Crispy Sunflower Seed Crusted Chicken with Apple Parmesan Salad

This crispy chicken cutlet is a delightful twist on classic breaded chicken. A crunchy coating of sunflower seeds, Parmesan and panko, held together with a touch of Dijon mustard, creates a golden crust that’s both nutty and savory. Paired with a bright, crisp salad of baby lettuce, sliced apple and shaved Parmesan tossed in a creamy lemon-Dijon dressing, this meal is a perfect balance of textures and flavors.

Ready in under 30 minutes, this recipe is ideal for a busy weeknight when you want something satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen. The combination of juicy chicken, crunchy coating and refreshing salad makes it a complete and delicious dinner.

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Ingredients

1 unit Baby LettuceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 ounce Sunflower SeedsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LemonView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1.5 ounce Honey Dijon DressingView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

3 tablespoon Parmesan CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit AppleView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon MayonnaiseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

24 ounce Chicken CutletsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.125 cup Panko BreadcrumbsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon Dijon MustardView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Hot SauceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon (tsp) Olive OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon (tsp) Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon (tbsp) ButterView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C) and adjust a rack to the top position. Wash and dry all produce. Finely chop the sunflower seeds. Finely chop half of the Parmesan cheese (reserve the rest for the salad). Zest half of the lemon, then quarter the lemon.
2. Place 1 tablespoon of butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until melted, about 30 seconds. Let cool slightly, then stir in the chopped sunflower seeds, chopped Parmesan, lemon zest, half of the panko breadcrumbs and a pinch of salt and pepper.
3. Pat the chicken cutlets dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and pepper. Lightly oil a baking sheet with cooking oil. Place the chicken on the baking sheet. Spread the tops of the chicken evenly with Dijon mustard. Mound the sunflower seed coating on top, pressing gently to adhere. Roast on the top rack until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, 15-20 minutes.
4. While the chicken roasts, make the dressing: In a small bowl, combine the honey Dijon dressing, mayonnaise and hot sauce. Stir until smooth.
5. Trim the root end from the lettuce and chop the leaves into bite-size pieces. Core and thinly slice the apple. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon of the honey Dijon mayo mixture, a drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of sugar, salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice to taste. Adjust the dressing: if too tangy, add more sugar; if not tangy enough, add more lemon juice. Add the lettuce, apple slices and remaining Parmesan cheese to the bowl and toss to coat.
6. Divide the chicken and salad between plates. Drizzle the chicken with some of the remaining honey Dijon mayo. Serve with lemon wedges and extra honey Dijon mayo on the side.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use chicken breasts instead of cutlets?

Yes, you can use boneless skinless chicken breasts. Slice them in half horizontally to create thinner cutlets or pound them to an even thickness for faster cooking.

What can I substitute for sunflower seeds?

Chopped almonds, pecans or pumpkin seeds work well as substitutes. Toast them lightly for extra flavor.

Is the hot sauce necessary?

The hot sauce adds a subtle kick, but you can omit it or replace with a pinch of cayenne pepper if you prefer less heat.