This chicken has everything. It’s extremely moist, great taste, a little crunchiness. Plus, it is SIMPLE. You can never have enough great chicken recipes.
Editors Note:Originally Published December 12, 2012, It has been buried on the blog for a while and needed to see the light of day. The pictures are re-edited. The text is re-written and buffed up. And one modification to technique adding a flip in the middle of cooking. This is a great recipe that has a skill level of 2/10.
The “inspired by” for today goes to Melt in Your Mouth Chicken Breast at Food.com.While it is a top rate recipe, I thought it needed a little crunch and some other small touches. But otherwise, a wonderful recipe.
The recipe starts with a base of some mayo. Add some Parmesan and seasoning. Coat some well-trimmed skinless boneless chicken breasts.
To add the crunch, I wanted I then sprinkle all sides with some Italian bread crumbs. Bake and you’re in chicken heaven.
My Rating
The wife started chanting 5 and then changed Christmas dinner to this. I think she liked it. And so did I.
Pro Tips: Recipe Notes for Parmesan Baked Chicken Breast
First, The Chicken Breast
This recipe uses skinless boneless chicken breasts which have “grown” in my lifetime. Once upon a time, we were talking 6-8 oz. Now mostly about 10-12 oz and occasionally a full pound.
Try to pick chicken that is all about the same size. The results overall will be better since they will cook more evenly. If you are cooking more than two, larger breast to the outside of the pan helps a lot.
Cooking Method.
I love cooking my chicken on a rack. You really need to get a rack. For a few dollars, you will become a much better cook. But get one that is “oven safe.” Some racks are cooling racks only and have a coating.
If your local store does not have them, Amazon will. I list a few in Cooking for Two Shop, but others will work.
The Coating
You need a base and the original recipe calls for mayo. You will see in the comments that even the “mayo haters” love it. You can use a lower fat if you wish. Other similar recipes use yogurt. The yogurt is frequently non-fat.
The coat of the mayo should be light. Too much will make the chicken wet.
A final note on the mayo. Miracle Whip is NOT mayonnaise. It has some sweetness and multiple other spices. Please do not use it in this recipe. Or at least realize it may convey some tastes.
The Bread Crumbs
It is always tempting to add more of something you like. I like Panko breadcrumbs. But a LIGHT sprinkle. If you do more, you will have a “Panko Chicken” so let’s be careful.
This is an easy recipe to adjust. Cut in half for two or double for a full family. Cut the fat with low-fat mayo or use nonfat Greek yogurt.
The Flip
I’m adding a suggest flip of the chicken halfway through the cooking. Some (not me nor many others) are having problems with a soggy bottom.
A couple of possibilities occur to me. First, previously frozen chicken or older chicken can release more fluid. Also, too much or thinner mayo could contribute. Or nothing they did.
Either way, the flip should help those cases and won’t hurt. Use a fork for the flip. Tongs may remove some coating.
Food Safety Tips
Chicken should not be rinsed for food safety. It will splatter germs over your kitchen. For more details, please see Chicken… To Rinse or Not To Rinse? .
Preheat oven to 375 convection or 400 regular oven. Trim and pat dry 3-4 skinless boneless chicken breasts.
Mix in a medium bowl 1 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (fresh shredded preferred), 1 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt (I used Lawry’s), 1 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. This is more than you need.
Prepare a cooking sheet with aluminum foil (to help clean up) and a rack. The rack will help crispness all around. You can do without the rack, but the bottom will not be crispy. Give the rack a good spray of PAM.
Dip the chicken breasts in the mayonnaise Parmesan mixture. Be sure to get all surface coated. Finger use allowed but be sure to wash well after. Note: keep it light and do not try to use all the coating.
Lightly sprinkle with some Italian bread crumbs on both sides. I used about 1/3 cup on three large breasts. You are not coating them. Just adding some crispy and flavor.
Bake until internal temp of 165. This will vary by oven but mostly by the size of the chicken breast. At 20 minutes into baking, flip the breasts with a fork. The total cooking time of about 40 minutes for medium to large. 45 minute for huge. Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
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If you enjoyed this recipe, the pleasure of a rating on the recipe card below is requested.
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 4 servings | 10 minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 40 minutes |
|
|
| This chicken has everything. It's extremely moist, great taste, a little crunchiness. Plus, it is SIMPLE. You can never have enough great chicken recipes.
|
- 4 skinless boneless chicken breasts trimmed
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated - fresh preferred
- 1 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt Lawry’s
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/3 cup Italian bread crumbs
- Preheat oven to 375 convection or 400 regular oven. Trim and pat dry 3-4 skinless boneless chicken breasts. Get them very dry.
- Mix in a medium bowl 1 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (fresh shredded preferred), 1 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt (I used Lawry’s), 1 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. This will make more than you need.
- Prepare a cooking sheet with aluminum foil (to help clean up) and a rack. The rack will help crispness all around. You can do without the rack, but the bottom will not be crispy. Give the rack a good spray of PAM.
- Dip the chicken breasts in the mayonnaise Parmesan mixture. Be sure to get all surface coated. Finger use allowed but be sure to wash well after. KEEP IT LIGHT and do not try to use all the coating.
- Lightly sprinkle with some Italian bread crumbs on both sides. I used about 1/3 cup on three large breasts. You are not coating them. Just adding some crispy and flavor.
- Bake until internal temp of 165. This will vary by oven but mostly by the size of the chicken breast. At 20 minutes into baking, flip the breasts with a fork.
- Total cooking time of about 40 minutes for medium to large. 45 minute for huge. Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Pro Tips:
- Try to use chicken breasts of about the same size.
- Be sure to pat dry the chicken breasts. Very dry. The coating will stick better.
- Keep the coating light and bread crumbs light. Do not use all the coating.
- I added a flip in the middle of the recipes. Some appear to need it. Use a fork please. Not mandatory.
- Miracle Whip is NOT mayonnaise. It has some sweetness and multiple spices.
- Obviously an easy recipe to adjust.
________________________________
All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
If you like this recipe or find it useful, the pleasure of a nice 4 or 5 rating would be greatly appreciated. Rating is done by clicking on the stars above.
Originally Published December 12, 2012
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Heather
Hello dan I plan on trying this recipe out tonight. I have everything I need except the Italian bread crumbs. I do have Shake n Bake though, do you think that sprinkling some shake n bake on top would be a good alternative? Thanks in advance dan.
DrDan
Hi Heather,
Welcome to the blog.
I haven’t seen Shake n Bake for years but I believe it is more just fancied up flour for “oven frying” things. So not close to bread crumbs.
You can use non-Italian Panko bread crumbs or make your own by running a slice of bread through a blender the brown in a little oil over medium-high heat.
Hope that helps.
Dan
Brian1960
Thanks so much for posting this unbelievably succulent delicious recipe. I am kind of new to cooking and never would have bought boneless skinless chicken breasts until I noticed all the positive reviews. I wouldn’t change a thing it’s perfect! I’m excited to browse and learn even if it’s trial n error. I will be sure to make this for friends and family. They’ll be so impressed.
DrDan
Hi Brian,
Welcome to the blog.
Thanks for the compliment and glad it worked well for you.
Let me know if you have questions of recipe. I have most well documented with step by step photo that help newer cooks.
Dan
Sarah Gibson
I am not a big fan of chicken breast due to them always being on the dry side, but I bought a pack of chicken breast the other day they were on sale, and figured I would look online to find a recipe to see if I could find a way to cook them that was good. I found this recipe, and decided to give it a try, and OH MY GOSH!!! I absolutely love how this chicken tastes, and the breasts were so juicy and tender, it was life changing in a chicken cooking way. Next time my family has a big get together I’m going to cook and I’m going to make this. my 4 year old is a very picky eater, and when he tasted it he let out a big “mmmm! Its delicious!!” Haha. Thank you so much for this recipe, it is awesome!!!!!!
DrDan
Hi Sarah,
Welcome to the blog.
I do love this recipe, simple and reliable. We use it for family meals and semi-special meals.
Glad it worked for you and thanks for the note.
Dan
Dawna
Hi I was wondering about maybe adding some brown sugar to the mix, just wondering what you think.
DrDan
Hi Dawna,
Welcome to the blog.
I think a touch of brown sugar would be a great addition. Like all recipes, this is just guidelines. See https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/so-how-is-recipe-like-pirate-code/
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Joan Diloreto
I take 1 breast and slice it into 4-6 smaller pieces, then spread mayo mixture on them, top w/crumbs and bake at 425 for about 15 minutes..I use about 1/2 c. mayo, some cheese, sprinkle of Italian seasoning and garlic powder…mix and spread…delicious..
DrDan
Hi Joan,
Welcome to the blog.
I’m always in favor of for surface area for flavor. Sounds great.
Thanks for the note and variation.
Dan
Gene
I just made this with an additional 1/2 c shredded cheddar because who doesn’t like more cheese! Came out moist and delicious and cant wait to attempt again. I did the flip but will bypass next time as it baked well on the rack. Presentation made me look like a pro.
Sam
What sidedishes would you pair it with?
DrDan
Hi Sam,
Welcome to the blog.
Nothing specific. We like the green beans with bacon.https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/baked-bacon-green-beans/ or a side salad.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Shannon
Wondering if off the shelf parmesan cheese could be used?
DrDan
Hi Shannon,
Welcome to the blog.
Any parmesan will work. But the better the quality, the better the results.
Dan
Carol Dworkin
Love this recipe. So quick, easy, and delightful!
I had a knee replaced and can’t stand too long yet and this works for me. Thank you Dan
Jan Bucanelli
I made this mayo parm chicken my family loved it I did use the 20 minute flip. It is Amazing 😀 Mine didn’t get crusted a lot guess I didn’t use enough bread crumbs but it was still Amazing I have made it 2 times in 2 weeks our new favorite chicken 😀❤️. Thank You 😊
Leann
Trying this for dinner today. Do I cover the chicken with foil?
DrDan
Hi Leann.
Welcome to the blog.
Uncovered. We want it to crisp some. The foil will trap moisture and also prolong cooking time.
Dan
Shell
Tried this first time not the greatest but good you have to flip the chicken even on a rack unless you want crispy on top and dog on the bottom
Shelby
Question. I have some chicken breast fillets in my freezer, would I be able to use that to make this chicken? Please advise! Sounds delicious :)
DrDan
Hi Shelby,
Welcome to the blog.
It somewhat depends on exactly what you have. To me, chicken breast filets are a thinner piece of a skinless boneless chicken breast that is cut to have a more even thickness. More of a cutlet. If the chicken is too thin, it will get over cooked rapidly before the crust is done.
So my guess is not a good choice.
Dan
samantha
Hi shelby, I have made this recipe with thinner chicken breasts and it was great. Adjust the cooking time and no need to flip. I cook mine in a glass baking dish for about 20-25 minutes and spread the mayo mixture on just the top of the chicken.
DrDan
Hi Samantha,
Welcome to the blog.
Thanks for the report and suggestion for another cooking method.
Dan
Joni
My family loves this chicken and my husband is picky. For the rest of us I finely chop a couple of artichoke hearts. Yummy and easy.
Cynthia Fabros
I used this recipe before about a year or so ago. My family loved it then. I made it again today and my family still loved it!! I didn’t measure everything out exactly as it said but it still turned out great!! Not soggy at all.
Judy
Hi, tried the chicken, delicious. The next time I made it I put 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese in the mayonnaise, loved it
KE
Your other recipes have been great, but this one was a disaster. Coating mostly fell off during cooking, and the end result was completely tasteless, rubbery, inedible chicken. Although it did do a nice job of smoking /stinking up the house! One clunker in the bunch doesn’t detract from all the other good recipes….
Ryan
I feel like when 9 out of 10 comments on a recipe are about how good it turns out and how great it tastes, you can’t really blame the recipe. When someone runs a red light at an intersection, you don’t assume it’s the car that sucks.
kimberlee
Very very good and flavorful . I followed the directions , I did skip the flip though and it was fine (Did use a rack) . Terrific recipe! Thank you for posting .
Lylene M
Hubby gives two thumbs up… says he feels like he’s eating a fine restaurant meal. I’ve broiled fish with a similar topping, but I really love these flavors. Thanks!
NYGrufus
Will this recipe work with thin sliced chicken breast? If so, how should I adjust the cooking time?
Thank you
DrDan
Hummmm…
I don’t think so. Before the coating cooks, the chicken will probably be way over cooked. I have done this relatively small chicken breast (8 oz) but they were not extra thin. They only took about 35 minutes (going on memory here).
Dan
S. Yamada
Yes, it does work with thin breast meat. In fact, I pounded the chicken breasts to obtain a more uniform thickness. I also used a rack to eliminate the need to flip the chicken during the cooking process. To ensure moist chicken, you can also brine the meat for 30-45 minutes prior to baking it. 1/2 inch thickness required about 30 minutes baking time, but I gauged doneness by internal temperature (165 F).
Alisha Moore
Yum, this Parmesan Baked Chicken Breast is so good! I couldn’t use the Italian bread crumbs. This is very simple but a great change from plain baked chicken and you are is the best. So super easy and authentic tasting. No need to look no more, my search is over. Thank you so much for a faultless recipe!
https://simplydesigning.porch.com/bbq-chicken/
Jen
Anyone try this with sour cream? Currently out of mayo and really would like to try the recipe.
DrDan
Hi Jen,
Welcome to the blog.
I have my doubts that sour cream would work well but you could try. If you do, please report back
Dan
Deb
This was a big hit for me and my husband. I tried it because I have used a similar topping in the past on cod and salmon to rave reviews. This was very simple but a great change from plain baked chicken. Thanks!
DrDan
Hi Deb,
Welcome to the blog.
I do love this recipe. But I do love simple and tasty.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Alice Herring
Cooked tonight minus the bread crumbs and was well received. Any thoughts on how to get it crispier? Higher temperature?
DrDan
Hi Alice,
Welcome to the blog.
It is not going to crisp without the bread crumbs. That is why they are there. If you increase the temperature, the outside probably will burn before the inside reaches a safe 165 degrees.
If you are against the bread crumbs, you could add some more parmesan on top or other cheese but I’m not sure how that would go.
Dan
Mar
Delicious my husband loves it while he was eating this tasty chicken he couldn’t stop talking about how moist and flavorful it was and if I could add this to our favorites list thanks for this wonderful recipe
DrDan
Hi Mar,
Welcome to the blog. Glad it worked well for you.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Pamela Taylor
Dr. Dan, your version of this recipe is by far the best. I’ve been using it for a couple of years now. I’ll try the flip next time, but really haven’t had much of a problem. Thanks for all the great recipes and the doggie pictures! Keep ’em coming.
DrDan
Hi Pamela,
Molly and Lilly say thanks.
I rarely will change a recipe but always will note it and why. I don’t feel the flip hurts unless you knock off coating with tongs (Having done that…). Enough commenters were having the same issue and this should fix that.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Heatlover1717
Wonderful! I’ve been looking at this type of recipe from different sources – so glad to see your version and can’t wait to try it!
cheryl
I’ll try yours soon. Here’s one I’ve made many times.
Chicken Dijon Pronto for 2 people
Ingredients
¼ cup dry, herb-seasoned breadcrumbs or Panko, adding thyme
¼ cup lightly packed grated parmesan cheese
1/12 c. melted butter
1 garlic cloves minced, and grated lemon zest
⅙ c. Dijon mustard
¾ Tbsp. white wine
2 boned, skinned chicken breast halves
Preparation Steps
1. Combine crumbs, cheese, garlic and butter on large piece of foil or dish. In another dish combine wine and mustard. Coat the chicken in mustard mixture, then dip the rounded side of each breast in the crumb mixture. Set crumb side up slightly apart in a 9 x 13 pan. Bake in 450 degree oven about 20 minutes, or until top is golden and chicken done through.
2. 1/4 recipe: (1/4) cup dry, herb-seasoned breadcrumbs or Panko, adding thyme (1/4)cup lightly packed grated parmesan cheese (2T) c. melted butter (2) garlic cloves minced, and grated lemon zest (3T) c. Dijon mustard (2 tsp) Tbsp. white wine (2) boned, skinned chicken breast halves
Cj
Doesn’t say to turn midway but mine was soggy on downward facing side. I used the grate. I used Slap your mama to break up the bland. Ok is the best I can say.
DrDan
Hi CJ,
Welcome to the blog and sorry it didn’t work well for you. I was rewriting this recipe post for tomorrow already so I have added a flip in the middle as an option. A few others have had issues also.
________________
I’m adding a suggest flip of the chicken half way through the cooking. Some (not me nor many others) are having problems with soggy bottom. A couple of possibilities occur to me. First, previously frozen chicken or older chicken can release more fluid. Also, too much or thinner mayo could be contribute.
Either way, the flip should help and won’t hurt. Use a fork for the flip. Tongs may remove some coating.
_____________
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Elaine
Delicious chicken! My kids love spicy so I use half mayo and half Sriracha mustard. Yum!
DrDan
Hi Elaine,
Welcome to the blog. This is an unusual combo but glad it works for you.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
N. Johnson
OMG…I tried this with every ingrediant and the baking racks. Absolutely “AWSOME”. Quick, simple and extremely tasty. Making more this weekend…simply delicious…I love it!
Julie
Making this now. The only thing I would change is to use half the parm in the Mayo batter then half later to sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
Another Cooking Dad
I had only about one-half of the required parmesan cheese so I rummaged around the fridge and found some seasoned crumbled feta and substituted that for the remainder. It really made an EXCELLENT addition. I will always use some feta when making this dish (I wouldn’t suggest using more than 1/4 cup though, as the sharp flavor might be overpowering). With a couple of gluten-free eaters, I couldn’t use the Italian bread crumbs. Not being able to locate any Panko in the cupboard, I sprinkled on some corn flake crumbs to get a little crunch. This is clearly one of those fun recipies where some substitution and creativity won’t run the meal.
BTW, the whole family (even our finicky 13-year-old) loves it. This recipe has won a spot in my coveted ‘Favorite Recipe’ bookmark folder.