I Love This Dinner So Much I Could Cry.
OH MY GOODNESS you guys, this is so good.
Crispy golden chicken, brushed with garlic butter (!!), and served up on a plate of creamy tomatoey beans that are laced with caramelized shallot and fresh basil?! Come on! Come on.
It feels very *special occasion* but don’t be fooled. Look at my life. Look at my table. We are the farthest thing from fancy. And yet here we are! Eating restaurant-level food on a Tuesday and LOVING IT!
I got this idea from a video I saw from Desert Island Dishes – the crispy chicken / creamy beans concept is so genius. I just made a few changes using ingredients and methods that are pantry staples in our house. For example, I’m a big fan of air frying crispy chicken for weeknight dinners because = easy!
Please note that the garlic butter crispy chicken itself could be a meal. My daughters (and me) can usually be found standing over the cutting board munching down those strips of delightfully crispy chicken.
And then when you plop it on top of the creamy, shallot-y beans and throw all that gorgeous basil on there?! Get out. It is restaurant-level gorgeous and way too good.
I also love this dinner because Bjork and I get to have something that feels grown-up and exciting while our girls can opt for plain crispy chicken and ketchup with a small tasting dish of the creamy beans on the side.
Is this real life? I’m not trying to be weird but I love this meal so much.
1
Cook Down Shallots and Tomatoes.
Saute, then smash the tomatoes with the back of a spoon to release their yummy juices!
2
Add Sauce, Broth, and Beans.
Simmer it all up! (In this picture I used the Trader Joe’s rosatella sauce which is why it looks creamy!)
3
Add Fresh Basil.
Smell it, admire it, marvel at how good this is.
4
Bread your Chicken.
I know – it seems like an ordeal but it’ll take, like, 7 minutes. So worth it!
5
Cook the Chicken.
The air fryer is too easy!
6
Top Chicken with Parmesan and Garlic Butter.
Spoon that on. MAGIC HAPPENS HERE.
7
Yum! You’re Done!
Get the chicken on the creamy beans and top it all off with more garlic butter and parm. Holy smokes that is good.
Garlic Butter Crispy Chicken with Creamy Beans
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
One of my favorite dinners I’ve ever made! Crispy chicken brushed with garlic butter and served on luscious creamy beans with roasty tomatoes and golden shallots.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Crispy Chicken:
- 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoons salt
- avocado oil spray
Creamy Beans:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 shallot, thinly sliced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 1 14–ounce can cannelini beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce (I use Rao’s)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup cream
- freshly torn basil
- salt and pepper to taste
Garlic Butter:
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
- freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prep Chicken: Slice the chicken breasts horizontally so they aren’t as thick, or pound them out into thinner pieces.
- Dip and Coat: Prepare three bowls: the flour, the eggs, and the panko. Season flour and panko with 1 teaspoon salt. Sprinkle the chicken breasts on both sides with a bit of additional salt and pepper. Dredge each chicken piece in the flour, egg, and finally breadcrumbs, pressing to coat. Set aside until you’re ready to cook them.
- Creamy Beans: Sauté the shallot until softened. Add the tomatoes and a pinch of salt; cover and let them cook for 5 minutes. Smash them down with the back of a wooden spoon so they make a chunky sauce.
- Add Sauce: Add the beans, sauce, and broth; simmer for 3-5 minutes, then turn off the heat and stir in the cream and the basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. (Add more liquid depending on how thick you want the beans.)
- Cook Chicken: Spritz the chicken with avocado oil spray to coat evenly. Air fry at 375 for 6 minutes, and then 400 for 2-3 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temp of 165 degrees.
- Garlic Butter: Mix the melted butter, garlic, and parsley. Spoon the garlic butter sauce over the chicken, and top with a little sprinkle of the Parmesan. Slice the chicken into strips as pictured.
- Serve: Plate the beans in a shallow bowl or pasta dish. Arrange the garlic butter chicken on top. Garnish with extra basil, Parmesan, or a drizzle of olive oil. Are you kidding me! It’s so good!
Notes
For the broth, I use Better Than Bouillon roasted chicken base mixed with water! I think it has the best flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
