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Melt In Your Mouth Chicken

Melt in your mouth chicken with an easy baked chicken method: baked chicken breasts topped in a golden, puffy Parmesan and mayonnaise crust. The crust crackles while the interior stays tender and moist, with savory herb-flecked flavor.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts Use evenly thick breasts for consistent baking.
Parmesan mayo topping
  • 1 cup mayonnaise Full-fat mayonnaise helps create a puffy, golden crust.
  • 0.75 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated Grate fresh for best melting and browning.
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 0.25 salt To taste.
  • 0.25 cracked black pepper To taste.
To serve
  • 2 fresh parsley for garnish Freshly chopped or leaves for topping.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Preheat and prep
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
  2. Season the chicken breasts lightly with salt and cracked black pepper and place them in the prepared dish.
Make the Parmesan mayonnaise mixture
  1. Mix together mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and fresh lemon juice until smooth, scraping the bowl for an even consistency.
Bake
  1. Spread the Parmesan mayonnaise mixture generously over the top of each chicken breast, covering completely.
  2. Bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes until the topping is golden and bubbly and the internal temperature reaches 165°F, watching for deep golden edges.
Serve
  1. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

For the most tender center, let the baked chicken rest 3 minutes before serving so the juices reabsorb. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days in a covered container; reheat at 350°F until warmed through. Freezing is not recommended because the mayonnaise-Parmesan topping can soften. Dietary swap: use light mayonnaise to reduce fat while keeping the same baking time.