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The best heavenly chicken recipe has an irresistibly crunchy topping made with Ritz crackers that gives way to tender, juicy chicken.
We tweaked this classic Ritz cracker chicken recipe and gave it a healthy, modern presentation.
We used a light touch to baste boneless chicken with Greek yogurt or sour cream. And we only pressed breading over the top of the chicken.
I promise. You'll never have soggy breading. And the topping will be light and crispy. We used tried-and-true tips from our Herb Crusted Chicken recipe.
And the result is a flavorful chicken dish truly deserving of this divine dinner title.
Why you'll love this recipe:
- It uses simple ingredients and takes minutes to prep.
- It's a 30-minute dinner that's mostly hands-off cooking time.
- It's a comfort dinner with lots of nostalgia. Did your grandma make this one?
- The carb count is minimal, so go ahead and enjoy this with the family!
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Ingredient Notes
Here's what you'll need to make heavenly chicken:
- Boneless Chicken Breasts - Pound to an even thickness so they cook quickly and evenly.
- Ritz crackers give this dish its signature taste and texture. For even more flavor, use the Garlic Butter Flavored ones.
- Greek yogurt or sour cream works equally well in this recipe.
Please refer to the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and detailed instructions.
Directions with Pictures
Follow these easy steps to make baked chicken with Ritz cracker crumb topping:
Generously season chicken with salt and pepper.
Add Greek yogurt or sour cream, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika to a small bowl and stir well to combine. Brush a thin layer of the mixture on top of the chicken breasts using a silicone brush. Leave the bottoms untouched.
Add crushed Ritz crackers to a shallow bowl. Press the the top of the chicken with the sour cream layer into the breadcrumbs.
Alternatively, spoon the crushed crackers over the top and press them into the chicken with the back of a spoon or your fingers. The bottom of the chicken is not breaded.
Melt butter and gently brush over the top of the chicken.
Bake for about 25 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Garnish with parsley if you have some!
Cooking Tips
To prevent soggy breading.
- Don't bread the bottom of the chicken.
- Use a light hand when spreading the sour cream over the chicken and topping it with melted butter so the finished dish has a crisp topping.
- If the topping is not crisped to your liking at the end of the bake time, put it under the broiler for a few minutes, watching very carefully to ensure it doesn't burn.
Use a meat thermometer for perfectly cooked and juicy chicken.
Make it a Meal
Serve Heavenly Chicken over pillowy cauliflower mash or creamy mashed potatoes with a side of roasted asparagus or crispy green beans for a delicious meal you won't soon forget.
Storage
- Leftovers - Store leftover Heavenly Chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or up to 2 months in the freezer. Reheat in the oven at 325°F until heated through.
- Make it ahead and freeze it: Prepare the recipe, but don't cook it. Freeze chicken in a pan or baking dish that can be covered and wrapped in plastic wrap. For best quality, eat within 2 months of freezing. When you are ready to serve, defrost overnight and cook according to instructions.
More Baked Chicken Recipes
Would you like more easy, healthy, carb-conscious recipes?
📋 Recipe
Heavenly Chicken Recipe with Ritz Crackers
Ingredients
- 16 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breasts pounded to even thickness
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- ¾ cup crushed Ritz crackers
- 1 Tablespoon butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Spritz a glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. A sheet pan covered with aluminum foil or parchment paper will also work.
- Pat chicken breasts dry and generously season all sides with salt and pepper.
- Add sour cream or Greek yogurt, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika to a small bowl and stir well to combine.
- Brush a thin layer of the mixture on top of the chicken breasts with a silicone brush. Leave the bottoms untouched.
- Add crushed Ritz crackers to a shallow bowl. Press the the top of the chicken with the sour cream basting into the breadcrumbs. Alternatively, spoon the cracker crumb topping over the top and press it into the chicken with the back of a spoon or your fingers. Either way, the bottom of the chicken is not breaded.
- Melt butter and gently brush over the top of the chicken.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Notes
- Leftovers - Store leftover Heavenly Chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or up to 2 months in the freezer. Reheat in the oven at 325°F until heated through.
- Make it ahead and freeze it: Prepare the recipe, but don't cook it. Freeze chicken in a pan or baking dish that can be covered and wrapped in plastic wrap. For best quality, eat within 2 months of freezing. When you are ready to serve, defrost overnight and cook according to instructions.
Colleen says
Oh wow this was so good! The crackers added a buttery crunch that contrasted so well with the juicy chicken. Adding this to the regular rotation!
Marjory Pilley says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!