time you make it:
- Make sure each of the chicken breasts are an even thickness so that they all finish cooking at the same time. You can use a meat mallet if you need to!
- Don't overcrowd the pan so that each piece of bread chicken cooks evenly and gets crispy all the way around.
- Allow the chicken to sit for a few minutes after cooking, before serving. This helps the juices redistribute through the chicken so that it's tender and juicy with every bite!
FAQ
Nope! The dijon mustard mixture is the replacement for an egg wash in this recipe. It will help the pistachio breading adhere to the chicken.
I personally recommend using skinless because it will help the breading stick to the chicken a little bit better. You can easily cover the entire surface of the chicken when it's skinless!
More Chicken Recipes
Did you make this recipe?
If you make and love this recipe, please leave a ★★★★★ review below! It means so much to me when you try my recipes, and I'd love to know how it goes. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions.
Pistachio Crusted Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 1 cup pistachios no shells, coarsely ground in a food processor
- ½ cup bread crumbs
- ¼ cup dijon mustard
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a baking sheet or Pyrex dish and set aside.
- In a food processor, pulse pistachios until coarsely ground.
- Mix together ground pistachios and bread crumbs in a shallow bowl.
- In a separate bowl, stir together Dijon mustard, olive oil, honey, and pepper until smooth.
- If needed, cut full size chicken breasts in half or pound thin to about ½ inch.
- Dip chicken into liquid mixture to coat then coat with bread crumbs mixture.
- Place onto prepared baking sheet.
- Bake until the chicken is no longer pink and the pistachio coating is golden brown, about 20-23 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
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I literally would have never thought to put pistachios on top of chicken.
YUMMMMMMM
I'll be trying this! I make a pecan crusted chicken that we love...I think we'll trying pistachios now! Thanks for linking it up with us at Foodie Fridays last week...yes, I'm late. But better late than never, right
That's disappointing that you don't really like nuts in anything, girl, but I understand. Me and pistachios... I'm generally not a fan, but it's encouraging to hear that you love this recipe so much!
And you're welcome! It's a great recipe, and i cannot wait to try it!
No, I did not but you could! I think it's easier if you are unfamiliar with cooking chicken to just do it as a full chicken breast instead of strips. You just need to cook it for longer (usually 20-24 minutes or so on 350).
I'm not a fan of nuts either! I really don't like them at all in anything, to be honest! It's shocking that I love this recipe so much! If you try it, let me know what you think!
Thank you so much for choosing it as a favorite! I hope others enjoy it, too!
Well then y'all will DEFINITELY love this!
Yeah I'm sure you could use something different!
Me neither and now I love both of those things!! YUM!
You and Lamar would love this!!
Haha, try it! He may find that he loves it 🙂
When you used chicken breasts, did you cut them up at all? I barely know how to heat a tv dinner, let alone think about chicken part sizes. 😉
When you used chicken breasts, did you cut them up at all? I barely know how to heat a tv dinner, let alone think about chicken part sizes. 😉
No, I did not but you could! I think it's easier if you are unfamiliar with cooking chicken to just do it as a full chicken breast instead of strips. You just need to cook it for longer (usually 20-24 minutes or so on 350).
Thank you very much for the info! I have this on my short list of recipes I must try.
Goodness, this dish sounds DELICIOUS, Madison! I've never had pistachio-crusted anything... and am not the biggest fan of the nuts, but something in this combination of pistachio and dijon sounds intriguing, and I'd love to give this a go in my kitchen. Definitely pinned this for later!
Also, this was one of my favorite links during last week's #thatsfreshfriday link-up! Thanks for participating! I'll be sharing it on my blog and social media channels this weekend as our new party kicks off, and I hope to see you back sharing another wonderful recipe this week!
Goodness, this dish sounds DELICIOUS, Madison! I've never had pistachio-crusted anything... and am not the biggest fan of the nuts, but something in this combination of pistachio and dijon sounds intriguing, and I'd love to give this a go in my kitchen. Definitely pinned this for later!
Also, this was one of my favorite links during last week's #thatsfreshfriday link-up! Thanks for participating! I'll be sharing it on my blog and social media channels this weekend as our new party kicks off, and I hope to see you back sharing another wonderful recipe this week!
I'm not a fan of nuts either! I really don't like them at all in anything, to be honest! It's shocking that I love this recipe so much! If you try it, let me know what you think!
Thank you so much for choosing it as a favorite! I hope others enjoy it, too!
That's disappointing that you don't really like nuts in anything, girl, but I understand. Me and pistachios... I'm generally not a fan, but it's encouraging to hear that you love this recipe so much!
And you're welcome! It's a great recipe, and i cannot wait to try it!
Not yet! I grabbed all the ingredients yesterday so I'm going to try and make them tonight or tomorrow night! I'll let you know how they turn out 🙂 And that's too funny, you and your dad are reverse to me and mine, he frequently eats tomatoes like apples!
Haha it's okay girl, I grew up on mac and cheese!
Awesome! I hope you like it!
Did you try it?! I'd love to know what you thought! That's so funny about tomatoes. My dad is the SAME way which is even more ironic because I love tomatoes! I would probably eat one by itself.
SAME GIRL! I didn't like any of those and now those three are found in a lot of our meals!
SAME GIRL! I didn't like any of those and now those three are found in a lot of our meals!
Y'all would love it!! You could probably omit the breadcrumbs if you wanted to for a GF version!
Honestly I didn't use to! I was the pickiest eater when I was little, I think because I wasn't forced to try things! It definitely helps that I enjoy cooking so much now so I am a lot more willing to try something!
I think you'd love it! I know how you feel, when I was growing up it seemed like every night we ate chicken! So I have definitely learned to mix it up!
Me neither girl, but you'd love it! It's one of our favorite dishes and Steven keeps drooling everytime he looks at these pictures 😉 I'll have to make it for y'all sometime!!
Pistachios or dijon mustard... I'm not going to lie, I love both! And so does John! I will have to make this for him soon
Well then y'all will DEFINITELY love this!
This is an interesitng choice. I can't eat pistachios but maybe something different. but I'm always looking for ways to spice up chicken. I'm glad you liked the meal.
This is an interesitng choice. I can't eat pistachios but maybe something different. but I'm always looking for ways to spice up chicken. I'm glad you liked the meal.
Yeah I'm sure you could use something different!
holy yum! this looks so great! and yes, my taste buds have TOTALLY changed over time! i used to never like things like onions and peppers! haha
holy yum! this looks so great! and yes, my taste buds have TOTALLY changed over time! i used to never like things like onions and peppers! haha
Me neither and now I love both of those things!! YUM!
This looks really good, Madison! I'm a huge fan of crunch with my chicken (okay, that just sounds weird), so I will definitely try this! This is such a creative recipe! Go Mads!
This looks really good, Madison! I'm a huge fan of crunch with my chicken (okay, that just sounds weird), so I will definitely try this! This is such a creative recipe! Go Mads!
You and Lamar would love this!!
I really wanted to try this with salmon but my husband said no! Maybe next week I'll just make it and not tell him what it is.
I really wanted to try this with salmon but my husband said no! Maybe next week I'll just make it and not tell him what it is.
Haha, try it! He may find that he loves it 🙂
Haha! My taste buds have DEFINITELY changed! I still wouldn't say I am adventurous when it comes to food but I think I grew up on cheese and crackers, so I'm a lot more adventurous than I ever was as a child. This recipe sounds really good to me, I'm going to have to give it a try.
Haha! My taste buds have DEFINITELY changed! I still wouldn't say I am adventurous when it comes to food but I think I grew up on cheese and crackers, so I'm a lot more adventurous than I ever was as a child. This recipe sounds really good to me, I'm going to have to give it a try.
Haha it's okay girl, I grew up on mac and cheese!
i am so going to try that out
Awesome! I hope you like it!
Well you just told me what I'm having for dinner tonight! This looks/sounds amazing! I have always eaten pretty much everything, with the exception of tomatoes, love tomato sauce, salsa and most tomato-products but the tomatoes themselves- they were the one food I absolutely wouldn't touch. In the last six months I've started to incorporate them into more of my recipes and my parents are shocked (so am I to be honest ha!)
Well you just told me what I'm having for dinner tonight! This looks/sounds amazing! I have always eaten pretty much everything, with the exception of tomatoes, love tomato sauce, salsa and most tomato-products but the tomatoes themselves- they were the one food I absolutely wouldn't touch. In the last six months I've started to incorporate them into more of my recipes and my parents are shocked (so am I to be honest ha!)
Did you try it?! I'd love to know what you thought! That's so funny about tomatoes. My dad is the SAME way which is even more ironic because I love tomatoes! I would probably eat one by itself.
Not yet! I grabbed all the ingredients yesterday so I'm going to try and make them tonight or tomorrow night! I'll let you know how they turn out 🙂 And that's too funny, you and your dad are reverse to me and mine, he frequently eats tomatoes like apples!
this sounds like such a great way to mix up a boring chicken dish! xo jillian - stop by! I'm hosting a $150 Tieks gift card giveaway on cornflake dreams
this sounds like such a great way to mix up a boring chicken dish! xo jillian - stop by! I'm hosting a $150 Tieks gift card giveaway on cornflake dreams
I LOVE pistachios so I definitely should try this!
I LOVE pistachios so I definitely should try this!
Y'all would love it!! You could probably omit the breadcrumbs if you wanted to for a GF version!
This sounds SO good. I love both pistachios and dijon mustard. I'm glad you're willing to try new things. It drives me nuts when people say they don't like something without trying it.
I'm not a picky eater at all. In fact, I'm pretty hard pressed to think of something I don't like. I credit my mom for that–she always made me try new things and she never ever let me not eat something. Sometimes it made me kind of mad at her, but as I got older I started to thank her for it. 🙂
This sounds SO good. I love both pistachios and dijon mustard. I'm glad you're willing to try new things. It drives me nuts when people say they don't like something without trying it.
I'm not a picky eater at all. In fact, I'm pretty hard pressed to think of something I don't like. I credit my mom for that?she always made me try new things and she never ever let me not eat something. Sometimes it made me kind of mad at her, but as I got older I started to thank her for it. 🙂
Honestly I didn't use to! I was the pickiest eater when I was little, I think because I wasn't forced to try things! It definitely helps that I enjoy cooking so much now so I am a lot more willing to try something!
I love pistachios, so this recipe sounds amazing! I cook with chicken most nights, so it's nice to come across a creative recipe to mix things up. I'm going to make this soon!
I love pistachios, so this recipe sounds amazing! I cook with chicken most nights, so it's nice to come across a creative recipe to mix things up. I'm going to make this soon!
I think you'd love it! I know how you feel, when I was growing up it seemed like every night we ate chicken! So I have definitely learned to mix it up!
I have to admit that this is something I would never gravitate to normally, but I love pistachios! There's also something to be said for trying new things every now and again! So glad you ended up liking your boss' meal!
I have to admit that this is something I would never gravitate to normally, but I love pistachios! There's also something to be said for trying new things every now and again! So glad you ended up liking your boss' meal!
Me neither girl, but you'd love it! It's one of our favorite dishes and Steven keeps drooling everytime he looks at these pictures 😉 I'll have to make it for y'all sometime!!