Best Walnut Chicken Skillet Recipes

WALNUT-CRUSTED CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• Mix garlic, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, and thyme together in a bowl to make the "nut glue."
• Season chicken breasts generously with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Spread nut glue all over the chicken. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Toss walnuts over the chicken, press down firmly, and repeat on the other side to coat thoroughly. Refrigerate for 1 1/2 to 3 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Coat the bottom of an oven-proof skillet with some olive oil. Place chicken breasts on top, reserving excess nuts if desired. Season with a pinch of salt and drizzle more olive oil on top.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until walnuts are lightly toasted and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a breast reads 150 degrees F (66 degrees C), about 25 minutes.
• Quickly remove chicken to a plate to rest. Transfer skillet to the stovetop; stir in broth, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, and honey and bring to a boil over high heat; cook until reduced by about half, 3 to 4 minutes. Spoon pan sauce over and around the chicken to serve.

SAUTéED CHICKEN WITH WALNUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Turn the heat to medium under a nonstick skillet large enough to hold the chicken pieces without crowding them; use two skillets if necessary. Cook on the first side about 10 minutes, rotating the pieces and adjusting the heat as necessary to brown the pieces evenly. As the pieces brown, season with salt and pepper. Cook the second side as you did the first, then turn once or twice more until done, a total of 20 to 30 minutes. (You can check for doneness by cutting into the pieces; there should be no sign of blood, although traces of pink are all right. The breast and wing pieces will finish cooking first; keep them warm in a low oven, or just set them aside and serve them less than piping hot.)
• Meanwhile, soak the bread in the milk or stock. Put the walnuts, garlic and some salt in the container of a food processor, and pulse to grind coarsely. Gently squeeze some liquid from the bread, and add the bread to the container, along with the oil. Process until combined but not puréed. Add as much of the remaining milk or stock as necessary to give the mixture a mayonnaise-like consistency. By hand, add the paprika or chili powder, and stir in the parsley if you are using it. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary.
• Serve the chicken hot or at room temperature with the sauce spooned over it.

WALNUT CHICKEN WITH DIJON CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Between pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper, place each chicken breast smooth side down; gently pound with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/2 inch thick. In small bowl, mix melted butter and garlic powder. In shallow dish, mix bread crumbs, flour, walnuts, sesame seed, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Brush both sides of chicken with garlic butter; coat with bread crumb mixture.
• In 12-inch skillet, heat 1 tablespoon each of the butter and oil over medium heat until butter is melted. Add 3 chicken breasts; cook 8 to 12 minutes, turning once, until no longer pink in center. Remove from skillet to serving platter; cover to keep warm. Repeat with remaining 1 tablespoon each butter and oil and remaining 3 chicken breasts.
• Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, stir sauce ingredients with whisk until blended. Heat to simmering; cook 10 minutes or until mixture thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon. Serve chicken with sauce.

MAPLE WALNUT CHICKEN

Steps:

• 1.Combine olive oil, thyme, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• 2.Rub chicken with seasoning and let stand.
• 3.In a 12" nonstick skillet, toast walnuts over medium-low heat 4-6 min or until golden and fragrant, stirring constantly. Note: walnuts may burn quickly if left unattended.
• 4.Transfer walnuts to dish, and turn heat up to medium under the hot skillet.
• 5.Add chicken to same skillet. Cook 12 min or until done, turning frequently.
• 6.Transfer chicken to a clean plate.
• 7.Add vinegar to the chicken drippings in the hot skillet and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• 8.Add maple syrup and water, and simmer 6-7 min until slightly thickened. Stir in walnuts and serve on top of chicken.