Cheesy Lemon Chicken

I am always looking for new ways to serve chicken cutlets. Don't get me wrong, a simple breaded chicken cutlet is delicious, but it can get a bit boring after a while. If you are looking to switch things up, this is an easy recipe to do it. The prep and process are, for the most part, the same, so you don't have to worry about a big time commitment. Just throw in a few extra ingredients and you have a new dish everyone is sure to enjoy.

Recipe yields 5-6 servings

Ingredients
2 lbs chicken breast
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1/4 cup water
2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
1 tbsp garlic powder
Zest from 2 lemons
3 tbsp oregano
1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tbsp olive oil

Preheat oven to 450F. Prepare your baking sheets with a light coating of olive oil. I used two baking sheets and about 1 tablespoon of oil for each. Depending on the size, you may need more or less oil, just make sure there is a nice coating. Prepare your breading stations by placing the flour in one bowl. Whisk together your eggs and the water in a second bowl. And in the final bowl, mix together the Panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, lemon zest, oregano and Parmesan cheese.

For each chicken breast, first cover it will flour, shaking off any excess. Then dip it in the egg wash and finally cover with a nice coating of the breadcrumb mixture. Place the chicken on the baking sheet and repeat this process until all chicken is breaded.

Place the chicken in the oven on the middle rack. Bake for 15 minutes. While in the oven, slice the lemons that you zested earlier. After 15 minutes, the bottom of the chicken should be browned and crispy. Flip the chicken over, sprinkle with fresh lemon juice and leave the lemon slices on the baking sheet when you put it back in the oven. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until the chicken is just about crispy on all sides.

Sprinkle the tops of the chicken breast with a handful of shredded mozzarella cheese and return to the oven for 2-3 minutes to allow the cheese to melt.

Serve with a slice of lemon for garnish and some vegetables or a fresh salad on the side. Enjoy!