chicken breasts with herb butter

How to make chicken breasts with herb butter recipe

Serves 4, Total cooking time 20 minutes

Ingredients:
50 g (2 oz) butter, softened
grated rind of 1 lemon
1 garlic clove, crushed
handful of basil, finely chopped
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
6 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for greasing
100 g (3½ oz) dried breadcrumbs
25 g (1 oz) Parmesan cheese, grated
salt and pepper

Method:
Mix together the butter, lemon rind, garlic and basil and season to taste. Use a sharp knife to make a small horizontal slit in the side of each chicken breast to form a little pocket, making sure you don’t cut all the way through the meat. Tuck some of the butter inside each breast, then smooth over to seal.

Rub 1 tablespoon of the oil over each chicken breast and season well. Put the breadcrumbs on a plate and dip each breast in the crumbs until well coated.

Transfer the chicken to a lightly greased baking tin, sprinkle over the Parmesan, drizzle with the remaining oil and cook in a preheated oven, 200°C (400°F), Gas Mark 6, for 20 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Serve with new potatoes and green beans.

For herby chicken sandwiches:
Mix together 6 tablespoons mayonnaise, the finely grated rind of ½ lemon and a handful of chopped basil.

Cut 4 skinless chicken breast fillets into slices, season and rub with 2 tablespoons oil. Cook on a preheated griddle pan for 5 minutes, turning once, until seared and cooked through.

Spread the mayonnaise on the cut sides of 4 split ciabatta rolls and fill with the warm chicken and some salad leaves. Total cooking time 10 minutes.

chicken breasts with herb butter