Creamy Parmesan Baked Caesar Chicken (Printable)
Tender chicken baked in creamy Caesar-parmesan sauce with melted cheese 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)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt and pepper. Arrange them in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a medium bowl, mix Caesar dressing, sour cream, 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder until well combined.
04 - Spread the sauce evenly over the chicken breasts.
05 - Sprinkle mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese evenly over the top. If desired, add Italian herbs for extra flavor.
06 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F) and the top is golden and bubbly.
07 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sauce stays incredibly creamy and never separates in the oven
- Everything comes together in one dish with almost zero prep work
- Even people who claim to hate Caesar dressing ask for seconds
02 -
- Thin chicken breasts will cook faster than thick ones, so try to buy pieces of similar size
- The sauce might look thin going into the oven but it thickens beautifully while baking
- If the cheese starts browning too quickly, tent the dish loosely with foil
03 -
- Room temperature chicken cooks more evenly, so let it sit out for 20 minutes before seasoning
- A meat thermometer takes all the guesswork out of knowing when it is done