Use leftover hummus to make a crispy, creamy topping for baked chicken! Add a squeeze of lemon and a salad for an easy, fresh and healthy weeknight meal.
Fall is my favorite season… what’s yours?
However, try as I might to get into the mug-of-cider-cozy-sweaters-pumpkin spice spirit of things, summer is very much still present here in Austin. The toasty temps outside remind me of this every minute! Specifically in the morning, when I think, “Oh, it looks like a nice overcast day with a nip in the air. I think I’ll pull on my boots and go crunch some crisp leaves.” Until I walk outside and BAM – humidity, mosquitoes and sun. Scorching, incessant sun that keeps my favorite fall clothes on lockdown until at least November. Sigh.
Regardless of the heat, I’m firing up my oven and churning out delicious meals like this hummus-crusted chicken! A girl can pretend, after all.
Hummus may seem like a funny topping, but it produces the most colorful, crisp crust on baked chicken. The flavor of the hummus is only heightened by the heat of your oven, and what results is ridiculously scrumptious. The taste is creamy, nutty and deliciously fragrant… nudged along with a few spices and freshly minced garlic.
A squeeze of lemon over top makes this a perfect Mediterranean meal for weeknights or special dinners in! Just serve a salad alongside, or my One-Pan Greek Orzo with Tomatoes and Feta. A killer flavor combination!
Baked Hummus-Crusted Lemon Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup hummus
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 lemon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Place chicken breasts on the baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, combine hummus, minced garlic, paprika, cumin and chili powder. Using a spoon, scoop hummus on top of chicken, spreading evenly to coat. Squeeze one lemon half over each chicken breast.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and hummus has crisped.
- Enjoy!
This looks so good! I had hummous on polenta as part of my breakfast, and then I spotted this recipe and I was in awe – why did I never think of this? It looks fantastic, and I bet the hummous helps the chicken hold onto some of the juices as well :)
It looks like the perfect Summer-Autumn Equinox dish Georgia :D And that rice on the side with so many delicious additions looks great too, such a good-mood dish :) x
I’ve never tried hummus as crust for chicken before but this looks soooo good! Now I can’t wait to try it out. I love my crusted baked chicken to be really crunchy, so I’m pretty sure I won’t be disappointed!
xo, Elisa
I’m definately going to make this. and I would like mine to look every bit as lovely as yours. Please tell what you used as your ‘side dish’. Your presentation is phenominal!
Thanks Angela! I used a variation of my One-Pan Greek Orzo with Tomatoes and Feta (recipe here: http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2014/07/one-pan-greek-orzo-with-tomatoes-and-feta.html) with different add-ins like bell peppers, sun dried tomatoes and olives.
What a clever and easy idea. When you think all the ideas for chicken recipes
have been done, a new idea pops up. This is one of them. Unique and easy—a wonderful combo.
Ok, I’ve been hearing about this for a while now, but haven’t tried it yet! That chicken looks SERIOUSLY crispy which I love!!
This looks like the PERFECT meal to me. I even have some leftover hummus in need of use. Dinner plans = set. :)
This chicken is perfectly cooked. I love t his recipe.
I would have never thought to use hummus like this! It looks and sounds fantastic!
This is my kind of dinner!
Dear Georgia: Thanks ‘so very much’ for telling me about the side-dish which you used with the “Baked Hummus Crusted Chicken” recipe. I have a special occasion coming up, so I’m planning to serve your lovely Chicken & Side Dish to our guests.. I’ll need to increase the recipe in order to feed 8 people, but that’s no problem-o. I gotta’ tell ya’ that I love your recipies, since most of them reflect the way in which my family & I like to cook & to eat. I’m ‘so’ glad that I came across your wonderful Blog. Please keep your terrific recipies coming, since they’re not only delicious & very beautiful, but also relatively easy to prepare.
I made it tonight and it turned out delicious. Tasty, easy, low prep… Love it! Thank you!