Broiled Parmesan and Lemon Chicken {Foodie Friday}

I have been trying really hard to find dinners that are 1) quick, 2) easy 3)delicious and 4) new to our family. I don’t have a lot of time to get dinner ready after work, and I would like to not spend the entire evening in the kitchen when the weather is so delicious! I  think I had this on the table in about 20 minutes. I just served it with a side of canned green beans (fancy!), but I think it would also be excellent served on rice. Regardless, this recipe is definitely a keeper. *Note I used chicken tenderloins not chicken breasts, because that’s what I had. Just be sure to change your cooking time accordingly.

Broiled Parmesan and Lemon Chicken

*Note: If the chicken breasts I am using are on the thicker side, I like to slice them lengthwise to form two thinner chicken cutlets. It helps the flavor infuse into every bite and they cook more evenly.
*Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
4 tablespoons butter, softened
3 tablespoons light mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat your oven’s broiler. Grease a broiling pan or line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.In a small bowl, mix together the Parmesan cheese, butter, mayonnaise and lemon juice. Stir in the dried basil, pepper, salt, onion powder and garlic powder. Mix well and set aside.
Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer on the prepared pan. Lightly season each side of the chicken with salt and pepper. Broil a few inches from the broiler element for 4-5 minutes. Flip the chicken over and broil for a 3-4 more minutes, until mostly cooked through. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and spread an equal amount of the Parmesan mixture over the top of each chicken breast. Broil for another 2-3 minutes until the topping is golden and bubbly and the chicken is completely cooked through. Serve.

Source:  Mel’s Kitchen Cafe