Ranch Baked Chicken

(Picture thanks to here.)

Okay, anybody here? I once again didn't take a picture and I've made it twice in the last week! Honestly, I think this is my new favorite chicken. I've paired it with rice and baked broccoli and peas. ALL of which the kids LOVE!!!

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter

3 garlic cloves, finely minced (see garlic tutorial here)

2 thick slices whole wheat bread (for about 2 cups fresh bread crumbs)

1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. Combine butter and garlic in an 8- or 10-inch skillet. Heat over medium heat until the butter has melted. Pour the butter/garlic mixture into a shallow pie plate or similar dish and cool to room temperature.

In the bowl of a food processor, tear the bread into large chunks, and pulse until the bread is ground into crumbs. Pour the bread crumbs into a shallow pie plate or shallow bowl and toss with the Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.

Dip each chicken breast in the melted, cooled garlic butter. Transfer to the bread crumb mixture and turn until coated on all sides. Arrange the chicken in one flat layer on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle any of the remaining melted butter over the chicken. Bake the chicken until it is lightly browned and just cooked through, 40-50 minutes. The baking time will depend on the thickness and size of the chicken you are using. Don’t overcook or the chicken will be dry.

Recipe Source: adapted from Sara Moulton and www.Melskitchencafe.com

*Note: If you don’t have a food processor to make fresh bread crumbs, you can try using a blender and pulsing the crumbs or try using panko bread crumbs (usually found in the Asian foods aisle). If you are using a food processor, you can also add the Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to the bread crumbs and pulse to combine to create an even finer crumb.

Ashley's Two Cents: I used hamburger buns as the bread crumbs and for the parmesan cheese- it was the shake out kind used for spaghetti. My little add-in was half a packet of Ranch Dressing Mix added to the bread crumb mixture......LOVED IT! I also only used 3 chicken breasts, but there was definitely enough to make the extra.