Cheesy Baked Chicken Breast (Printable)

Tender baked chicken with golden cheese and crispy breadcrumbs for an easy savory dish.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 5.3 oz each)

→ Seasonings

02 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
03 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Topping

07 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (approximately 3.5 oz)
08 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (approximately 1.75 oz)
09 - 1/2 cup panko or regular breadcrumbs (approximately 1.6 oz)
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

→ For Greasing

12 - 1 tablespoon olive oil or nonstick cooking spray

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil or nonstick spray.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry using paper towels and place them evenly in the prepared baking dish.
03 - Combine garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken breasts.
04 - Mix mozzarella and cheddar cheeses in a bowl. Evenly distribute the cheese mixture over the seasoned chicken breasts.
05 - Combine melted butter with breadcrumbs in a small bowl. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the cheese layer.
06 - Bake in the preheated oven for 22 to 25 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the topping is golden and bubbly.
07 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's genuinely hard to mess up, which means you can make it when you're tired or feeding people unexpectedly.
  • The contrast between creamy melted cheese and crispy buttered breadcrumbs on top makes every bite feel intentional.
  • Dinner comes together in under 40 minutes from pantry to table, no marinating or complicated prep required.
02 -
  • Wet chicken and seasoning don't go together—those paper towels matter because they help everything adhere and cook more evenly.
  • The internal temperature is your real timer, not the clock, because chicken sizes vary and ovens run hot or cold in ways we can't always predict.
03 -
  • Let the chicken rest those 5 minutes after baking—it genuinely keeps it juicier and lets the cheese set enough to hold together when plated.
  • A meat thermometer removes all the guesswork and anxiety, making you confident every single time.
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