No one likes a cheater, but everyone loves Cheater Chicken Dinner. Does that make sense? Oh, you’ll definitely understand once you taste the crunchy, panko and parmesan-coated chicken. It gets roasted with some tender green beans while some fluffy, flavorful couscous gets made on the stovetop. So, as you can see, Cheater Chicken Dinner is a breeze to make but super filling and tastes like a luxury. It feels like you’re cheating to win dinnertime, but you’re really not!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon hot smoked paprika
- 4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
- 2 (6-ounce) chicken breasts
- kosher salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 6 ounces green beans
- 1/2 cup Israeli couscous
- 2 tablespoons garlic herb butter
- 2 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced, whites and green separated
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
Directions
Step 1 –Adjust the oven rack to the middle position.
Step 2 –Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Step 3 –Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil.
Step 4 –In a small bowl, combine the panko, the parmesan, the paprika, 2 teaspoons of the olive oil, the salt, and the pepper.
Step 5 –Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season them with the salt and the pepper.
Step 6 –Evenly brush the tops of the chicken with the sour cream.
Step 7 –Mound the panko mixture on top of the chicken breasts, pressing it firmly to adhere. You do not need to coat the undersides of the chicken.
Step 8 –On one side of a rimmed baking sheet, toss the green beans with the remaining olive oil, the salt, and the pepper.
Step 9 –Place the chicken, crust-side up, on the empty side of the same sheet.
Step 10 –Roast until the green beans are tender and the chicken is cooked to 165 degrees F internally, about 15-17 minutes. If the chicken needs more time, transfer the green beans to a plate and let the chicken continue roasting.
Step 11 –Once the salted water is boiling, add the couscous to the pot.
Step 12 –Cook the couscous until tender, about 6-8 minutes.
Step 13 –Drain the couscous thoroughly.
Step 14 –In an empty pot over medium heat, melt the garlic herb butter.
Step 15 –Add the scallion whites to the butter and cook until softened, about 1 minute.
Step 16 –Add the couscous to the butter and scallion mixture, stirring to coat.
Step 17 –Taste the couscous for seasoning.
Step 18 –Toss the green beans with the lemon zest and lemon juice.
Step 19 –Divide the chicken, the couscous, and the green beans between two serving plates.
Step 20 –Serve garnished with the green parts of the scallions.
