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Melt In Your Mouth Chicken

Melt in your mouth chicken with a golden, puffy Parmesan and mayonnaise crust baked over juicy chicken breasts. Easy baked chicken with a savory herb-flecked topping that stays tender and moist inside.
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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: 680
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 0.75 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 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
  • 1 Fresh parsley for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep and preheat
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
  2. Lightly season the chicken breasts with salt and cracked black pepper, then place them in the prepared dish.
Make the Parmesan mayonnaise topping
  1. Mix the mayonnaise, Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and fresh lemon juice until smooth.
  2. Spread the Parmesan mayonnaise mixture generously over the top of each chicken breast, covering completely.
Bake
  1. Bake at 375°F for 25 minutes until the topping is golden and bubbly.
  2. Check that the internal temperature reaches 165°F, then bake 0-5 more minutes if needed until it does.
Finish
  1. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

For the tenderest results, let the baked chicken rest 5 minutes so the juices settle before slicing. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat gently in a 325°F oven until warmed through. Freezing is not recommended because the mayonnaise-Parmesan crust can soften after thawing. Dairy swap: use a plant-based mayonnaise and a dairy-free Parmesan-style topping substitute if desired.