Garlic Chicken with Crunchy Chip-Basil Crust

Yesterday marked my very last "first day of school" ever! I'm starting the final year of my program and this time next year I will (hopefully) be working as an OT. The thought of that makes me over-the-moon excited and sick-to-my-stomach nervous all at the same time.

The last few weeks have been pretty busy, so I haven't had a whole lot of time for trying new recipes in the kitchen. I'm hoping to get some delicious new recipes going over the next few days/weeks! I love baking in the fall because it means whipping out all the delicious spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, etc. etc. It just makes the whole kitchen smell cozy and yummy :)


Today, I'm sharing with you a brand new way to coat your chicken breast: with potato chips! That's right, this recipe uses crushed potato chips as a coating for a savory chicken dinner. It was so tasty, I wanted to keep eating it even when there was none left! I highly recommend trying this recipe. Enjoy!

Garlic Chicken with Crunchy Chip-Basil Crust
Prep Time: 1-4hrs      Bake Time: 25-30 mins      Yields 6 servings

Ingredients:
THE MARINADE
6 Tbsps olive oil
2 Tbsps garlic, minced
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
3 Tbsps dijon mustard
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (3 full breasts)

THE COATING
6 oz plain potato chips, crushed
1 cup soda cracker pieces, crushed
1/2 cup fresh basil, coarsely chopped
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 Tbsps unsalted butter, melted

Directions:
1) In a large bowl combine olive oil, garlic, cayenne, mustard, and basil. Rinse the chicken breasts, pat them dry, and add them to the bowl, being sure to coat them completely. Cover and refrigerate for 1-4 hours.
2) In a large shallow dish combine chips, crackers, basil, and pepper. Drizzle melted butter over mixture and toss until well combined.
3) Preheat oven to 450 F. Butter a large baking sheet and set aside.
4) Remove chicken breasts, one at a time, from marinade. Do not wipe off marinade. Place chicken breast into the crumb mixture and scoop some crumbs on top of chicken, patting to secure the crumbs to the chicken. Place prepared chicken breast on the pan. Repeat with remaining chicken breasts.
5) Bake chicken until it is crisp and cooked completely, about 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and serve immediately.

(Recipe adapted from 101 Delicious Chicken Recipes)