Baked Ranch Chicken recipe is incredibly easy to make with only five ingredients. The chicken is crispy on the outside (crunchy crust anyone?) and tender and juicy on the inside! You will love the convenience of baked boneless chicken breasts during busy weeknights.
You might also like Keto Greek Yogurt Chicken and Crispy Baked Chicken Nuggets.
Baked ranch chicken comes out juicy and tender every single time covered in the amazing ranch dressing. Chicken has never tasted better! Melt in your mouth to leave you wanting more.
I usually bake the chicken breasts and then add veggies or pasta on a side to make it a complete dinner. Or, use it for potlucks, dinner parties, or busy weeknight dinners.So good!
Key Ingredients
- Chicken: Chicken tenders or sliced chicken breast.
- Ranch dressing: You can use a seasoning packet or a ranch dressing mix from a jar. I prefer to use the dressing from the jar because you can be generous in how much you use.
- Breadcrumbs: I like to use flavored Parmesan breadcrumbs or panko crumbs. To make it Gluten Free, simply replace bread crumbs with gluten free panko crumbs! These are definitely my favorite and they taste amazing!
How to Make Baked Ranch Chicken
1. Dip Chicken into Ranch Dressing
- Prepare two bowls. Large bowl for dipping chicken into the ranch dressing, and a shallow one - for bread crumbs.
- Simply add ranch dressing to a large bowl and bread crumbs to the smaller one.
- Dip each breast in the ranch dressing, turning on all sides until well-coated, shaking off any excess dressing.
2. Cover Chicken in Breadcrumbs
In a shallow bowl or plate, place the bread crumbs. Once chicken is coated in ranch dressing, it's time to cover it in breadcrumbs! I usually prepare a flat dish and add bread crumbs.
Lay the chicken in the bread crumbs and turn until evenly coated.
5. Bake
Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add coated chicken breasts to the baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes.
Ranch Chicken
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Ingredients
- 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast halves or chicken tenders
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup ranch dressing
- ½ cup dry bread crumbs any flavor
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper and set aside.
- Prepare two bowls - larger bowl and shallow one (or a plate). In a larger bowl, add the ranch dressing.
- In a shallow bowl or plate, place the bread crumbs.
- Dip each breast in the ranch dressing, turning on all sides until well-coated, shaking off any excess dressing.
- Next transfer the chicken to the bread crumbs bowl and turn until evenly coated.
- Arrange the coated chicken on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes at 375 F, until an internal temperature of 165°F or until juices run clear.
Why is my baked ranch chicken dry?
Boneless chicken breasts can overcook easily, which makes them dry and stringy.
- Use an instant-read thermometer and bake just until the center reaches 165°F.
- Pound thick chicken breasts to an even thickness so they cook more evenly.
- Tent loosely with foil if the topping browns before the chicken is done.
Pro fix: If it's already a bit dry, slice and serve with a spoonful of ranch dressing.
Why is my ranch chicken soggy on the bottom?
Excess moisture from the chicken or a very thick sauce can make the bottoms soggy.
- Pat the chicken very dry with paper towels before coating.
- Use a rimmed baking sheet instead of a deep dish so moisture can evaporate.
Can I use Greek yogurt instead of Ranch Dressing?
Yes, plain Greek yogurt works well in baked ranch chicken for a lighter, high-protein coating.
- Swap some or all of the ranch dressing with Greek yogurt.
- Use whole-milk or 5% Greek yogurt for better richness.
- If the mixture seems too thick, thin it with a splash of milk or broth before coating the chicken.
What can I substitute for ranch seasoning mix?
- Use onion powder, garlic powder, dried parsley, dill, and chives plus salt and pepper.
- Add a bit of grated Parmesan for extra savory flavor like many baked ranch recipes do.
- If using ranch dip mix instead of dressing mix, reduce added salt because dip mixes are usually saltier.
Can I make baked ranch chicken without breadcrumbs?
Yes, you can skip breading for low-carb or gluten-free baked ranch chicken.
- You can just coat chicken with ranch seasoning and a little oil, then bake until golden.
- Swap breadcrumbs for crushed cornflakes or gluten-free crackers if you still want crunch.
- Use grated Parmesan and ranch seasoning for a low-carb, crispy, cheesy crust.
What to serve with ranch chicken
Everything! But this chicken recipe is especially good when served with rice or pasta, Green Beans, or grilled veggies. You can also enjoy baked ranch chicken with a slice of freshly baked homemade buttermilk bread! Or slice it and add to Cranberry Walnut Spinach Salad or a sandwich.
Make ahead, store, reheat
Baked ranch chicken is a perfect recipe to make ahead - think frozen chicken tenders. It's freezer friendly and kids friendly - make it over the weekend to feed your family during the week!
Store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days for maximum freshness.
I recommend to reheat it in the oven at 350 - 10 to 15 minutes.
Enjoy!
Anonymous says
Dorothy Palmer
Rebecca says
Delicious and so easy! I added garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and paprika to the bread crumbs.
Olya says
Delicious additions Rebecca
Marianne says
I can't wait to try this tonight!
marla newkirk says
I have made this for past 30 years except I use panko crumbs. Either way its yummy