The “Magic” 5-Ingredient Dinner: The Easiest, Crispiest Parmesan Chicken!

Don’t you just love those recipes that are so ridiculously simple to make, yet they turn out looking and tasting incredibly elegant? A dish that makes you feel like a gourmet chef in your own kitchen, but secretly only took you a few minutes of active prep time. It is the absolute best kind of kitchen magic.

This incredible baked chicken is the perfect example of that beautiful and delicious simplicity. It takes a humble, boneless, skinless chicken breast and transforms it with a savory, cheesy, and unbelievably flavourful crispy crust. The result is a main course that is so tender and juicy on the inside, it will have everyone asking for your secret.

Today, we are making this amazing Melt-in-Your-Mouth Parmesan Chicken. It’s a simple, five-ingredient bake that is destined to become an instant and permanent favorite in your home. Get ready to discover the easiest and most impressive dinner you’ve ever made.

The Ultimate Simple & Elegant Meal: Baked Parmesan Chicken

This Baked Parmesan Chicken recipe is a true celebration of simple yet powerful flavours. The wonderfully savory and nutty taste of the Parmesan cheese, combined with a creamy binder, creates the most incredible, crispy, and golden-brown crust on the chicken. It’s a dish that feels wonderfully sophisticated and special, but with almost no effort required.

A Perfect Easy Chicken Breast Recipe for Quick Weeknight Dinners

You will find that this is a fantastic easy chicken breast recipe. The simple preparation and the foolproof cooking method deliver a perfectly juicy and tender result every single time. It is also one of the absolute best quick weeknight dinners you can make, as the simple ingredients and fast cooking time make it a completely stress-free family favorite.

Your Guide: How Do You Get a Crispy Cheese Crust on Chicken?

For anyone wondering how do you get a crispy cheese crust on chicken, the secret is to create a simple binder that the cheese can adhere to and then to bake it at a moderately high temperature. We use a simple but brilliant coating of mayonnaise mixed with seasonings, which keeps the chicken unbelievably moist and gives the grated Parmesan cheese something to stick to. The hot oven then works its magic to melt and crisp the Parmesan into a beautiful, savory, and golden-brown crust.

Why You’ll Love This Parmesan Chicken

You are going to love this recipe because the chicken is so unbelievably juicy and tender that it truly does melt in your mouth, and the crispy Parmesan crust is absolutely irresistible. It’s an incredibly easy recipe that uses only five simple ingredients that you may already have on hand. Plus, it’s an elegant meal that is perfect for a busy weeknight but is also special enough to serve to guests.

Nutritional Benefits

This delicious dish is a fantastic source of high-quality protein from the chicken, which is essential for a satisfying and filling meal. The Parmesan cheese also adds a wonderful boost of calcium and extra protein. By baking the chicken instead of frying it, you are creating a wholesome and satisfying meal that the whole family can enjoy.

Full Recipe

Are you ready to create a dinner that is so simple, yet so incredibly delicious and impressive, it will become your new go-to recipe? This detailed guide will walk you through every easy step, from mixing the simple topping to baking the chicken to juicy, golden perfection. Get ready to master a new family-favorite that will make any night feel special.

An incredibly easy, 5-ingredient recipe for “Melt-in-Your-Mouth” Parmesan Chicken. This simple bake features juicy, tender chicken breasts topped with a savory and creamy Parmesan cheese crust that becomes perfectly crispy and golden in the oven. This is the ultimate simple yet elegant dinner, perfect for a busy weeknight.

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes | Yield: 4 servings | Category: Dinner, Main Course | Method: Baking | Cuisine: American, Italian-inspired | Diet: Low-Carb, Keto, Gluten-Free

Essential Ingredients for Parmesan Chicken

This simple yet elegant dinner comes together with just five basic ingredients.

• Chicken: 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Mayonnaise: ½ cup of good quality mayonnaise
• Parmesan Cheese: ½ cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Seasoning:
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Ingredients Notes

A little more detail on our simple ingredients will ensure your chicken is a spectacular success.

• The Chicken Breasts: For the best and most even result, it is a great idea to use chicken breasts that have been pounded to an even thickness of about ½ to ¾ of an inch. This crucial step helps the chicken to cook through quickly and evenly in the oven, which is the secret to keeping the lean meat juicy and tender.
• The Mayonnaise: The mayonnaise is the secret ingredient that makes this chicken so unbelievably moist and “melt-in-your-mouth” tender. It acts as a protective barrier, locking in the juices as the chicken bakes, and it also provides a rich and creamy base for the Parmesan crust to adhere to. Using a good quality, full-fat mayonnaise will give you the best result.
• The Parmesan Cheese: The quality of your Parmesan cheese is very important for the final flavour and texture of the crust. It is always best to use a real wedge of Parmigiano-Reggiano and grate it yourself right before using it. The freshly grated kind will melt and crisp up much more beautifully than the pre-grated kind in a canister.
• The Seasoning: A simple seasoning blend of garlic powder, salt, and pepper is all this dish needs. The seasonings are mixed directly into the mayonnaise and Parmesan topping, which creates a wonderfully flavourful crust that seasons the chicken as it bakes.

How to Make Melt-in-Your-Mouth Parmesan Chicken

Let’s walk through the incredibly simple steps to create this juicy and impressive chicken dinner.

• Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Chicken. First, preheat your oven to a hot 200°C (400°F). Lightly grease a baking dish or line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Prepare your chicken breasts by pounding them to an even thickness and patting them completely dry with a paper towel.
• Step 2: Create the Parmesan Topping. In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, the freshly grated Parmesan cheese, the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together until you have a thick and uniform paste.
• Step 3: Coat the Chicken. Arrange your prepared chicken breasts in a single layer in your baking dish. Use a spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the Parmesan and mayonnaise mixture evenly all over the top of each chicken breast, creating a thick crust.
• Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection. Place the baking dish in the hot oven. Bake, uncovered, for 20 to 25 minutes.
• Step 5: Rest and Serve. The chicken is done when the topping is a beautiful golden brown and bubbly, and the chicken is cooked all the way through to an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F). Let the chicken rest in the dish for at least 5 minutes before serving to allow the juices to settle.

Storage Options

Leftover Parmesan chicken is absolutely delicious and makes for a fantastic lunch the next day. Once the chicken has cooled completely, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can enjoy the leftovers cold and sliced on top of a salad, or you can reheat it gently in the oven or an air fryer to help re-crisp the topping.

Variations and Substitutions

This incredibly simple recipe is a perfect blank canvas for you to get creative with your flavours. You can add other seasonings to the Parmesan topping, such as a teaspoon of dried Italian herbs or a pinch of smoked paprika for a smoky flavour. For a bit of a spicy kick, feel free to add a ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the mixture. This topping is also fantastic on other proteins, like pork chops or even salmon fillets.

Practical & Valuable Tips

For the juiciest possible result, pounding your chicken breasts to an even thickness before you bake them is a highly recommended step. For the best flavour and texture, always use a good quality, full-fat mayonnaise and freshly grated Parmesan cheese from a block. Finally, for an extra crispy and golden-brown crust, you can place the finished dish under your oven’s broiler for the last minute of cooking, but be sure to watch it very closely so it doesn’t burn.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use something other than mayonnaise? The mayonnaise is a key ingredient for the unique texture and moistness of this specific recipe. However, you could achieve a similar result by substituting the mayonnaise with an equal amount of full-fat sour cream or plain Greek yogurt for a tangier version.
2. My chicken breast turned out dry. What did I do wrong? Dry chicken breast is almost always a result of it being overcooked, even by just a minute or two. The absolute best way to ensure a juicy result is to use an instant-read meat thermometer and pull the chicken from the oven the moment it reaches an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F). Pounding the chicken to an even thickness also helps tremendously.
3. Can I make this recipe with chicken thighs? Yes, you can! This delicious Parmesan topping is also fantastic on boneless, skinless chicken thighs. You will just need to increase the baking time to about 25 to 30 minutes to ensure the thighs are cooked all the way through.
4. How do I know for sure when the chicken is cooked through? The chicken is done when the topping is golden brown and the meat is opaque with no pink remaining. The most reliable method is to use an instant-read meat thermometer to ensure the chicken has reached a safe internal temperature of 74°C (165°F).
5. What are the best side dishes to serve with this Parmesan chicken? This rich and savory chicken pairs beautifully with a variety of simple side dishes. It is fantastic served with a side of roasted asparagus or steamed green beans for a healthy, low-carb meal. It is also wonderful with a fresh green salad or some simple pasta with a light tomato sauce.

Conclusion

This Melt-in-Your-Mouth Parmesan Chicken is the ultimate solution for a dinner that is both incredibly easy and wonderfully elegant. It’s a dish that takes just five simple ingredients and transforms them into a juicy, flavour-packed, and spectacular main course. It is a foolproof, family-favorite recipe that is guaranteed to make any weeknight feel like a special occasion. This is one of the Best Baked Chicken Breast Recipes you will ever make. If you love this simple and delicious dinner, don’t forget to share it and save it to your favorite chicken recipes board on Pinterest!