Creamy Parmesan Baked Caesar Chicken (Print Version)
Tender chicken baked in rich Caesar-parmesan sauce with melted mozzarella topping
# What You 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:
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 pepper. Arrange in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a medium bowl, combine Caesar dressing, sour cream, 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder. Whisk until smooth and well blended.
04 - Spread the Caesar sauce mixture evenly over each chicken breast, covering completely.
05 - Sprinkle mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese evenly over the sauced chicken. Add dried Italian herbs if using for additional flavor.
06 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the cheese is melted and golden brown.
07 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sauce creates this incredible velvety blanket around the chicken that keeps it moist even after 30 minutes in the oven
- Its one of those rare weeknight meals that looks fancy enough for Sunday dinner but takes about seven minutes of actual work
02 -
- Don't be tempted to skip the resting period because the sauce will slide right off the chicken onto your plate instead of staying where it belongs
- If your chicken breasts are particularly thick, slice them horizontally before cooking or they will take forever to finish while the cheese burns
03 -
- Let the chicken sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before cooking for more even cooking throughout
- Use freshly shredded mozzarella instead of pre-shredded bag cheese which has anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting