Heavenly Chicken with Ritz Crackers and Sour Cream Recipe
Heavenly Chicken is a deliciously creamy and crunchy baked chicken dish featuring tender chicken breasts coated in a seasoned sour cream mixture and panko-style crushed Ritz crackers. Easy to prepare and perfect for a comforting family dinner, this recipe delivers flavorful, crispy chicken that stays juicy on the inside.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Sauce & Coating
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 ½ cups crushed Ritz crackers
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Garnish
- Parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking dish: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Pound chicken: Place the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap or parchment and gently pound them with a meat mallet or rolling pin until they are of even thickness. This helps them cook evenly.
- Mix coating base: In a shallow dish, combine the sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Stir until fully mixed to create a flavorful coating mixture.
- Prepare cracker crumbs: In a separate shallow dish, add the crushed Ritz crackers to use for the crunchy coating.
- Coat the chicken: Dip each chicken breast first into the sour cream mixture, fully coating it, then dredge it in the crushed Ritz crackers. Press the cracker crumbs firmly into the chicken to ensure a thick, even coating.
- Arrange and drizzle: Place each coated chicken breast in the prepared baking dish. Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the top of the chicken to help the coating crisp up beautifully while baking.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating it is fully cooked and safe to eat.
- Rest and serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 3-4 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute. Garnish with chopped parsley before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Pounding the chicken to an even thickness ensures uniform cooking and juiciness.
- Using crushed Ritz crackers provides a buttery, flaky crust but can be substituted with panko or breadcrumbs if preferred.
- Check the chicken’s internal temperature with a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking.
- Letting the chicken rest after baking helps maintain moistness.
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of salt and pepper to the sour cream mixture if desired.
Keywords: baked chicken, crispy chicken, sour cream chicken, Ritz cracker chicken, easy chicken dinner
