Description
This Ritz Cracker Chicken recipe features tender, juicy chicken breasts coated in a buttery, crispy Ritz cracker crust. Easy to prepare and packed with flavor, it’s a perfect weeknight dinner or crowd-pleaser. The golden, crunchy coating pairs beautifully with various seasonings and sides, making it a versatile and kid-friendly classic.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 1/2 cups crushed Ritz crackers
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon paprika or smoked paprika
Instructions
- Prep your chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels to help the coating stick better and keep the crust crisp. If the breasts are thick, slice horizontally to create thinner cutlets for even cooking.
- Crush the Ritz crackers: Place the crackers in a food processor or sealed plastic bag and crush until you have fine crumbs with some small chunks for texture. Transfer to a shallow dish and stir in garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and optional paprika.
- Melt the butter: Gently melt the butter until liquefied but not hot. Drizzle or brush the melted butter over the crushed crackers, tossing lightly to moisten the crumbs and help create a golden crust.
- Coat the chicken: Dip each chicken piece into the cracker mixture, pressing lightly to ensure an even coating on all sides. For extra crunch, dip the coated chicken back into the butter and then again in the crumbs.
- Bake to crispy perfection: Arrange coated chicken breasts on a greased baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a baking rack. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 25-30 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the crust is golden and crisp.
Notes
- Use your hands to gently press crumbs onto the chicken for an even coating.
- Patting the chicken dry is essential to avoid sogginess and ensure the crust sticks well.
- Using a wire rack allows air circulation, keeping the crust crisp all around.
- Let the chicken rest a few minutes before serving to enhance juiciness.
- Check internal temperature to ensure it reaches 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: Ritz Cracker Chicken, crispy chicken, easy chicken recipe, buttery chicken, baked chicken, kid-friendly chicken, quick dinner
