Pistachio-Crusted Chicken with Honey Drizzle
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This is your sign: it’s time to mix things up with your regular chicken dinner! You absolutely won’t regret it if you swap in this crispy, crunchy, sweet-and-salty pistachio chicken. It tastes amazing, plus it’s so simple to make — you could serve pistachio-crusted chicken any day of the week or for a dinner party!
Why swap pistachio chicken for your regular crispy chicken recipe
- Taste reigns supreme: This is not to be overstated. The salty and crunchy pistachios, the sweet, delicious honey, and the crispiness of the chicken after hanging under the broiler for a few minutes are truly what dinner dreams are made of.
- Simplicity is key: Without exaggerating, if you can put chicken in the oven, you can make this pistachio chicken recipe. It only takes 10 minutes to prep, and the rest is oven time!
- Easy on the budget: Although things dabble in the fancier realm with the crushed pistachios in this recipe, you only need ⅓ of a cup. Head to the bulk section of your grocery store and only take what you need. Plus, this pistachio chicken uses chicken thigh,s which you can get at a better price than many other cuts of chicken or other kinds of meat.
Ingredients needed
You’re going to be floored at how few ingredients produce this salty-sweet, delicious pistachio chicken:
- Pistachios: Use a food processor to grind your shelled pistachios. This will form the basis of your coating, so most pieces should be quite small but some larger pieces are ok too.
- Sea salt & pepper: Since there’s so few spices in this recipe, generously season your chicken thighs before coating with the pistachios.
- Olive oil & cooking spray oil: You will drizzle the olive oil on the chicken before coating to help it stick to the meat, and then after you’ve coated each piece with pistachios you can spray with cooking spray oil to help the thighs crisp up in the oven.
- Honey: You wouldn’t think it, but the honey is the very last ingredient you’ll add to your chicken, after it’s finished cooking. Drizzle the honey overtop of your cooked chicken, to get that perfect crispy, salty, sweet combination.
- Chicken thighs: Use boneless chicken thighs for this recipe. This is a flavorful and relatively economical cut of meat, however, you can use chicken breasts if you prefer.
What to serve with pistachio chicken
Pistachio chicken goes well with so many dishes! Here are a couple of side dish options that will pair well with your centerpiece:
- Salad: You can slice the chicken and serve it over the salad as a great lunch option or you can serve salad on the side. Try pistachio chicken with our roasted winter green salad, arugula and wild rice salad, or a pomegranate salad with spinach – yum!
- Veggies: This chicken dinner is excellent with some garlic butter asparagus, grilled mushrooms, pan seared brussels sprouts, or some cauliflower rice.
- Starchs: Mmm — you could go with rice, potatoes, or pasta! Try pistachio chicken with this garlic butter rice, or crispy roasted potatoes, maybe even some mashed purple sweet potatoes. If you want to serve your chicken over pasta, try this simple creamy tomato pasta or garlic butter pasta.
Recipe FAQs
Can I use chicken breasts for this pistachio chicken recipe?
You can use chicken breasts; however, they aren’t as tender or flavorful as chicken thighs. That said, if you choose to use chicken breasts, all you have to do is adjust the cooking time to 20 minutes.
What dip would go well with pistachio chicken?
Great question! If you want to dunk your chicken in a delicious sauce, try this curry dipping sauce or a mayo mustard sauce.
Can I use another type of nut instead of pistachios?
You can use other nuts to create the crust, like crushed almonds, pecans, or cashews.
How do I know when the chicken is cooked?
If you’re baking chicken thighs, it should take 15-18 minutes, and if you’re using chicken breasts, it will take a little longer in the oven, more like 20 minutes. To know for sure, use a meat thermometer to know when the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pistachio-Crusted Chicken with Honey Drizzle
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup shelled pistachios (ground in your food processor (some chunks are ok))
- 8 boneless chicken thighs (or 4 small chicken breasts)
- ½ teaspoon EACH: sea salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Cooking spray oil
- ¼ cup honey
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add the shelled pistachios to your food processor and blend until they're mostly ground – a few chunks are ok.⅓ cup shelled pistachios
- Dry the chicken with paper towels and then season them with salt and pepper. Drizzle with the olive oil.8 boneless chicken thighs, 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ teaspoon EACH: sea salt and pepper
- Place the ground pistachios into a shallow bowl. Working with one piece of chicken at a time, bread the chicken with the ground pistachios.
- Move the breaded chicken to the baking dish. Press any remaining pistachios onto the tops of the chicken and then spray the chicken with cooking oil.Cooking spray oil
- Bake the chicken for 15-18 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the chicken is cooked, drizzle the honey over the top and serve right away.¼ cup honey
Video
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
Looks amazing but would I be able to use chicken breast instead?
Sure! You’ll just need to adjust the cooking time. Chicken breasts take about 20 minutes to cook.
This looks delicious! I’m going to try making it for dinner tonight.
Thanks, Shareba! I hope you love it as much as I do!
It’s so simple … but so tasty!
Thank you! And thank you so much for the pin!! 🙂
Oh my word this sounds like prime comfort food! Pinning for future deliciousness.
Hope you and the bambino are doing well. I think you are in the home stretch?!?!?!
It totally is!
Yes, we are in the home stretch … one more month to go!!