Cheesy Baked Chicken Breast (Printable)

Tender chicken breasts topped with melted cheese and crunchy breadcrumbs for simple satisfaction.

# What you need:

→ Chicken

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

→ Seasonings

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

→ Topping

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

→ For greasing

12 - 1 tbsp olive oil or nonstick spray

# How to make it:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's impossibly easy but tastes restaurant-quality, which means you get to feel secretly proud of yourself.
  • The cheese and breadcrumb topping creates this perfect textural contrast that keeps you coming back for another bite.
  • It's flexible enough to dress up or down depending on what's in your kitchen and what mood you're in.
02 -
  • Pat your chicken completely dry before seasoning, or the moisture will steam your breadcrumb topping instead of crisping it up.
  • Check the chicken's internal temperature with a meat thermometer—it's the only way to guarantee it's cooked through without drying it out, and it takes the guesswork completely out of dinner.
03 -
  • Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check doneness at 74°C (165°F)—it eliminates guesswork and guarantees moist chicken every time.
  • Shred your own cheese if you can; pre-shredded varieties contain anti-caking agents that prevent them from melting into those beautiful golden pools.
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