Butter Cracker Chicken

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Butter Cracker Chicken is an easy baked chicken dinner made with buttery cracker crumbs, simple seasonings and melted butter. The chicken bakes up juicy and tender with a golden, crispy crust that tastes a little like fried chicken—without the frying. It’s a comforting, family-friendly dinner that comes together quickly with pantry ingredients.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: butter crackers, chicken, Crackers, ritz

Servings: servings

Author: Lori Lange

Equipment

9x13-inch baking dish

Ingredients

1 cup finely crushed Ritz crackers (or another buttery cracker)
2 large eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon lemon pepper
4 whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts
½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, cut into small pieces
chopped fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375℉.
Place cracker crumbs in one bowl and eggs in another. Add Italian seasoning, garlic and onion powder, cayenne and lemon pepper to the cracker crumbs and stir.
Dip the chicken into the eggs and then into the crumbs. Place the coated chicken in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the butter pieces on top of the chicken.
Bake for about 30 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. 165℉ is the safe cooking temperature for chicken.

Notes

Crushing the crackers: For best results, crush the crackers into fine crumbs so they stick well to the chicken. You can place them in a zip bag and crush with a rolling pin or pulse briefly in a food processor.
• Chicken thickness: If your chicken breasts are very thick, consider pounding them slightly so they cook more evenly.
• Butter placement: Scatter the butter pieces evenly over the chicken. As it melts in the oven, it helps the cracker coating become rich and crispy.
• Use a thermometer: Chicken is safely cooked when it reaches 165°F internally.
• Substitutions: Any buttery-style cracker can be used in place of Ritz.
• Optional variation: Stir ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese into the cracker crumbs for extra flavor.
• Leftovers: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven to help keep the coating crisp.
• Serving idea: This chicken is great served with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a simple green salad.

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