Creamy Parmesan Baked Caesar Chicken (Printable)
Tender chicken baked in rich Caesar-Parmesan sauce with melted mozzarella topping.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Sauce
04 - 3/4 cup creamy Caesar dressing
05 - 1/2 cup sour cream
06 - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
→ Topping
08 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
09 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (optional)
11 - Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or a small amount of oil.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and black pepper. Arrange seasoned chicken in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a medium bowl, combine Caesar dressing, sour cream, 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder. Whisk until smooth and fully incorporated.
04 - Spread the prepared sauce mixture evenly over each chicken breast, ensuring complete coverage.
05 - Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese and remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese evenly over the sauced chicken. If desired, add dried Italian herbs for additional flavor.
06 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and cheese topping is golden brown and bubbly.
07 - Remove from oven and let chicken rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Its the kind of effortless dinner that makes you look like you spent hours when really it took ten minutes to prep
- The sauce keeps the chicken incredibly moist while creating this irresistible cheesy crust on top
02 -
- Really pat that chicken dry before seasoning, otherwise the sauce slides right off instead of sticking to the meat
- Underbaking is better than overbaking, check at 25 minutes because the cheese can go from golden to burnt quickly
03 -
- Use freshly grated Parmesan instead of the pre shredded kind in the sauce, it melts so much better
- Let the chicken come to room temperature for about 20 minutes before cooking for more even results