Ingredients:

  • 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 0.5 tsp fine sea salt
  • 0.25 tsp cracked black pepper
  • 2 sleeves (200g) Ritz crackers, crushed
  • 0.5 cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.5 tsp onion powder
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.25 cup (25g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Note: A hot oven is vital for immediate moisture evaporation from the crust.
  2. Flatten the 1.5 lbs of chicken breasts to an even 0.5 inch thickness using a meat mallet.
  3. Season the meat on both sides with 0.5 tsp sea salt and 0.25 tsp black pepper.
  4. Crush 2 sleeves of Ritz crackers into a shallow bowl. Note: Aim for irregular shards, not a fine sand like powder.
  5. Mix the 1 tsp garlic powder, 0.5 tsp onion powder, 0.5 tsp smoked paprika, and 0.25 cup Parmesan into the crumbs.
  6. Melt 0.5 cup unsalted butter in a separate shallow dish.
  7. Dip each piece of chicken into the butter, coating it until fully glistening and wet.
  8. Press the buttered chicken firmly into the cracker mixture. Bake 25 minutes until the crust is golden and the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).
  9. Rest the chicken for 5 minutes before serving. Note: This allows the juices to redistribute so they don't flood the plate when cut.