Description

Heavenly Chicken is a deliciously creamy and crunchy baked chicken recipe featuring tender chicken breasts coated with a flavorful blend of sour cream, spices, and crispy Ritz cracker crumbs. Perfectly baked to juicy perfection and topped with a buttery crust, this easy-to-make dish is a crowd-pleaser ideal for weeknight dinners or special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Coating

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 ½ cups crushed Ritz crackers
2 tablespoons melted butter

Garnish

Parsley (for garnish)

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
Pound Chicken: Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness to ensure they cook uniformly and remain tender.
Prepare Sour Cream Mixture: In a shallow dish, combine the sour cream with garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika, stirring well to create a flavorful coating mixture.
Prepare Cracker Coating: Place the crushed Ritz crackers in a separate shallow dish for dredging the chicken.
Coat Chicken: Dip each chicken breast first into the sour cream mixture, then press into the crushed Ritz crackers ensuring a thorough coat on all sides.
Arrange and Butter: Place the coated chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish and drizzle the melted butter evenly over them to enhance browning and flavor.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring it is fully cooked and juicy.
Rest and Serve: Let the chicken rest for 3-4 minutes after baking to allow juices to redistribute. Garnish with parsley before slicing and serving.

Notes

Using a meat thermometer helps ensure the chicken is safely cooked to the right temperature.
The sour cream mixture not only adds flavor but helps the cracker crumbs adhere better.
For extra crispiness, you can broil the chicken for an additional 1-2 minutes after baking, watching closely to prevent burning.
Substitute Ritz crackers with gluten-free crackers for a gluten-free version.
Letting the chicken rest after cooking keeps it juicy and tender when sliced.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: baked chicken, creamy chicken, crispy chicken, Ritz cracker chicken, easy chicken dinner, sour cream chicken