Description
This Easy Baked Caesar Chicken recipe features tender, boneless chicken breasts topped with creamy Caesar dressing, melted provolone cheese, and a crunchy Caesar-style crouton topping. Baked to golden perfection, this dish combines classic Caesar salad flavors in a hearty and satisfying baked entree that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining guests.
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 Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Arrange and Season Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a single layer in the baking dish. Season each piece evenly with salt and black pepper to enhance flavor.
- Add Caesar Dressing and Cheese: Spread the creamy Caesar dressing evenly over all the chicken breasts, ensuring each piece is fully coated. Then, top each breast with slices of provolone cheese, covering them completely for a melty, cheesy layer.
- Prepare Crouton Topping: Place the Caesar-style croutons into a large Ziplock bag and crush them into fine crumbs using your hands or a rolling pin. Sprinkle the crouton crumbs evenly over the cheese layer on the chicken.
- Bake Until Golden and Cooked Through: Bake the dish on the center rack for 25 to 30 minutes. The chicken should be cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F, and the topping should be golden brown. If the topping browns too quickly before the chicken is done, loosely cover the dish with foil for the remaining baking time to prevent burning.
Notes
- Pounding the chicken breasts to an even thickness ensures even cooking.
- Using provolone cheese adds a mild, creamy melt that pairs well with Caesar flavors.
- Crushing croutons by hand allows you to control the size of the topping crumbs.
- Check internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure safety and juiciness.
- Loosely tenting with foil helps prevent the crouton topping from burning while baking.
