This Crunchy Baked Ranch Chicken is the perfect weeknight meal, it requires only a few minutes of prep time and the oven does most of the work. The tender chicken breasts are coated in a tangy ranch dressing and then topped with crunchy breadcrumbs for a simple meal your whole family will love.
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Why you'll love this recipe
✔️ The simple ingredients come together to make a healthy meal that has an amazing flavor.
✔️ All of the ingredients are easy to find at the grocery store so you don't have to worry about tracking down find-to-find items.
✔️ Even the picky eaters in your house will love this easy ranch chicken.
Ingredients
Please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact measurements.
- boneless skinless chicken breasts
- panko breadcrumbs or you can use regular breadcrumbs or even crushed cornflakes
- grated Parmesan cheese
- ranch dressing mix (this is the dry mix in a packet)
- mayonnaise
- salt and pepper
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For complete directions, scroll down to the bottom.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. And, lightly spray the baking sheet with cooking spray, set aside.
- In a shallow dish combine the mayonnaise and ranch dressing. In a second shallow dish, combine the panko breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese. Mix them well until evenly combined.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Dip each chicken breast (both sides) into the mayonnaise mixture making sure to coat it entirely.
- Press the coated chicken breasts into the breadcrumb mixture, pressing down firmly to help the crumbs adhere to the chicken and create a crispy coating.
- Place the coated chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet.
- Lightly spritz with non-stick cooking spray.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the coating is golden and crispy.
- Once done, remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the chicken to rest for a couple of minutes before serving.
Equipment
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- shallow bowl or plate
- shallow rimmed dish
- rimmed baking sheet
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FAQ's
Depending on the thickness of the breast it should take them about 20-25 minutes to bake at 400 degrees.
The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165 degrees in the thickest part of the meat. However, make sure that you a meat thermometer to get the most accurate results.
The ranch seasoning packet includes ingredients like onion powder, garlic powder, parsley flakes, dill, chives, dry buttermilk, and other seasonings.
Test kitchen tips
- Before dredging your chicken I recommend that you trim off extra fat and tissue. Because, this will prevent your chicken breast from being tough on the edges.
- I like to pound my boneless chicken breasts to an even thickness. Because this helps them cook evenly and keeps them from drying out.
- An instant-read thermometer will give the best and most accurate results when it comes to checking the temperature of your chicken breasts.
- For this recipe, you are using a dry seasoning packet like Hidden Valley Ranch instead of using bottled salad dressing.
Variations
- Not a fan of mayo? You can use plain Greek yogurt or even sour cream both will still keep your chicken moist and give it a nice flavor.
- Swap out the chicken breasts, for chicken tenders, boneless skinless chicken thighs or even pork chops. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Or, for a spicy twist, you can use the Fiesta ranch seasoning mix, or add some cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to your ranch mix.
- Out of parmesan cheese? Swap it out for finely grated cheddar cheese or whatever type of cheese that you have on hand.
Storage
Refrigerate - Once the leftovers cool store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2-3 days.
Freezing- Once cooked, let cool completely then freeze in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months.
Reheating - Reheat in the oven at 350°F until warmed through. You can also microwave it, but be sure not to overcook it because it can be tough.
Related recipes
- Crockpot Chicken and Gravy is an easy weeknight dinner that is not only comforting but also super simple to make. The slow cooker does most of the work so you can enjoy more time with your family.
- These Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs are a simple yet budget-friendly meal that's perfect for nights when you want something filling yet easy to make.
- If you like this recipe, try the Shake n Bake Pork Chops - you'll love the crispy topping!
- If you are in the mood for hearty casserole then check out this Creamy Chicken and Potatoes recipe. It's a one-pan meal that will feed your entire family.
Serve with
- I love to pair this easy baked chicken recipe with a fresh and healthy side dish like these 3 Ingredient Steamed Green Bean or Steamed Brussels Sprouts. They can be ready in just minutes and they taste great!
- Smashed Fingerling Potatoes are one of my go-to side dishes because these potatoes are perfectly seasoned and crisped to perfection. You can't go wrong with these potatoes!
- Easy Strawberry Shortcake is my all-time favorite dessert to pair with this crunchy baked ranch chicken recipe. Sweet strawberries, fluffy shortcakes, and creamy whipped cream. What more could you ask for?
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If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating!
Crunchy Baked Ranch Chicken
Equipment
- 9x13 casserole dish
- instant read thermometer
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs or regular breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes if you prefer
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon ranch dressing mix this is the dry powdered dressing mix
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Lightly spray the baking sheet with cooking spray, set aside.
- In a shallow dish combine the mayonnaise and ranch dressing. In a second shallow dish, combine the panko breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese. Mix them well until evenly combined.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Dip each chicken breast (both sides) into the mayonnaise mixture making sure to coat it entirely.
- Press the coated chicken breasts into the breadcrumb mixture, pressing down firmly to help the crumbs adhere to the chicken and create a crispy coating.
- Place the coated chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet.
- Lightly spritz with non-stick cooking spray.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the coating is golden and crispy. *
- Once done, remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the chicken to rest for a couple of minutes before serving.
Tonya says
This tasted delicious! I made it with plain bread crumbs the only question I have is how can we make them crunchy?
Debra Clark says
Panko bread crumbs are so much more crunchier than plain bread crumbs. Use those next time and you'll love that texture. Glad you enjoyed the recipe Tonya, thanks for stopping back by to comment.a
Camden says
I could already put ranch on anything, so this baked ranch chicken looks incredible to me! Planning on serving this with some veggies for dinner tonight.
Bowl Me Over says
Hahaha, me too! I even dip pizza in ranch. On chicken, it's a flavor gamechanger. Enjoy!
Debbie says
We are going to try this baked ranch chicken tonight. Thank you for another simple and scrumptious recipe idea.
Lois says
Another great Chicken dish. Very tasty so easy to put together and my family loved it.
Kristen says
This ranch chicken recipe looks like such an easy and satisfying meal for weeknights--and I bet it makes yummy leftovers for lunch, too!
Bowl Me Over says
I love slicing leftover chicken for sandwiches the next day - yum, yum!!
Alyssa says
I love baked ranch chicken. My mom made it for family dinner a few months ago and it became one of my favorite meals!
Brittany says
My mom made a similar recipe when I was growing up and I always loved the crunchy outer layer that the cornflakes gave. I couldn't wait to try your baked ranch chicken to see how it compared...it was perfect!