Description
Lemon chicken Romano is a breaded and fried chicken breast topped with melted mozzarella and finished in the oven. This Italian-American classic combines crispy, golden chicken with tangy lemon zest and creamy melted cheese for an indulgent yet restaurant-quality dinner.
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thin chicken cutlets)
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs, beaten
1 cup Italian-style panko breadcrumbs
½ cup grated Romano cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons lemon zest
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. If needed, pound the chicken to an even ½-inch thickness and season both sides with salt and black pepper.
3. Set up three shallow bowls: Bowl 1 with flour, Bowl 2 with beaten eggs, and Bowl 3 with panko breadcrumbs mixed with Romano cheese, garlic powder, and lemon zest.
4. Dredge each chicken breast in the flour, dip into the beaten eggs, then coat thoroughly in the breadcrumb mixture.
5. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat.
6. Cook the chicken for 3–4 minutes per side, until golden brown but not fully cooked.
7. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the chicken.
8. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 8–12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
9. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve with fresh lemon wedges for squeezing over the chicken.
Notes
Pound the chicken to even thickness so all pieces cook uniformly without thick edges remaining undercooked.
Chill the breaded chicken for 30 minutes before cooking so the coating adheres better and crisps up more.
Mix the Romano and lemon zest into the breadcrumbs ahead of time so you don’t forget them.
Don’t overcrowd the skillet when searing—leave space between pieces so they brown properly rather than steam.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Searing and Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with cheese
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 42 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg