Crispy Lemon Chicken

If you watched my first Instagram Live (@messwithmelissa) you saw me prepare this meal and it seriously did not disappoint. The chicken comes out juicy, crispy, incredibly flavorful and would be totally fine on its own, but the sauce really levels it up. I served with asparagus and mashed potatoes and it was such a filling and comforting dish. The best part, each serving comes to less than $2.50 which to me was such a value for this meal. Enjoy!

1. Time to prep- Zest the lemon into a bowl. Keep the rest of the lemon for later. Mince garlic. Set up 3 bowls- one with flour, one with the eggs (scramble them with a fork), and one with the lemon zest, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese and add a few shakes of italian seasoning. Mix that third bowl together well.

2. Between two sheets of parchment paper on a cutting board, use a meat mallet to make the chicken thinner. I didn't have a meat mallet so I used a hammer because I'm adaptable. :)

3. Take each piece of chicken and dip and coat in the flour bowl first, then in the egg, and finally in the breadcrumb bowl. This will be messy, embrace it! Place on a plate until ready to cook.

4. Heat up a large pan with both the oil and the butter. Once pan is hot, add the chicken. You'll probably have to do this in batches unless you have a giant pan. Make sure you cook the chicken through on each side cuz ain't nobody got time for salmonella.

5. After cooked, place chicken on a plate. You can put them on paper towels to help absorb excess grease but I didn't really have a problem with it.

6. Let's get saucy! Heat up a saucepan with about 1 tbsp of Olive Oil. Add in the garlic and wait for your kitchen to smell amazing.

7. After about a minute or two of sauting garlic, whisk in about 1 tbsp of flour. Make sure it doesn't clump up.

8. Add in the chicken stock, milk, heavy cream and whisk well. Use the lemon that you set aside earlier and squeeze as much juice as you can. Keep whisking.

9. Turn the heat up to a boil and let it get nice and thick. Make sure you stir so nothing burns. Add in the last bit of butter and let it melt.

10. Serve over chicken! (And whatever sides you make! This sauce is so GOOD).

Give it a try and let me know how it turns out!

PS- If anyone attempts this with dairy alternatives, let me know and I'll add in the alternate option!