Almond-Crusted Chicken With Marinated Kale (Printable Version)

Crispy almond-crusted chicken served alongside vibrant marinated kale and sumac salad. A gluten-free, protein-rich main dish ready in 45 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Almond-Crusted Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 cup almond meal or finely ground almonds
03 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1 tsp garlic powder
05 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 tsp salt
07 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 2 tbsp olive oil for frying

→ Marinated Kale and Sumac Salad

10 - 1 large bunch kale, stems removed, leaves torn into bite-sized pieces
11 - 2 tbsp olive oil
12 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
13 - 1/2 tsp salt
14 - 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
15 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
16 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
17 - 2 tsp sumac
18 - 1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a shallow bowl, combine almond meal, Parmesan, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
03 - In another bowl, beat the eggs thoroughly.
04 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Dip each breast in the beaten eggs, then coat thoroughly with the almond mixture, pressing gently to ensure adherence.
05 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sear chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown.
06 - Transfer seared chicken to the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes until cooked through, with internal temperature reaching 165°F.
07 - While chicken bakes, massage kale in a large bowl with olive oil, lemon juice, and salt until leaves soften, approximately 2 minutes.
08 - Add red onion, cherry tomatoes, parsley, and sumac to the kale. Toss well to combine.
09 - Top salad with toasted slivered almonds just before serving.
10 - Serve almond-crusted chicken alongside the marinated kale and sumac salad.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The almond crust stays incredibly crunchy even after baking, giving you restaurant quality texture at home.
  • Massaging the kale transforms it from tough to tender in under two minutes, and the sumac brings a lemony brightness without any extra citrus.
  • Everything comes together in under an hour, making it perfect for busy evenings when you still want to feel like you cooked something real.
02 -
  • Do not skip patting the chicken dry, any moisture will prevent the almond crust from sticking properly and you will lose some of that beautiful coating in the pan.
  • Massage the kale for the full 2 minutes, it truly changes the texture from tough and bitter to tender and sweet, and skipping this step leaves the salad chewy.
  • Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness, overcooked chicken breasts turn dry and rubbery, and 165°F is the perfect point where they stay juicy inside.
03 -
  • Toast the slivered almonds in a dry skillet for a few minutes before adding them to the salad, it deepens their flavor and makes them even crunchier.
  • Press the almond crust onto the chicken firmly with your hands, a light dusting will not give you that satisfying crunch you are after.
  • Let the chicken rest for a few minutes after baking so the juices redistribute, slicing into it immediately can make it dry out faster.
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