Decadent, delicious, nutrient-dense and, while it seems like crusted chicken breast would be a pain to prepare, this recipe is actually very straight-forward! I don’t have professionally-filmed cooking videos to go with very many recipes, but I do for this one! Yes, it’s one of the recipes I developed for the Paleo Bites TV pilot. There, I served Pecan-Crusted Chicken Breast with Cauliflower Gravy with a few veggies for a super-simple “intro to Paleo” meal your whole family will love!
You can watch the entire pilot episode here:
When the crew got to taste the recipe for the first time after our first complete run-through, they were blown away by how such simple ingredients could create such depth of flavor. I love how this recipe demonstrates two things very effectively: 1) Paleo cooking doesn’t have to be hard; and 2) Paleo foods are delicious! Because of how many people tackle Paleo as a New Year’s Resolution, it seemed like the perfect recipe to share to dispel these pervasive Paleo myths!
This recipe is also very versatile. Go ahead and add your favorite spice blend to the ground pecan mixture. Allergic to nuts? Pumpkin seeds make a delicious nut-free alternative! This is a fun base recipe that you can play around with to make your own signature dish!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts (about 2lbs)
- 1 egg
- 1 cup pecans
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/2 cups broth
- 1/2 head cauliflower
- 1 clove garlic
- Salt, to taste
Directions
- Preheat oven to 425F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or silicone liner.
- Pulse pecans in a food processor until the consistency of coarse sand. Combine with salt and pepper in a shallow bowl.
- Gently whip egg white with a fork.
- Dry chicken breasts with paper towel. Dredge in egg white and gently wipe off excess with your fingers. Dredge in pecans then place on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 25 minutes, flipping at the 15-minute mark.
- Meanwhile, cut cauliflower into florets. Place in a pot with garlic and broth.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Simmer 15 minutes, until cauliflower is overcooked. Pour broth and cauliflower into a high powered blender. Blend for 1 minute, or until completely smooth. Taste and season with salt to taste.
- Serve chicken with gravy.

The #1 Tool for Paleo and AIP success!
Create completely customizable and versatile meal plans with thousands of top-notch recipes; make shopping a breeze with the app, and even get reminders for meal prep timing! Get all my recipes from ThePaleoMom.com for just $1 more when you sign up for meal planning with Real Plans!
Want to track what you are eating? Check out the NEW Real Plans Macro Tracker!
You may enjoy these related posts:
Cauliflower Gravy
My first attempt at a Paleo-friendly gravy was way back on my very first …
Mashed Sweet Potato
Mashed sweet potatoes are the ultimate alternative to traditional mashed …
Chicken Pot Pie
This recipe was inspired by a “cream” sauce that I created for a recipe in The …
Bacon-Braised Kale
Kale is a considered a “superfood” for a reason—it has the most nutrients per …
Herb-Crusted Roast Beef with Paleo Yorkshire Puddings and Gravy
I used to be quite famous (er, among my family members but I’m still sticking …
Classic Bread Stuffing and a Thanksgiving Recipe Roundup
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love everything about it: taking some …
Greek-Inspired Baked Chicken Breast
This simple chicken dish is quick to put together and makes a perfect mid-week …
Pecan Pie
I’ve always enjoyed pecan pie although also have always found it to be overly …
Asparagus Soup
This simple soup achieves its rich creamy flavor by using the whole asparagus, …
Mustard and Rosemary Roasted Chicken
What do I love most about roasting whole chicken? It’s easy, takes very little …
Herbed Chicken Savory Crepes with Wild Mushroom “Cream” Sauce
I was so honored to be the US Wellness Meats’ Featured Chef for August, …
Baked Bengali Tandoori Chicken with Aloo Gobi (nightshade-free)
It’s hard to compete with the intense and just plain ol’ amazing flavor of …