Description
A kid-approved, crispy, and flavorful baked chicken coated with buttery Ritz crackers, perfect for easy weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 pounds / 680g), sliced horizontally if thick
- 2 sleeves Ritz crackers, crushed (about 4 cups / 120g)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (50g)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (60g)
- 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil (30ml)
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Optional: 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- If chicken breasts are thick, slice horizontally to about 1/2-inch thickness. Pat dry with paper towels.
- Crush Ritz crackers into fine crumbs using a food processor or by placing in a zip-top bag and crushing with a rolling pin.
- In a bowl, combine crushed crackers, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, salt, pepper, and optional smoked paprika and lemon zest.
- Set up three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with the cracker mixture.
- Lightly dust each chicken piece with flour, shaking off excess.
- Dip chicken into beaten eggs, letting excess drip off.
- Press chicken firmly into the cracker mixture, coating both sides well.
- Place coated chicken pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Drizzle melted butter or olive oil evenly over the coated chicken.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until crust is golden and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Let chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Use room temperature chicken for even cooking and better coating adhesion. Press cracker mixture firmly onto chicken for best crunch. Butter gives a richer crust than olive oil but olive oil is a good lower-calorie alternative. Flip chicken halfway through baking for even browning. Do not overcrowd the pan. Coated chicken can be refrigerated up to 4 hours before baking. To reheat leftovers, warm in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes to maintain crispiness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece of chicken b
- Calories: 350
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Protein: 35
Keywords: crispy chicken, Ritz cracker chicken, kid-friendly dinner, easy chicken recipe, baked chicken, crunchy chicken