Five-Ingredient Garlic Chicken: A Weeknight Miracle in Under 15 Minutes
Jamie Oliver promises a weeknight miracle: crispy, garlicky chicken made with just five ingredients and ready in under 15 minutes. This is dinner that feels comforting and special, without the fuss. On his website, he writes: 'Super-simple to put together, this is a great, fast method for really good, crispy crumbed chicken, and I've added garlic for extra flavour. Pounding the chicken, both before adding the crumbs and to help them to stick, tenderises the meat and makes it even quicker to cook.'
In This Article:
Five Simple Ingredients You Need
The five ingredients are chicken breasts, bread, garlic, lemon juice, and rocket leaves. To start, position the chicken between two large sheets of baking paper and bash them with the bottom of a frying pan or a rolling pin to flatten. Tear the bread and blitz it in a food processor alongside the garlic until you have fine breadcrumbs. Scatter these over the chicken, cover again with baking paper, and bash to press the crumbs into the meat. Heat a frying pan over medium and cook the chicken for three minutes on each side until crispy, golden brown, and fully cooked through. Finish by drizzling lemon juice over the rocket leaves and serving with the chicken.
The Technique That Keeps It Fast
Pounding the chicken before breading and again to press the crumbs into the meat helps tenderise it and speeds cooking. The recipe is designed to be finished in under 15 minutes from start to finish. The method is simple: a quick fry to crisp the coating, then a bright finish with lemon on rocket for a lively, zesty plate.
Why It Matters: An Accessible Weeknight Win
This dish makes weeknight meals feel easy and rewarding. With only five ingredients and a fast method, it shows you don’t need a long, complex recipe to create something delicious. The lemony rocket and the crispy garlic chicken come together for a comforting, flavour-packed dinner that’s ready before you know it.
