Description
This Garlic Cheddar Chicken brings serious flavor to your dinner table, coating tender chicken with a crispy, cheesy crust that makes your taste buds dance with delight. Weeknight dinner heroes rejoice – this simple recipe turns plain chicken into something spectacular without any complicated techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup dry bread crumbs
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Seasonings:
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Supporting Ingredients:
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Melt ¼ cup of butter in a small bowl and crush 1 clove of garlic into the warm butter, mixing thoroughly to infuse the flavor.
- Mix 1 cup of dry bread crumbs with 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, ½ teaspoon of dried parsley, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper in a separate bowl.
- Take each chicken breast and dunk it completely into the garlic butter, ensuring every surface is coated with the aromatic mixture.
- Roll the butter-coated chicken in the bread crumb and cheese mixture, pressing firmly so the coating adheres completely to the meat.
- Arrange the breaded chicken breasts in a single layer inside the prepared baking dish, making sure they do not overlap.
- Slide the baking dish into the 350°F oven and bake for 35 minutes, checking that the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the coating turns a crispy golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes, which helps the juices redistribute and keeps the meat tender.
Notes
- Toast breadcrumbs beforehand for extra crunch and deeper flavor in your coating.
- Check chicken temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure perfectly cooked, juicy chicken every time.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular breadcrumbs with almond meal or gluten-free panko crumbs.
- If your chicken breasts are thick, consider pounding them to an even thickness before coating to guarantee consistent cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 452 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 603 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 39 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg