Crispy Chicken Greek Pasta (Print version)

Golden chicken with pasta, fresh vegetables, and tangy feta in zesty dressing

# What You Need:

→ For the Crispy Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 2 large eggs, beaten
04 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
05 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
09 - 1/3 cup olive oil for frying

→ For the Pasta

10 - 12 oz short pasta (penne, fusilli, or rigatoni)
11 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
12 - Salt for pasta water

→ For the Greek Salad Mix

13 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
14 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
15 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely sliced
16 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
17 - 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
18 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ For the Dressing

19 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
20 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
21 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
22 - 1 garlic clove, finely minced
23 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Set up three shallow bowls: place flour in the first, beaten eggs in the second, and mix panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in the third bowl.
02 - Dredge each chicken piece first in flour, shaking off excess, then dip in egg, and finally coat thoroughly with the panko-Parmesan mixture, pressing gently to adhere the coating.
03 - Heat 1/3 cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry chicken pieces in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
04 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil to prevent sticking.
05 - In a large bowl, combine cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, and fresh parsley.
06 - Whisk together extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
07 - Combine the cooked pasta with the dressed Greek salad mixture in a large serving bowl and toss well. Top with crispy chicken bites. Garnish with additional feta and parsley if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Crispy golden chicken meets cool crunchy vegetables in every single bite
  • The homemade dressing ties everything together with that bright Mediterranean tang
  • It looks impressive but comes together in under an hour
02 -
  • Do not overcrowd the pan when frying chicken or the temperature will drop and you will lose that crunch
  • Let the chicken drain on paper towels, not paper towels layered on each other, to maintain crispiness
  • The pasta absorbs dressing as it sits, so assemble right before serving if you want it bright and fresh
03 -
  • Pat the chicken pieces completely dry before coating them or the breading will slide right off
  • Let the coated chicken rest for 5 minutes before frying to help the coating adhere better
  • Warm your serving plates slightly so the chicken stays crispy longer at the table
Return