Description
The ultimate Melt In Your Mouth Chicken Breast recipe that transforms ordinary chicken into an extraordinarily tender, juicy, and flavorful dish that lives up to its name.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 2 pounds)
- 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt (substitute: sour cream)
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1½ teaspoons seasoned salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs (optional, for extra crispiness)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Lemon wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. If thicker than 1 inch, butterfly or pound to ¾ inch thickness. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- In a medium bowl, combine Greek yogurt, half the Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, seasoned salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and paprika. Whisk until smooth.
- Place chicken in a shallow dish and coat thoroughly with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a baking dish by brushing with olive oil or lining with parchment paper.
- Remove chicken from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes.
- Mix remaining Parmesan cheese, melted butter, and panko breadcrumbs (if using) in a small bowl.
- Place marinated chicken in the baking dish, spoon any remaining marinade over top, then sprinkle with the Parmesan-butter-breadcrumb mixture.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). For extra browning, broil for the final 2-3 minutes.
- Let chicken rest for 5-7 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
- For a lighter version, use 2% Greek yogurt, reduce the Parmesan, and use olive oil spray instead of butter.
- Allowing the chicken to rest after cooking is crucial for retaining moisture.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
- For meal prep, prepare the marinade up to 2 days in advance.
- The entire dish can be assembled up to 24 hours before baking; add 5-7 minutes to baking time if cooking from refrigerated.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 385
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 19g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 48g
Keywords: melt in your mouth chicken breast, tender chicken recipe, juicy chicken breast, parmesan crusted chicken, greek yogurt chicken
