Description
Crispy Mozzarella Parmesan Crusted Chicken delivers a symphony of golden-brown crunch and melted cheese perfection. Cheese lovers will savor this Italian-inspired dish that promises irresistible flavor in every elegant bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Cheese Topping:
- 1 cup (226 grams) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup (28 grams) parmesan cheese, shredded
Seasonings and Coatings:
- ½ cup (60 grams) panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) italian dressing
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) ranch dressing
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade by whisking together tangy Italian dressing, Worcestershire sauce, and selected spices in a spacious mixing bowl.
- Gently flatten chicken breasts to an even ½-inch thickness using a meat mallet, ensuring uniform cooking.
- Completely submerge chicken in the marinade, making sure each piece is thoroughly coated.
- Refrigerate the marinated chicken for a minimum of 2 hours, allowing flavors to deeply penetrate the meat.
- Warm a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat with a light coating of cooking oil.
- Carefully place marinated chicken into the hot pan, cooking each side for 6-7 minutes until a golden-brown exterior develops.
- Verify chicken’s doneness by confirming the internal temperature reaches 165°F using a meat thermometer.
- Combine shredded mozzarella, grated parmesan, and creamy ranch dressing in a separate mixing bowl.
- In another container, blend breadcrumbs with melted butter to create a rich, crispy topping.
- Distribute the cheese mixture evenly across the cooked chicken breasts.
- Generously sprinkle the buttery breadcrumb mixture over the cheese layer.
- Transfer the chicken to the oven’s broiler setting, cooking for 3-4 minutes until the topping turns a beautiful golden brown and cheese melts completely.
- Remove from broiler and let rest briefly before serving alongside roasted vegetables or a crisp garden salad.
Notes
- Choose chicken breasts with consistent thickness to ensure even cooking and prevent dry or undercooked sections.
- Marinate chicken longer for deeper flavor infusion, but avoid exceeding 24 hours to prevent meat texture breakdown.
- Pat chicken dry before cooking to achieve maximum golden-brown crispiness and prevent steaming instead of searing.
- Customize breadcrumb mixture by adding herbs like dried basil, oregano, or Italian seasoning for extra flavor complexity
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg