Description
Crispy cheddar chicken brings comfort and crunch to weeknight dinners with its golden, cheesy coating. Crackers and sharp cheddar create a perfect crackly exterior that seals in juicy chicken, making you crave another delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Cheese and Coating:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers (or breadcrumbs)
Seasonings:
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup milk
- Cooking spray or melted butter
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400F (200C) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or light grease to ensure easy chicken removal.
- Tenderize chicken breasts to uniform thickness, enhancing even cooking and texture.
- Season chicken thoroughly with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika for robust flavor penetration.
- Create three separate stations: milk bowl, shredded cheddar cheese bowl, and crushed cracker bowl for efficient coating process.
- Dunk each chicken piece into milk, allowing excess to drip off, then generously cover with cheddar cheese.
- Firmly press coated chicken into crushed crackers, ensuring complete and even cracker coverage.
- Arrange chicken on prepared baking sheet, maintaining space between pieces for optimal crispiness.
- Lightly spray chicken with cooking spray or drizzle melted butter to enhance golden-brown exterior and add richness.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until chicken reaches golden-brown color and internal temperature reaches 165F (74C).
- Remove from oven and let rest briefly before serving with preferred dipping sauce or complementary side dishes.
Notes
- Tenderize chicken evenly to ensure uniform cooking and prevent dry spots.
- Use full-fat milk for better cheese adherence and richer flavor profile.
- Crush crackers finely for maximum crispiness and even coating coverage.
- Experiment with different cheese varieties like sharp cheddar or pepper jack for unique taste variations.
- For gluten-free version, replace crackers with gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed almond flour.
- Allow chicken to rest 3-5 minutes after baking to lock in juices and maintain moisture.
- Check internal temperature with meat thermometer to guarantee safe, perfectly cooked chicken.
- Leftovers can be stored in refrigerator for 2-3 days and reheated in oven to maintain crispiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 565 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 760 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 49 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg