Caesar Chicken

Caesar dressing is the not-so-secret ingredient in this tasty baked Caesar chicken recipe. People who love Caesar salad-inspired recipes will want to add this simple chicken dish to their weekly menu rotation. Store-bought salad dressing and croutons make the prep work a breeze, but if you’re feeling ambitious, you can make the dressing and croutons from scratch.

Caesar Chicken Ingredients

• Chicken: This baked Caesar chicken recipe calls for boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into halves. Each half should be about 6 ounces for even cooking.
• Caesar salad dressing: Caesar salad dressing brings flavor to this recipe. Use store-bought or make homemade Caesar dressing.
• Sour cream: Sour cream brings extra tang to the chicken. Use plain Greek yogurt for an easy substitute.
• Caesar salad croutons: Crushed Caesar salad croutons coat the chicken like bread crumbs, adding crunch and a lot of flavor.
• Parmesan cheese: Grate the Parmesan yourself for the best flavor. (But pre-grated will work in a pinch!)
• Butter: Melted butter helps the crouton crumb topping turn golden brown in the oven.
• Parsley: Use flat-leaf parsley for the strongest flavor.

Directions

Step 1: Prep the chicken

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Pat the chicken breasts dry and sprinkle them with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Place the chicken in a greased 13×9-inch baking dish.

Step 2: Make the marinade

In a small bowl, stir together the salad dressing and sour cream. Spread over the chicken.

Step 3: Make the crouton crumb topping

In a small bowl, combine the crushed croutons, Parmesan cheese and melted butter; sprinkle over the chicken.

Step 4: Bake the chicken

Bake the chicken, uncovered, for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted into the chicken reads 165°. Sprinkle the chicken with chopped parsley before serving.

Editor’s Tip: An instant-read meat thermometer is a must-have for testing the doneness of the chicken breast.

Taste Recipes

Recipe Variations

• Skip some of the carbs: For a low-carb version, skip the Caesar crouton crumb topping. Replace the croutons with 1 cup almond meal plus 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Change up the cheese: For extra-cheesy baked Caesar chicken, top each chicken breast half with a thin slice of provolone or mozzarella cheese before sprinkling on the crouton crumb topping.

How to Store Caesar Chicken

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Can you freeze Caesar chicken?

Absolutely! You can freeze Caesar chicken before cooking it, or freeze the leftovers. If freezing leftovers, let the chicken cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe container. If freezing before cooking, place the prepped chicken in a freezer-safe container, cover tightly and freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.

Caesar Chicken Tips

Taste Recipes

What can you serve with Caesar chicken?

For an Italian-inspired meal, serve the baked Caesar chicken with a pasta dish, like lemon spaghetti. Side dishes that make delicious accompaniments to Caesar chicken include roasted vegetables, garlic mashed potatoes and balsamic green bean salad.

Don’t forget the bread! Pair Caesar chicken with breadsticks, garlic knotted rolls or pesto pull-apart bread.

How else can you use Caesar chicken?

Leftover baked Caesar chicken is a delicious filling for a hearty Caesar chicken wrap. Or, use the leftovers as a topping for Caesar chicken pizza. The chicken also makes a flavorful addition to a Caesar pasta salad.