Juicy Mayo Parmesan Chicken: An Easy Weeknight Dinner
Creamy, golden-baked chicken breasts coated in a savory mayo–Parmesan mixture. Moist, flavorful, and ready in about 35 minutes—perfect for busy weeknights.
- Total Time35 minutes
- Yield4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (pound to even 3/4-inch thickness if needed)
Mayo–Parmesan Mixture
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Optional Topping
- 1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs (optional, for crunchy topping)
Garnish
- freshly chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment or lightly grease a baking dish.
- Prep the Chicken: Pat chicken breasts dry. If thicker than 1 inch, pound to an even 3/4-inch thickness for even cooking.
- Mix the Coating: In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
- Coat the Chicken: Place chicken on the prepared sheet and spread a thick, even layer of the mayo–Parmesan mixture on top of each breast.
- Add Optional Crunch: Sprinkle seasoned breadcrumbs over the coated chicken and gently press to adhere.
- Bake: Bake 20–25 minutes until the topping is golden and the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) on a meat thermometer.
- Rest & Serve: Let rest 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
For extra juiciness, choose evenly sized chicken breasts. Air-chill after pounding for 10 minutes in the fridge to help the coating set. Swap breadcrumbs with crushed pork rinds for a low-carb option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 450
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 5
- Protein: 45
