Description
This Easy Baked Caesar Chicken is a flavorful and simple weeknight dinner featuring tender chicken breasts topped with creamy Caesar dressing, melted provolone cheese, and crispy Caesar-style crouton crumbs. Baked to golden perfection, this dish combines classic Caesar salad flavors with comforting baked chicken in under 35 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts (pounded to an even thickness)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Toppings
- ½ cup creamy Caesar dressing
- 8 slices provolone cheese
- 1 cup Caesar-style croutons
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and allow for easy cleanup.
- Arrange and Season Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a single layer inside the prepared baking dish. Season each piece evenly with salt and black pepper to enhance the flavor.
- Add Caesar Dressing and Cheese: Spread the creamy Caesar dressing evenly over all the chicken breasts, then top each piece with sliced provolone cheese, ensuring full coverage.
- Prepare and Sprinkle Crouton Topping: Crush the Caesar-style croutons into crumbs inside a large Ziplock bag or using a food processor, then sprinkle the crouton crumbs evenly over the cheese layer adding a crunchy texture.
- Bake the Chicken: Place the baking dish on the center oven rack and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the crouton topping turns golden brown. If the crumbs brown too quickly, loosely tent with foil for the remaining cooking time. The chicken is done when its internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Notes
- To ensure even cooking, pound chicken breasts to an even thickness before baking.
- Use a meat thermometer to confirm the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F for safe consumption.
- If croutons begin to brown too fast, covering lightly with foil prevents burning while allowing the chicken to finish cooking.
- Caesar-style croutons add authentic flavor, but any crunchy croutons can be substituted if necessary.
- Serve this dish with a side salad or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
