Baked Ranch Chicken – Simply Home Cooked

By Editor On Apr 2, 2024

Published: Apr 1, 2024 by Dina

This Baked Ranch Chicken is covered in a crispy Panko crust that is flavored with parmesan cheese and ranch seasonings. This super moist and tender chicken is to die for.

Serve this delicious dish with some Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli and Super Creamy Mashed Potatoes.

Table Of Contents

Recipe Details

I absolutely love the flavor of this Baked Ranch Chicken recipe. The ranch seasoning is so tasty and this recipe is great with just about any side dish I want to serve. You have to try it!

TASTE: Flavored with rich mayo, salty Parmesan cheese, and ranch seasoning, this baked chicken tastes amazing. It’s a savory dish that’s just begging for seconds.
TEXTURE: The chicken is super moist and tender. And the outer layer is crusted in Panko breadcrumbs and parmesan that have been baked to a golden brown.
TIME: It takes just 40 minutes.
EASE: With just some simple ingredients, you can easily put together this incredibly tasty meal for your family with no trouble.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients for Baked Ranch Chicken: parmesan, panko breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, butter, salt, ranch mix, and chicken breasts.

Ingredient Notes

Chicken- Boneless and skinless chicken breasts are best. Trim off any excess fat before you begin.
Ranch seasoning- I bought a Hidden Valley Ranch mix, but you are welcome to create your own homemade ranch mix.
Mayonnaise- This covers the chicken, layering on rich flavor as well as adding tons of moisture.
Panko breadcrumbs- These extra crispy Japanese breadcrumbs will give this Baked Ranch Chicken the best texture.
Parmesan cheese- This will crisp up on the outside of the chicken, adding salty, nutty, and cheesy flavor.

Add-ins and Substitutions

Substitute the mayo- Instead of mayonnaise, use plain Greek yogurt or sour cream for moisture and added tangy flavor.
Use ranch dressing- In place of the mix, you can use ranch dressing on the chicken.
Substitute the chicken breasts- Make this dish with chicken thighs or chicken legs in place of the breasts.
Add pungent citrusy flavor- Adding fresh garlic and lemon juice to this chicken will give it a boost of flavor.

How to Make Baked Ranch Chicken

Combine the mayo and seasonings. In a bowl, blend the ranch seasoning mix and mayonnaise with a whisk. Then set it aside.
Mix the rest of the ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine the Panko breadcrumbs, grated parmesan, melted butter, and salt.

Steps to make Baked Ranch Chicken: combine the mayo and ranch mix with a whisk, then add melted butter to the panko, parmesan, and salt and mix.

Cover the chicken with seasoning mix and breadcrumbs. Now dredge each chicken breast in the mayonnaise mixture. Then evenly coat each with the bread crumbs.
Bake. Place the coated chicken breasts onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Then bake at 375 for 35-40 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Pro Tip: Use an instant-read thermometer to check the thickest part of the chicken. It should read at least 165°F.

Steps to make Baked Ranch Chicken: dredge it in ranch mix, then in breadcrumbs, before baking it on a sheet pan.

Recipe Tips

Pat the chicken dry- Pat the chicken breasts with a paper towel to make sure they are dry so the water on them doesn’t repel the ranch mixture, which is oil based.
Get full coverage- Make sure you completely cover the chicken with the mayo-ranch mixture and the breadcrumb mix to get moist and crispy baked chicken.
Use an instant read meat thermometer- This is the best way to ensure that the chicken is fully cooked, perfectly juicy, and tender.

FAQs

What does baking chicken covered do?

While baking this chicken covered does trap steam that leads to moister chicken, it will also make the breadcrumb topping soggy. Bake this ranch chicken uncovered to get a crispy outer crust.

How do you keep chicken from drying out in the oven?

To avoid drying out your chicken, coat it with a moist ingredient like this mayo-ranch mixture to keep the moisture in and tenderize the chicken. Also, don’t bake it at too high a temperature. We bake this ranch chicken at 375 degrees.

Close up of fork in Baked Ranch Chicken.

Serving Suggestions

This Baked Ranch Chicken is rich, moist, and full of flavor. Enjoy it with vegetables, potatoes, pasta, and salads.

Vegetables: Serve this dish with some Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Air Fryer Mushrooms, Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli, or Bacon Wrapped Asparagus.
Salads: Enjoy this Baked Ranch Chicken with a Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad, Spinach Salad, Cucumber Radish Salad, or Broccoli Cranberry Salad.
Potatoes: Pair it with Super Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Scalloped Potatoes, Crispy Air Fryer Baby Potatoes, or Air Fryer Baked Potatoes.
Pasta: Serve it with a bowl of Asparagus Pasta, Pasta Pomodoro, Chicken Broccoli Alfredo, or Easy Four Cheese Ravioli (15-Minute Meal).

Make This Recipe in Advance

Make ahead: Prepare the ranch mixture ahead of time and store it in the fridge, covered, until you’re ready to dredge the chicken and bake.

Storing: Store this Baked Ranch Chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave.

Freeze: You can freeze this chicken in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat in the oven until warmed through.

More Delectable Chicken Dishes!

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