Cheesy Baked Chicken Breast (Printable Version)

Tender baked chicken breasts topped with melted cheese and crispy breadcrumbs for an easy meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (5.3 oz each)

→ Seasonings

02 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
03 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Topping

07 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (about 3.5 oz)
08 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (about 1.75 oz)
09 - 1/2 cup panko or regular breadcrumbs (about 1.6 oz)
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

→ For greasing

12 - 1 tablespoon olive oil or nonstick spray

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil or nonstick spray.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Arrange them evenly in the prepared baking dish.
03 - Combine garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken breasts.
04 - In a separate bowl, mix shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Sprinkle the cheese mixture evenly over the seasoned chicken breasts.
05 - Mix breadcrumbs with melted butter until well combined. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the cheese layer on the chicken.
06 - Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and the topping is golden and bubbly. Ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
07 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The contrast between the tender chicken inside and that gloriously crunchy, golden topping is genuinely addictive.
  • It's humble enough for a weeknight but impressive enough that you won't feel bad serving it to guests.
  • There's barely any cleanup, and you can prep it while the oven preheats.
02 -
  • Patting the chicken dry is non-negotiable—moisture is the enemy of a crispy topping, so don't skip it even if you're in a hurry.
  • Watch the oven after the 22-minute mark because every oven is different; you're looking for that deep golden color, not just pale and bubbly.
  • The breadcrumb mixture must be coated in butter; dry breadcrumbs will stay pale and powdery instead of turning crispy and golden.
03 -
  • Use freshly shredded cheese if you can—the pre-shredded stuff has anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting as smoothly.
  • If your chicken breasts are particularly thick, gently pound them to an even thickness before seasoning so they cook at the same rate.
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