Description
Crispy Cheddar Chicken delivers pure comfort straight from your kitchen, with golden-crusted chicken that crackles beautifully when cut. Cheesy, crunchy goodness makes dinner feel like a warm hug from your favorite home cook.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 large chicken breasts
Cheese and Crumb Coating:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed
Sauce and Seasoning:
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 400°F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish thoroughly with butter or cooking spray.
- Crush the Ritz crackers into fine crumbs in a shallow bowl. Mix in ¼ tsp salt and ⅛ tsp pepper.
- Pour ½ cup milk into a separate shallow bowl. Spread 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese on a plate.
- Dunk each chicken breast first in milk, ensuring complete coverage. Roll the wet chicken in cheddar cheese, pressing firmly to help cheese stick.
- Roll the cheese-covered chicken in the seasoned cracker crumbs, coating every surface evenly.
- Arrange the coated chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle any remaining cheese and cracker mixture over the top.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil. Bake at 400°F for 35 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking for 10-15 minutes until the chicken turns golden brown and crispy.
- While chicken bakes, prepare the sauce by combining 1 can cream of chicken soup, 2 tbsp sour cream, and 2 tbsp butter in a small saucepan.
- Heat the sauce over medium heat, stirring until smooth and warm.
- Drizzle the sauce over the crispy chicken before serving. Garnish with 1 tsp dried parsley if desired.
Notes
- Crush Ritz crackers finely for a more even, crispy coating that adheres perfectly to the chicken.
- Use freshly shredded cheddar instead of pre-shredded cheese for better melting and richer flavor.
- Let chicken rest for 5 minutes after baking to help the coating set and juices redistribute.
- For a gluten-free version, swap Ritz crackers with gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 630 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 890 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 25 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 48 g
- Cholesterol: 175 mg