This cozy chicken dinner pairs crisp-topped baked cutlets with twirlable spaghetti in a bright, creamy lemon sauce. Roasted grape tomatoes add a sweet, juicy pop alongside the savory Parmesan crust.
The topping comes together with panko, Parmesan, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and seasoning, then bakes onto the chicken until golden and flavorful.
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Ingredients
Black pepper, to tasteView ingredient guide
12 ounces chicken cutletsView ingredient guide
2 tablespoons cream cheeseView ingredient guide
2 teaspoons Dijon mustardView ingredient guide
1 tablespoon fry seasoningView ingredient guide
1 clove garlicView ingredient guide
4 ounces grape tomatoesView ingredient guide
1 lemonView ingredient guide
2 tablespoons mayonnaiseView ingredient guide
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbsView ingredient guide
1/2 cup Parmesan cheeseView ingredient guide
Salt, to tasteView ingredient guide
6 ounces spaghettiView ingredient guideInstructions
- Preheat the oven for baking and roasting. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the spaghetti.
- Prepare the produce: halve the grape tomatoes, mince the garlic, and zest the lemon if desired before cutting it into wedges.
- Arrange the grape tomatoes on one side of a baking sheet. Season with salt and black pepper.
- Pat the chicken cutlets dry and season all over with salt and black pepper. Place them on the same baking sheet, leaving space between the pieces.
- In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and Dijon mustard. Spread the mixture over the tops of the chicken cutlets.
- In another bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and fry seasoning. Press the crumb mixture onto the coated tops of the chicken.
- Bake until the tomatoes are softened and the chicken is cooked through with a golden, crisp topping.
- While the chicken bakes, cook the spaghetti in the boiling salted water until tender. Reserve a splash of pasta cooking water, then drain.
- Return the pot to the stove over low heat. Add the minced garlic and cream cheese, then stir in a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen into a creamy sauce.
- Add the cooked spaghetti, roasted tomatoes, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Toss until the pasta is coated, adding more reserved pasta water as needed to make the sauce silky. Season with salt and black pepper.
- Divide the lemon cream spaghetti between plates. Top with the Parmesan-panko chicken cutlets and serve with remaining lemon wedges.
Useful Cookware
A few helpful kitchen tools for this recipe, with relevant Amazon picks for each item.
Large pot
Kirecoo Stainless Steel Stock Pot - 8 Quart Heavy Duty Induction Cooking Pot with Visible Lid for Pasta, Soup, Spaghetti, Nonstick Thick Bottom Big Stockpot, Deep Cookware for Canning, Boiling, SimmerView on Amazon
IMUSA 16 Quart Stainless Steel Stock Pot with Lid - Large Cooking Pot for Soups, Stews, Pasta, Seafood Boiling and Family Meals - Riveted Handles for Easy TransportView on Amazon
CAROTE 8QT Full Clad Tri Ply Stainless Steel Stock Pot with Lid, Kitchen Stockpot Soup Pot, Outer Ceramic Layer, Even Heating, All Stoves Compatible, Oven & Dishwasher Safe, Stay Cool Handle, BlueView on AmazonBaking sheet
GoodCook Everyday Nonstick Baking Sheet Set, 3 Pack Includes Small (13×9) Medium (15×1) and Large (17×11) Pans Carbon Steel Construction Cookie Sheets Bakeware Set, GrayView on Amazon
NutriChef 3-Piece Nonstick Kitchen Oven Baking Pans - Premium & Stylish Non-Stick Steel, Commercial Grade Restaurant Quality Metal Bakeware with Red Silicone Handles - Easy to Clean, NCSBS3SView on Amazon
GoodCook Everyday Nonstick Steel Baking Sheet, 17 x 11-Inch, GrayView on AmazonColander
EXCELSTEEL Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Colander 5 Qt | Easy Grip Handles | Self-Draining Base | Mirror Polished | Dishwasher Safe | Pack of 1View on Amazon
3 Pack 18/8 Stainless Steel Colander Sieves(5-Quart, 4-Quart and 3-Quart), Mesh Strainer Net Baskets with Handles & Resting Base for Strain, Drain, Rinse or SteamView on Amazon
Colander for Kitchen, 3QT, Stainless Steel Colander Strainer with Handle for Fruits Vegetables Cooking Food, Dishwasher SafeView on AmazonSmall mixing bowls
Okllen 10 Pack Small Stainless Steel Bowls, 6 1/2 Inch Wide Kitchen Metal Bowl with Flat Base, 3/4 Quart Prep Bowls for Meal Prep, Cooking, Serving, BakingView on Amazon
Winproper Mixing Bowls with Lids Set, 6 PCS Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls with 3 Grater Attachments, Kitchen Food Storage Organizers Nesting Mixing Bowl, Large Size 4.5, 3.5, 2.1, 1.5, 1.1, 0.7QTView on AmazonKnife
Legal Pocket Knife with 2.95” Serrated Blade, Glass Breaker, Seat Belt Cutter - EDC Sharp Folding Knives with Portable Clip - Small Tool for Tactical Camping Survival Hiking - Gifts for Men 6680View on Amazon
Smith & Wesson Accessories Extreme Ops SWA24S 7.1in S.S. Folding Knife with 3.1in Serrated Clip Point Blade and Aluminum Handle for Outdoor, Tactical, Survival and EDCView on Amazon
AOSILEY Pocket Folding Knife with Stainless Steel Point Lock Blade Knives and Lightweight Lockback Multi-Tool for Camping, Outdoor, Hunting,Survival and EDCView on AmazonCutting board
Astercook Deep-Carbonized Bamboo Cutting Boards for Kitchen with Wood Storage Stand, Reversible Charcuterie & Chopping Boards with Juice Grooves and Easy-Grip Handles, Fathers Day Gift for MenView on Amazon
Zeawec 3-Piece Set Bamboo Cutting Board for Kitchen - Crack-Resistant Wood Chopping Boards with Deep Juice Grooves, Pre-Oiled Butcher Block for Meat, Vegetables & Cheese, CarbonizedView on Amazon
GORILLA GRIP BPA-Free Reversible Kitchen Cutting Board Set of 3, US Designed, Nonporous, Juice Grooves Catch Liquid, Slip Resistant Border, Dishwasher Safe, Durable Large Food Chopping Boards, BlackView on AmazonTongs or pasta fork
Upgraded Silicone Spaghetti Spoon & Pasta Tong,Non-stick Sturdy Pasta Fork with Teeth,Stainless Steel Handle Spaghetti Tong, Food Clip for Spaghetti Noodles,Server Spoon for Cooking and Serving(Black)View on Amazon
HEBEILF Upgraded Silicone Spaghetti Spoon and Pasta Tong Set – Sturdy Pasta Fork with Teeth, Noodle Spoon Server, and Multi-Purpose Tongs for Cooking and ServingView on Amazon
Spaghetti Spoon and Pasta Tong, Non-stick Silicone Spoon Server Fork with teeth and Stainless Steel Handle Spaghetti Tong, Food Clip for Spaghetti Noodle (BLACK)View on AmazonZester or grater, optional
Deiss PRO Lemon Zester & Heavy Duty Cheese Grater & Vegetable Grater - Parmesan Cheese Lemon, Garlic, Nutmeg, Chocolate, Fruits, Vegetables, Ginger Grater - Cheese Shredder & Stainless Steel GraterView on Amazon
Cambom Lemon Zester Grater Three-piece Suit - Heavy Duty Kitchen Tool for Parmesan Cheese, Ginger, Garlic, Nutmeg, Chocolate, Vegetables,Fruits,Stainless Steel Grater Dishwasher Safe BlackView on Amazon
OXO Good Grips Etched Zester and GraterView on AmazonRecipe Tips
Patting the chicken dry helps the mayonnaise-Dijon layer cling evenly.
Press the panko-Parmesan mixture firmly onto the chicken so it forms a substantial crust as it bakes.
Reserve pasta water before draining; it helps the cream cheese melt into a smooth sauce.
Add lemon juice gradually and taste as you go so the sauce stays bright without becoming too sharp.
For food safety, cook chicken until it reaches 165°F in the thickest part.
FAQ
Can I use a different pasta shape?
Yes. The recipe uses spaghetti, but another long pasta shape can work if you cook it until tender and toss it with the same lemon cream sauce.
What makes the chicken crust stick?
A mixture of mayonnaise and Dijon mustard coats the chicken, giving the panko, Parmesan, and seasoning something to adhere to while baking.
Can I make the sauce creamier?
Use the reserved pasta cooking water to adjust the texture. Add it a splash at a time while tossing until the cream cheese coats the spaghetti smoothly.
How do I know the chicken is done?
The chicken should be cooked through, and the safest check is an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registering 165°F.
