Creamy Parmesan Baked Caesar Chicken (Printable)
Tender chicken baked in creamy Caesar sauce with golden Parmesan topping
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Sauce
04 - 3/4 cup creamy Caesar dressing
05 - 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
06 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
09 - 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
→ Topping
10 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
11 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and black pepper. Arrange in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a medium bowl, combine Caesar dressing, sour cream (or Greek yogurt), grated Parmesan, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice. Mix until smooth.
04 - Spread the sauce evenly over the chicken breasts, ensuring they are fully coated.
05 - Sprinkle mozzarella and additional Parmesan over the top.
06 - Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F) and the top is golden and bubbling.
07 - Let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sauce transforms into something velvety and rich that tastes like it simmered for hours
- Cleanup is basically nonexistent since everything happens in one pan
02 -
- Overcrowding the pan means steaming instead of baking, so give the chicken some room
- The sauce will look thin going in but thickens beautifully while baking
03 -
- Thinner chicken breasts cook faster, so check around 20 minutes to avoid drying them out
- Use freshly grated Parmesan from a wedge rather than the pre-grated container stuff