This parmesan ranch chicken is an easy chicken dinner the entire family will love. This chicken breast recipe is dipped in an egg wash with ranch seasonings, covered in parmesan cheese and oven-baked. It's an easy and delicious baked parmesan crusted chicken recipe.
How to get the chicken tender and juicy:
To get the parmesan-crusted chicken breast tender and juicy, keep a couple of things in mind.
Make sure your meat is a consistent thickness and don't overcook the chicken.
You will want the chicken to cook evenly. I started out with some very thick chicken breasts. To ensure the center of your chicken is cooked thoroughly on the inside and the edges are not overcooked, be sure to pound the chicken breast. This will help to make sure the chicken breast is the same thickness. To do this, just lay your chicken between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Using the flat side of the meat tenderizer, pound the middle of the chicken breast.
If you're in a pinch and don't have a meat tenderizer, use the bottom of a mason jar. It's heavy duty enough and can get the job done.
I flattened this chicken until it was about 3/4-1" thick. Anywhere in that zone is going to be fine as long as all your chicken is about the same.
How long does it take to cook chicken in the oven:
This easy parmesan crusted chicken will take 45-60 minutes to bake in the oven. I started out with really big chicken breasts--a couple of them almost filled the pan!
The best way to ensure your meat is cooked enough but not too much is to use a meat thermometer.
How much chicken per person:
When trying to decide how much chicken to cook per person, just estimate how many ounces per person. I like to plan on about 6 ounces of uncooked chicken per person.
When the chicken is baked it will lose an ounce or so of water. (If I'm cooking chicken for tacos or something else where the meat is not the main dish, I plan for about 1/4-1/3 pound of chicken per person)
I have a mix of adults and little kids so some of the adults will eat a little more than the 6 ounces and the little kids will eat less. Keeping this in mind will help when planning.
How to know when the chicken is done:
Use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don't have a meat thermometer, you can tell the chicken is done if you cut a piece of chicken in half and the meat is white throughout and the juices from the meat run clear.
How to make The Best Parmesan Crusted Chicken Recipe:
#1- You will want to start with some chicken. You can use chicken breast, chicken tenders, or chicken thighs for this recipe. I'm using chicken breast to make this parmesan-crusted chicken breast recipe.
#2- Put the chicken between two sheets of plastic wrap.
#3- Use the flat side of a meat tenderizer to flatten your chicken. You will want your chicken to be 3/4"-1" thick. You will mainly be flattening the middle of the chicken breast so it's all about the thicknesses.
#4- Make an egg wash with eggs, water (To thin it a little so you don't get egg chunks on the sides of your chicken when it bakes) and ranch seasoning. The eggs are a vehicle for the seasonings and glue for the cheese. The ranch seasoning in the packets works great. You can also find a recipe for homemade ranch seasoning on my post here. On that topic, the salsa ranch would be a great dip for this chicken meal.
#5- Coat the chicken in a thick layer of parmesan cheese. Be sure the parmesan cheese is grated, not the powdered parmesan cheese in a can. It just won't work out the same.
#6- Bake in a 350-degree oven for 45-60 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the meat is cook thoroughly but you don't overcook it. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don't have a meat thermometer, you can tell the chicken is done if you cut a piece of chicken in half and the meat is white throughout and the juices from the meat run clear.
What to serve with this easy and delicious ranch parmesan chicken:
Steakhouse style Baked Potatoes
Classic Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Peanut Butter Cornflake Chicken
Parmesan Ranch Chicken
Ingredients
- 3-4 large Chicken Breasts (About 1/3 lb of chicken per person)
- 3 large Eggs
- 1 Tablespoon Ranch Seasoning
- 3 Tablespoons Water
- 1.5 cup Parmesean Cheese
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Trim any tendons or fat from your chicken. You can use chicken breast, chicken tenders, or chicken thighs for this recipe.
- Put the chicken between two sheets of plastic wrap and use the flat side of a meat tenderizer to flatten your chicken. You will want your chicken to be 3/4"-1" thick. You will mainly be flattening the middle of the chicken breast so it's all about the thicknesses.
- Make an egg wash with eggs, water (To thin it a little so you don't get egg chunks on the sides of your chicken when it bakes) ranch seasoning, and garlic powder. Dip your chicken in the egg wash and be sure to get both sides of the chicken.
- In a separate dish, add the parmesan cheese. Coat the chicken in a thick layer of grated parmesan cheese on all sides.
- Lay the coated chicken breast in a greased 9" by 13" baking dish. Salt and pepper the chicken on both sides to your preference.
- Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 45-60 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the meat is cook thoroughly but you don't overcook it. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don't have a meat thermometer, you can tell the chicken is done if you cut a piece of chicken in half and the meat is white throughout and the juices from the meat run clear.
- Let the chicken cool for about 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition
If you're always on the hunt for a great chicken recipe, here are some of the best chicken recipes:
- Rosemary Garlic Chicken Breasts Marinade
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken
- Parmesan Ranch Chicken
- Simple Oven Baked Chicken Breast
- Grilled Chicken Teriyaki
- Flamin Hot Cheeto Chicken Tenders
- Crockpot Chicken Teriyaki
- Crockpot Salsa Chicken
- Cornflake Chicken
- 3 Citrus Chicken Marinade
- Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken
- Garlic and Herb Drumsticks
- Grilled Apricot Chicken
- Classic Chicken Parmesan
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