This oven-baked Parmesan Ranch Chicken recipe is an easy and delicious weeknight meal that the whole family will love.  In it, chicken breasts are coated in a flavorful mixture of Parmesan cheese, ranch seasoning and garlic powder that is perfect for serving with just about anything.

This Ranch Chicken is also a healthy gluten free option because the Parmesan crusted chicken is made without breadcrumbs. While this recipe calls for boneless skinless chicken breasts, you could substitute chicken tenders or even chicken thighs.

how to make oven-baked Parmesan Ranch Chicken recipe, easy ranch crusted chicken.

Oven Baked Parmesan Ranch Chicken

If you’re looking for a new chicken entree for the weeknight dinner rotation, this Ranch and Parmesan Crusted Chicken recipe is just what you need.  It all starts with boneless, skinless chicken breasts that have been pounded thin. Next, they are coated in a ranch dressing egg wash and tossed in grated Parmesan cheese.  The result is tender, juicy chicken breast with a crispy Parmesan crust.

As an added bonus, this recipe takes just a handful of minutes to prep and is pretty darn healthy.  It uses simple, wholesome ingredients and is baked, not fried.  Because there are no bread crumbs in the crust, it’s even gluten free.

Below, we have given you some of our favorite salads and veggies to serve with this recipe. But, don’t forget that leftovers taste amazing tossed into a salad, sandwich, wrap or in pasta.

Parmesan Ranch crusted Chicken sliced in half on a serving plate. baked chicken parmesan, ranch chicken parmesan.

Serving Suggestions

If you need serving suggestions, here are a few of our favorite dishes to pair with Parmesan Ranch Crusted Chicken:

Ranch Parmesan Crusted Chicken Ingredients

  • Chicken – we typically use boneless, skinless chicken breast for ranch Parmesan chicken.  If you prefer, you can substitute chicken tenders or chicken thighs.  Just be sure to trim any excess tendons and fat before coating, no matter which cut of meat you use.
  • Parmesan Cheese – you will want to use freshly grated or shredded Parmesan cheese for this recipe.  The powdery kind from the can will not create the same sort of crust.
  • Eggs – any kind of eggs will work for this recipe.
  • Water – we add this to help thin down the egg wash so that there won’t be any large pieces of egg in the mixture.
  • Ranch Seasoning – you can purchase ranch seasoning mix or make your own Homemade Ranch Dressing mix.  Also, Italian seasoning would be a delicious substitute.
  • Garlic Powder – this adds an extra boost of garlic flavor to what is already found in the ranch seasoning.
  • Salt and Pepper
Pounded chicken on a wooden cutting board to make ranch and parmesan crusted chicken.

How to Make Parmesan Ranch Chicken

  1. Pound the chicken.  Place chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap. Next, use the flat side of a meat tenderizer to pound your chicken to be 3/4″-1″ thick.
  2. Dip chicken in egg wash.  Place the grated Parmesan cheese into a medium bowl and set aside.  In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, water, ranch seasoning, and garlic powder.  One at a time, dip your pounded chicken into the egg wash mixture, making sure to cover both sides of the chicken. 
  3. Cover in Parmesan cheese.  Shake to remove excess egg mixture, then press the chicken into the grated Parmesan, making sure to cover all sides.  Lay the Parmesan ranch crusted chicken breast into a 9″ x 13″ baking dish that has been slightly sprayed with nonstick cooking spray and repeat with the rest of the chicken breasts.  Salt and pepper the chicken on both sides.
  4. Bake.  Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 45-60 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. on a digital thermometer.
  5. Serve.  Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to cool for about 5 minutes before serving.  Enjoy!
Parmesan ranch breaded chicken in a baking dish ready to be baked. parmesan chicken breast, parmesan baked chicken, ranch seasoning chicken.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you know when the chicken is done cooking?

The best way to know is to use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees F.  If you don’t have a meat or digital thermometer, you can also check by cutting a piece of chicken in half and making sure that the meat is white throughout and that the juices run clear.

How much chicken per person should I plan on serving?

For a main course baked chicken dish like this, I like to plan on preparing about 6 ounces of uncooked chicken per person.  Adults may eat a little more while the little kids may eat a little less but I have found 6 ounces to be a good overall estimate.

How long does it take pounded chicken breasts to cook in the oven?

This Parmesan Ranch Chicken recipe will take between 45-60 minutes to bake at 350 degrees. Of course, the cooking time depends on the size of your chicken breasts, how many you bake at once and even your particular oven.  Therefore the very best way to ensure that your meat is cooked perfectly is to use a meat thermometer.

What’s the best way to make sure you get your chicken tender and juicy?

One of the keys to tender, juicy chicken is to make sure your meat is a consistent thickness so that you don’t overcook parts of it.  This is why this recipe calls for pounding the chicken to an even thickness of about ¾-1”.  

The other way to make sure you keep your chicken tender is to keep an eye on the temperature and do not overcook it.  Once it reaches 165 degrees, pull it from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes.

Golden brown oven baked Parmesan chicken in a glass baking dish topped with with fresh chopped parsley.

Storing and Reheating Instructions

  • Refrigerator: store leftover Parmesan Ranch Chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • To reheat: warm on a baking sheet in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
4.60 from 5 votes

Parmesan Ranch Crusted Chicken Recipe

Author The Carefree Kitchen
This oven-baked Parmesan Ranch Chicken recipe is an easy and delicious weeknight meal that the whole family will love.  Chicken breasts are coated in a flavorful mixture of Parmesan cheese, ranch seasoning and garlic powder perfect for serving with just about anything.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 55 minutes
Yields8 people

Ingredients

  • 4 large chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
  • 1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon Ranch Seasoning Mix
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
  • Place chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and use the flat side of a meat tenderizer to pound your chicken to be 3/4"-1" thick.
  • Place the grated Parmesan cheese into a medium bowl and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, water, ranch seasoning, and garlic powder.  Dip your pounded chicken, one at a time, into the egg wash mixture, making sure to cover both sides of the chicken. 
  • Shake to remove excess egg mixture, then press the chicken into the grated Parmesan, making sure to cover all sides.
  • Lay the Parmesan ranch crusted chicken breast into a greased 9" x 13" baking dish and repeat with the rest of the chicken breasts. Salt and pepper the chicken on both sides.
  • Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 45-60 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F on a digital thermometer.
  • Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to cool for about 5 minutes before serving.  Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 124kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 347mg | Potassium: 122mg | Vitamin A: 295IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 263mg | Iron: 1.3mg
Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated using a third-party tool and are provided as an estimation only.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
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More of Our Favorite Oven-Baked Chicken Recipes

This Parmesan Ranch Chicken is tender, juicy and flavorful with a crusty exterior. It takes just minutes to prepare and goes well with just about any pasta, salad or veggie side dish.

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4.60 from 5 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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One Comment

  1. Christina says:

    So much flavor and so easy to make!

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