Parmesan crusted chicken is a winner in our family. It’s easy to make and packed with yummy flavors sure to please the entire family!
This Parmesan Crusted Chicken recipe is one of our family favorites. The easy recipe is packed with flavor! All of us will devour this delicious weeknight dinner. Anything that the boys ask me to make is a clear winner in this house!
I had something similar to this when we went out to eat years ago. We went to see the new Star Wars movie with friends and went to Longhorn Steakhouse afterward. On their menu was the delicious Parmesan-crusted chicken that I love! So, of course, I came home and tried to make something similar.
For the breading, I like to use Ritz crackers. They have a buttery flavor that adds to the overall taste of the meal. But, if you don’t have any or want something a bit healthier, bread crumbs would work as well.
The boys like when we do the crackers because I need them crushed. I place the sleeve of crackers in a zip-top bag and they have fun with the meat pounder. When we don’t do that and want to save the waste from the bag, I will use a food processor or the Magic Bullet to break the crackers and mix everything with it.
This isn’t exactly like the one from Longhorn. But it’s really close. And it’s easy to make at home. I like having very few ingredients in our meals. And, one-pan meals are always a bonus!
Serving Suggestions & Tips
- Garnish with fresh herbs, black pepper, sliced green onions, or lemon wedges.
- For a quicker cooking process, use chicken cutlets or chicken tenders instead of boneless skinless chicken breasts.
- If you don’t have Ritz crackers, cover the chicken with panko breadcrumbs.
- Serve with a side of steamed veggies such as green beans, carrots, broccoli, or cauliflower. This is also good with mashed potatoes or a side salad.
- To prevent sticking, spread some olive oil in the bottom of the baking dish before adding the chicken.
- Instead of parsley, add Italian seasoning for extra flavor.
- Fresh herbs will always taste better than dried herbs.
- Garnish with a squeeze of lemon juice.
- For easier cleanup, line the baking dish or baking sheet with parchment paper before adding the chicken to the pan.
- To make the breaded chicken crispier, place it under the broiler for 2-3 minutes after baking.
Parmesan Crusted Chicken Step by Step
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp Ranch dressing
- 1/2 sleeve Ritz crackers
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (shredded)
- 1/2 tbsp parsley flakes
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 400F. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel then place the chicken breasts in an 8×8 baking dish in a single layer.
Sprinkle with garlic powder, then spread a thin layer of Ranch dressing on the chicken.
Put the Ritz crackers in a zip-top bag and crush them with a meat mallet or rolling pin. Or, use a food processor to break the crackers.
Add the parmesan cheese and parsley to the crushed crackers.
Sprinkle the Parmesan mixture over the chicken, pressing to help it stick to the chicken.
Bake for at least 20 minutes. The top will be golden brown and the chicken needs to be cooked through to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Parmesan Crusted Chicken Leftovers
Storage: Let the chicken come to room temperature then cover it with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Reheating: The best way to reheat this crispy chicken is in a toaster oven or air fryer using medium-high heat until warmed through. You can also heat in a large skillet over medium heat until warm.
Recipe
Originally Published On: February 9, 2019
Last Updated On: November 25, 2024
Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp Ranch dressing
- 1/2 sleeve Ritz crackers
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (shredded)
- 1/2 tbsp parsley flakes
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F
- Arrange chicken in an 8×8 baking dish
- Sprinkle the chicken with garlic powder then spread a thin layer of ranch dressing on top
- Crush the Ritz crackers in a zip-top bag or use a food processor to crumble
- Add the parmesan cheese and parsley to the crackers
- Spread half of the cracker/cheese mixture on each chicken breast and pat down
- Bake about 20 minutes or until the top is golden and chicken is cooked through
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
This looks like something my brother would really like. He’s coming over tomorrow to plow the driveway for me, maybe I’ll make it for him.
Oh I hope he enjoys it!
Oh my that sounds and looks delicious! I need to revamp our usual boring chicken!
That’s why I like this, it’s something different from what I normally make!
Ranch, Ritz and parmesan? Sign me up! This sounds like such a tasty update to regular breaded chicken. Definitely going to try this soon!
The Ritz crackers add so much flavor to the chicken. As you said, quite an upgrade to regular breadcrumbs!
This looks really good and easy enough to follow. Love the step by step photos!
It’s pretty easy, but I like adding the step by steps since so many people are visual learners.
Anything crusted with ranch and parmesan and I’m sold! Looks super easy to follow too!!
It’s such an easy recipe! And tastes different than most other breaded chicken meals because of the Ritz crackers and ranch instead of egg and breadcrumbs.
Sounds delicious and seems easy to make, parmesan chicken would go down a treat in our house so will have to give this recipe a go!
You should try it, we all love this meal! Even my picky boys will eat this one.
I had this last night and it was amazing! I can’t wait to make it again.
Awesome, I’m glad you liked the meal!
OMG this sounds amazing. Seriously I tried making Parmesan chicken and it was not crusty and it was runny and I hated it. Totally trying this!
I’ve had that happen before with other recipes. I think this one works because the crust is so thick so it absorbs any moisture.
I absolutely believe that cheese makes everything better. That seems to be true for this yummy recipe. 😀
I couldn’t agree more! Cheese is everything for me 🙂
I can see how kids would enjoy participating in preparing this dish. Plus, it has all the crunchy, golden deliciousness most kids love. Bon appetite!
The kids enjoy crushing the crackers, and it’s a good stress reliever for me if I need it, too!
An ideal dinner dish for midweek or at the weekend. Looks very yummy for sure xx
We have a lot of quick meals like this during the week between school and work and Cub Scouts, it gets crazy!
This is actually one of my favorite ways to make “fried” chicken. I love the crust from the cheese, it adds a great texture and taste.
I agree. I am a bad “southerner” because I don’t eat a lot of regular fried foods. This gives the crisp with a lot more flavor than just breading.
I love parmesan chicken recipes I just love the dish, its easy to make and yummy to eat! I have been looking for a new one to try thank you for sharing
So happy to share! Hopefully, it tastes just as good as you remember.
Oh my gosh that looks delicious. I love Parmesan Chicken and got to try it!
It’s such a great combination! And the Ritz crackers give an extra boost of flavor, too.
I love any combination of meat and cheese. I have a similar recipe for chicken but I think yours is more delicious.
Me too. I love putting cheese on meat, so we do it a lot here. I’d love to know what you think of this one compared to your recipe!
Ah! A true classic! A perfect combo of flavours and textures on this one. This is for sure a crowd pleaser that does not require you to slave in the kitchen all day long as it’s fairly easy to make! Excellent recipe!
Thanks, Chelf! The simplicity of this one is what makes it so great. I’ve made it for a few family members who were visiting and they all enjoyed the meal.
Delish! Parmesan is definitely a perfect topping for chicken. I love making chicken with parm and it doesn’t hurt that my kids love to eat it too!
I agree, it goes so well together. My boys also love that they get to eat crackers as part of their main food with this one, too!
This looks absolutely mouth-watering 😋 I will try to make this one soon as the recipe is quite easy to follow! My hubby will love it for sure ❤
We all really enjoy this meal here, including my picky kids! It’s definitely a winner, I hope you enjoy it, too!