Description
This Easy Baked Caesar Chicken is a flavorful and simple dish featuring tender chicken breasts smothered in creamy Caesar dressing, topped with melted provolone cheese and a crunchy Caesar-style crouton crumb topping. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner that feels indulgent yet effortless to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts (pounded to an even thickness)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Topping
- ½ cup creamy Caesar dressing
- 8 slices provolone cheese
- 1 cup Caesar-style croutons
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare the Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent the chicken from sticking during baking.
- Arrange and Season Chicken: Place the pounded chicken breasts in a single layer within the baking dish. Season both sides evenly with ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper to enhance the chicken’s flavor.
- Apply Caesar Dressing and Cheese: Spread the creamy Caesar dressing over each piece of chicken evenly, ensuring full coverage. Then, layer 2 slices of provolone cheese on each chicken breast, covering the dressing completely to create a rich and cheesy layer.
- Prepare and Add Crouton Topping: Crush the Caesar-style croutons into fine crumbs by placing them in a large Ziplock bag and crushing with your hands or a rolling pin. Sprinkle these crumbs evenly over the cheese-topped chicken, adding a crunchy texture to the dish.
- Bake Until Cooked Through: Place the baking dish in the center rack of the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Bake until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F) and the crouton topping turns golden brown. If the topping browns too quickly, loosely cover the dish with foil for the remaining bake time to prevent burning.
Notes
- For even cooking, pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness before baking.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F for safety.
- You can substitute provolone cheese with mozzarella or Swiss cheese if desired.
- Make sure the crouton crumbs are evenly spread to achieve a consistent crunchy topping.
- Leftover chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
