Well, y’all, it’s National Nut Day, and I’m thinking this is the perfect excuse to get a little creative in the kitchen! Although, having some Nuts as a snack would be nice as well. I would like either Pecans or Walnut’s. What type of Nuts would you like to have and why?
We could celebrate with a bowl of peanuts, almonds, walnuts, or pecans. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. But what if we took those nuts out of the snack bowl and invited them to supper? Now we’re talking! Wouldn’t that be fun to have a new dish to try?
One idea that caught my attention is pecan-crusted chicken which I’ve seen in restaurants. Have you? This is a way to add a little crunch to a familiar family meal without making dinner feel like the same old thing. And if you know me, you know I like finding simple ways to make everyday life a little more interesting.
National Nut Day is a fun #Holiday and it is a opportunity to celebrate the nuts we enjoy eating and the many ways they can be used in the kitchen. Peanuts, pecans, almonds, walnuts, and cashews all bring different flavors and textures to recipes. Depending on the dish, they can add crunch to salads, texture to baked goods, or a delicious finishing touch to savory meals.
Of course, nuts aren’t for everybody. Food allergies are serious, so always check with the people you’re serving before preparing a recipe that contains nuts. For those who can safely enjoy them, let’s see what we can do with a handful of pecans! Just remember David and I have bad teeth so eating Nuts isn’t always easy to do.
Recipe: Crunchy Pecan-Crusted Chicken– This recipe gives ordinary chicken a crunchy coating with a little Southern-inspired flavor. Serve it with vegetables, potatoes, rice, or your favorite family side dishes.
Prep time: About 15 minute Cook time: About 20–30 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, or 4 chicken cutlets
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus a little for the baking dish
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish or line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper suitable for that temperature.
- Chop the pecans finely. You want small pieces that will stick to the chicken rather than large chunks that fall off.
- In a shallow bowl, combine the pecans, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- In a second bowl, whisk together the egg and milk.
- Pat the chicken dry. Dip each piece into the egg mixture, allowing any excess to drip off, then press it into the pecan mixture until coated on both sides.
- Arrange the chicken in the prepared baking dish. Drizzle the olive oil over the coating to help it brown.
- Bake until the coating is golden and the thickest part of each piece reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Thin cutlets will cook faster than thick chicken breasts, so begin checking early and use a food thermometer rather than relying on time alone.
- Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes before serving.
Here are a few ideas for making this meal your own:
For a simple supper: Serve with roasted potatoes and green beans. For a fall-inspired meal: Add roasted sweet potatoes and a green salad. For a little extra flavor: Serve with a honey-mustard dipping sauce, provided the ingredients work for everyone at your table.
And if you have leftover pecans, save them for another recipe or use them as a snack rather than letting them disappear into the back of the pantry!
Pecan-crusted chicken is only one idea when celebrating Nuts. Here are a few more ways to put nuts to work in the kitchen. Add crunch to a salad. Chopped pecans or walnuts can add texture to a salad with apples, leafy greens, and a simple vinaigrette. Dress up oatmeal. If nuts are safe for everyone eating it, sprinkle chopped nuts over oatmeal with cinnamon and fruit. Give vegetables a little something extra. Toasted nuts can add crunch to roasted vegetables. Keep the nuts separate when serving anyone who needs to avoid them. Try a homemade trail mix. Combine ingredients such as dried fruit, pretzels, and seeds. If adding nuts or chocolate, check allergies and ingredient labels carefully.
Sometimes a small change is all it takes to turn an ordinary dish into something the family looks forward to trying. Before serving any recipe containing nuts, ask about allergies and check all ingredient labels. Cross-contact can also be a concern for people with food allergies. If someone at your table has a nut allergy, choose a different recipe that is appropriate for their needs instead of simply removing the nuts from a finished dish. There’s always another way to make supper special!
Now I want to hear from you! Are you a peanut person, a pecan person, an almond person, or somebody who would rather leave the nuts to the squirrels? 😂 Have you ever made pecan-crusted chicken? Do you have a favorite nut-filled dessert, a special family recipe, or a creative way to use nuts in a savory dish?
Share your ideas in the comments. You never know when your suggestion might inspire somebody else’s next family meal!
National Nut Day reminds us that we don’t always need a complicated recipe or an expensive ingredient to try something different. Sometimes all it takes is looking at an ordinary family favorite and asking, “What could we do to make this a little more interesting?”
Today, that answer might be pecan-crusted chicken. Tomorrow, it might be a new dessert or a different way to serve vegetables. So enjoy the kitchen adventures, share your favorite recipes, and remember that the best meals are often the ones we share with the people we love.
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed. 🐸🦋✝
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Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
