Creamy Baked Caesar Chicken – Simple Homemade Recipe
Have you ever had one of those days where you’re just too tired to cook something hard but still want to eat something that feels special? Something warm, creamy, and full of flavor? That’s exactly how I discovered this creamy baked Caesar chicken recipe. One cold evening, I was looking through my fridge and saw a bottle of Caesar dressing, some chicken, and shredded cheese. That’s when I thought, "Why not put it all together and bake it?" And guess what—it turned out so delicious!
Equipment
- Equipment You’ll Need
- Oven
- Baking dish (9x13 inch)
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring cups/spoons
- Aluminum foil (optional)
- Knife and cutting board (for trimming chicken)
Ingredients
- Ingredients
- Main Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup Caesar salad dressing use low-fat if preferred
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese or cheddar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt optional, depending on your dressing
- Optional or Substitute Ingredients
- Greek yogurt to replace some of the dressing for a lighter version
- Low-fat shredded cheese
- Gluten-free Caesar dressing if needed
- Chicken thighs instead of breasts
- Add a handful of baby spinach or mushrooms under the chicken for extra veggies
Instructions
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Let’s walk through this recipe one easy step at a time. Follow along, and you’ll have creamy baked Caesar chicken that tastes amazing!
- Step 1: Preheat the Oven
- Before you do anything, turn on your oven.
- Set the temperature to 375°F (190°C).
- Let it warm up while you get everything ready. This way, your chicken will bake evenly and cook better.
- Step 2: Prepare the Chicken
- Take 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
- Rinse them under cold water to clean them.
- Then, dry them using a clean paper towel.
- If there is any fat or extra bits on the chicken, carefully cut those off with a small knife.
- This helps the chicken cook more evenly and look nicer.
- Step 3: Make the Creamy Caesar Sauce
- Take a medium bowl.
- Now add the following ingredients into the bowl:
- 1 cup Caesar salad dressing
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Use a spoon to stir everything together until it's well mixed.
- This will be your creamy, flavorful sauce.
- Step 4: Place the Chicken in the Baking Dish
- Take a baking dish (about 9x13 inches).
- Lay all 4 chicken breasts flat in the dish.
- Make sure they are not stacked on top of each other. Leave some space between each piece if you can.
- This helps the chicken cook fully on all sides.
- Step 5: Pour the Sauce Over the Chicken
- Take your bowl of Caesar sauce and spoon it over each piece of chicken.
- Make sure to spread it all over the top of each chicken breast.
- You want the whole top covered with sauce. This keeps the chicken moist and full of flavor while baking.
- Step 6: Add the Cheese
- Now it’s time to make it cheesy!
- Take:
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Sprinkle both types of cheese on top of each chicken breast.
- Try to cover the sauce nicely with cheese so it melts and forms a creamy top.
- Step 7: Bake in the Oven
- Place the baking dish in your preheated oven.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
- After 25 minutes, take a fork and poke the thickest piece.
- If the juices run clear and there’s no pink inside, the chicken is done.
- If you have a meat thermometer, the inside should be at least 165°F (74°C).
- If it needs more time, let it bake for another 5 minutes, then check again.
- Step 8: Let the Chicken Rest
- Once it’s fully baked, take the dish out of the oven.
- Place it on the counter and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- This helps the juices stay inside the chicken and keeps it tender and moist.
- Step 9: Serve and Enjoy
- Now your creamy baked Caesar chicken is ready!
- Use a big spoon or spatula to lift the chicken out of the dish and serve it on plates.
- You can enjoy it with veggies, rice, potatoes, or even in a sandwich.