If you’re craving a dish that’s both comforting and irresistibly crispy, then you’re going to love this Baked Parmesan Ritz Chicken Recipe. I absolutely love how the buttery Ritz cracker crust combined with Parmesan cheese makes the chicken juicy on the inside and packed with flavor on the outside. Trust me, once you try this, it might just become your new go-to for dinner nights!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: Everything comes together with pantry staples and minimal fuss.
- Deliciously Crispy Texture: The Ritz cracker coating adds a buttery crunch that your family will absolutely go crazy for.
- Juicy and Tender Chicken: The Greek yogurt keeps the chicken perfectly moist and flavorful every time.
- Easy Cleanup: Baking everything in one dish means less mess in the kitchen.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this Baked Parmesan Ritz Chicken Recipe is in its simple yet flavorful ingredients that complement each other perfectly. I always tell friends, don’t skimp on the Ritz crackers — their buttery richness really makes the crust!
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: I prefer them evenly sized so they cook uniformly; pounding them a bit helps if they’re too thick.
- Plain Greek yogurt: This adds moisture and tang, acting as a perfect glue for the coating.
- Ritz cracker crumbs: If you can crush fresh ones yourself, the texture is unbeatable—but pre-crumbled works great too.
- Garlic salt: Adds that essential punch without overpowering the other flavors.
- Seasoned salt: Gives a well-rounded seasoning boost.
- Parsley flakes: I love the pop of mild herb flavor they bring; fresh is great but dried works well here.
- Parmesan cheese (grated): The nutty, salty cheese melds with the Ritz crumbs for a perfect crust.
- Butter: Adds richness and helps brown the chicken beautifully as it bakes.
Variations
This is such a flexible recipe! I love tweaking it based on what’s in my pantry or dietary needs. Feel free to make it your own — that’s one of the best parts about home cooking, right?
- Spicy Kick: I sometimes add a pinch of cayenne or smoked paprika to the cracker mixture for a subtle heat that keeps everyone reaching for more.
- Herbaceous Twist: Fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary in the cracker mix give it a lovely seasonal touch — especially in fall or winter.
- Dairy-Free Option: Replace Greek yogurt with a dairy-free yogurt and omit the Parmesan, swapping in nutritional yeast for that cheesy vibe.
- Different Coatings: Crushed panko breadcrumbs mixed with grated cheese can substitute Ritz crackers to add extra crunch on busy days.
How to Make Baked Parmesan Ritz Chicken Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Pan
First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). I always spray my 9″ x 13″ baking dish with non-stick spray to ensure the chicken doesn’t stick and cleanup is a breeze. Trust me, this simple step saves time later!
Step 2: Mix the Cracker Coating
In a shallow dish, stir together your Ritz cracker crumbs, garlic salt, seasoned salt, parsley flakes, and 3 tablespoons of grated Parmesan. I like to mix these ingredients well so every bite is packed with balanced flavor.
Step 3: Coat the Chicken
Grab one chicken breast at a time and coat it entirely on both sides with plain Greek yogurt. Then roll it in your cracker mixture until well coated. This step is my favorite because the yogurt keeps the chicken super tender, and the crumbs stick perfectly to create that crave-worthy crust.
Step 4: Arrange and Top with Butter
Place coated chicken breasts in a single layer in your prepared baking dish. Next, slice your butter into 16 slices and top each chicken breast with two slices. The butter melts as it bakes, infusing everything with rich flavor and helping the crust brown beautifully.
Step 5: Bake and Monitor
Bake uncovered for 45 minutes. Around 30 minutes in, check the browning. If the crust looks fully browned, loosely cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent burning while the chicken finishes cooking through. Patience here yields perfectly juicy chicken with a golden crust.
Step 6: Garnish and Serve
If you want to go the extra mile like I do, sprinkle a little extra grated Parmesan and freshly chopped parsley over the chicken right before serving. It adds a lovely fresh touch that brightens the dish.
Pro Tips for Making Baked Parmesan Ritz Chicken Recipe
- Even Thickness: I like to pound chicken breasts to an even thickness of about an inch for even cooking and juicy results.
- Freshly Grated Parmesan: Using freshly grated cheese (not pre-shredded) gives a better melt and richer flavor.
- Crust Crunch Keeper: If your crust softens slightly after baking, a quick broil for 1-2 minutes brings back that crispiness.
- Butter Placement: Cutting thin slices and distributing evenly prevents pools of butter and ensures perfect browning.
How to Serve Baked Parmesan Ritz Chicken Recipe
Garnishes
I always top my chicken with a sprinkle of extra Parmesan and freshly chopped parsley. It adds a fresh burst of color and flavor that makes the dish feel special — plus, the hint of green looks great on your plate!
Side Dishes
My family loves pairing this dish with garlic mashed potatoes and roasted green beans. You could also try a light lemony arugula salad for a fresh contrast to the richness of the chicken crust.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I like to slice the chicken and fan it on a platter with those extra garnishes, adding lemon wedges on the side for a bright finish. It looks beautiful and feels like a restaurant-worthy presentation with minimal effort.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I recommend transferring leftover chicken to an airtight container and refrigerating within two hours of baking. It keeps well for up to 3 days — perfect for quick lunches or a speedy dinner the next day.
Freezing
If you want to freeze your baked Parmesan Ritz chicken, cool it completely first, then wrap tightly in foil and place in a freezer-safe bag. It freezes beautifully for up to three months and defrosts easily overnight in the fridge.
Reheating
To keep the crust crispy when reheating, I pop the chicken in a 350°F preheated oven uncovered for 10-15 minutes until warmed through. Avoid the microwave if you can — it tends to soften the crust.
FAQs
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Can I use bone-in chicken for this Baked Parmesan Ritz Chicken Recipe?
Absolutely! Just keep in mind that bone-in pieces will take longer to cook—generally about 10-15 minutes more—so adjust your baking time accordingly. You can use a meat thermometer to check for doneness; it should read 165°F when fully cooked.
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What can I substitute if I don’t have Greek yogurt?
Sour cream or mayonnaise work as good substitutes to help the crumb coating stick and keep the chicken moist. Plain yogurt thinned slightly with a bit of milk also works, though the texture might be a bit less thick.
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How do I crush Ritz crackers easily if I don’t have pre-crumbled ones?
Put the crackers in a large zip-top bag and use a rolling pin or heavy pan to crush them into fine crumbs. I’ve done this with a wine bottle in a pinch and it works great!
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Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Unfortunately, traditional Ritz crackers contain gluten, but you can swap in gluten-free buttery crackers or gluten-free panko breadcrumbs to get a similar crispy coating without gluten.
Final Thoughts
This Baked Parmesan Ritz Chicken Recipe has a special place in my recipe collection because it’s one of those dishes that never fails to bring smiles at the table. I’ve made this for casual weeknights and even dinner guests, and people always ask for seconds. I hope you’ll enjoy making and sharing this cozy, crunchy, buttery chicken as much as I do — happy cooking, friend!
Print
Baked Parmesan Ritz Chicken Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Ritz Parmesan Baked Chicken recipe features tender, juicy boneless chicken breasts coated in creamy Greek yogurt and crunchy Ritz cracker crumbs, seasoned with garlic and parsley, then baked to golden perfection with melted butter and Parmesan cheese for a flavorful and easy family-friendly meal.
Ingredients
Chicken and Coating
- 8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 cups Ritz cracker crumbs or other buttery cracker crumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon parsley flakes
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup butter
Garnishes (Optional)
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9″ x 13″ baking dish with non-stick baking spray to prepare it for the chicken.
- Prepare Cracker Mixture: In a shallow dish, combine the Ritz cracker crumbs, garlic salt, seasoned salt, parsley flakes, and 3 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. Mix well to evenly distribute the seasonings.
- Coat Chicken: Coat each chicken breast on both sides with plain Greek yogurt. Then roll each piece thoroughly in the cracker mixture until fully coated. Arrange the coated chicken breasts in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
- Add Butter: Slice the 1/4 cup butter into 16 equal pieces. Place two slices of butter on top of each coated chicken breast to ensure richness and moisture during baking.
- Bake Chicken: Bake the chicken uncovered for 45 minutes. After 30 minutes, check them; if the chicken is browning too much, cover loosely with aluminum foil for the remaining baking time to prevent burning while allowing the chicken to cook through.
- Garnish and Serve: If desired, sprinkle additional grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley over the baked chicken breasts before serving for extra flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Be sure to monitor the chicken after 30 minutes to avoid over-browning.
- Greek yogurt helps keep the chicken moist and allows the coating to stick well.
- Using Ritz crackers adds a buttery, crispy texture that enhances the dish.
- Butter slices on top of the chicken add richness and help create a golden crust.
- This recipe can be easily doubled for larger gatherings.
- Optional garnishes add a fresh, cheesy finish but can be omitted if preferred.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 740 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
