A deliciously crispy fried chicken that is not only full of flavor but is a kid-approved favorite!

Ah, another day, another dinner to be made.

Making dinner can become pretty boring if I'm being honest. You'd think it would be simple: just put good food on the table. But it isn’t simple. Because it isn’t just the making of the dinner. It’s coming up with an idea, planning it out, shopping for ingredients, hoping everyone in the house will eat it, and then the cooking…

It's a process that never really seems to end, does it?

It was during one of these meal-planning ruts that I thought “This is ridiculous! Let’s just go out to eat.”

But then of course that comes with its own logistics. “Where do we eat? What’s good? What will I eat there? Will the kids eat something there? How much will it cost?”

It really kind of just makes you want to scream, no?

Rather than spend my money on what is probably a 200% markup at a restaurant, I knew I could come up with something. I started to think about what our favorite dishes are at our favorite restaurants. That’s when I remembered a steakhouse that offers a Parmesan Crusted Chicken.

After a little search, there were several recipes available. I tried out a couple of them, but it never really turned out like I wanted. After altering some of the ingredients, I was able to come up with this recipe and it's exactly what I was looking for!

If you are in a “What do I make for dinner?!” rut, I hope this helps.

Why You’ll Love This Parmesan Ranch Crusted Chicken Recipe

Easy Preparation - The prep work is for the breading, and it really just takes a few minutes.
Budget-Friendly - I find chicken to be one of the most affordable meats.
Kid-Approved - I haven’t met a kid yet who didn’t love fried chicken!

What Ingredients Are Needed to Make Parmesan Ranch Crusted Chicken

Chicken- Boneless, skinless breasts are what I use for this recipe but feel free to use thighs if that’s your preference.

Flour & Breadcrumbs - Just a general all-purpose flour and some Panko breadcrumbs create that delicious crunch.

Parmesan Cheese - Freshly grated is best but use what you have on hand.

Eggs and Buttermilk - The eggs will act as an adhesive for the breading and the buttermilk will add that delicious tang and help tenderize the chicken.

Seasonings - Simple staples like salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and parsley are all you need.

Buttermilk Ranch Seasoning- Homemade or the packet works.

How To Make Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Seasoning

1/3 cup dry buttermilk powder (I use homemade freeze-dried buttermilk that I grind into powder)
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried chives
1 teaspoon dried dill
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 -1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 Tablespoon onion powder

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

For this recipe, I used my fresh herbs that I dehydrated with my Excalibur Dehydrator. If you're using fresh herbs, you’ll want to use about 3 teaspoons for every teaspoon of dried.

What to Serve with Parmesan Ranch Crusted Chicken

On busy weeknights, I like to serve an easy side dish like my White Cheddar Loaded Mashed Potatoes and Simple Sauteed Green Beans.

Helpful Tip When Making Parmesan Ranch Crusted Chicken

Thickness. To ensure even cooking, use a meat mallet to gently pound thicker parts of the chicken breast to match the consistency of the thinner end.

Double Dredge. I am a huge advocate for double dredging when it comes to frying things. That extra dip in the batter and flour give an extra crispy crunch.

Temperature. Check the cooked chicken with an internal thermometer to ensure it is completely cooked. The USDA recommends cooked chicken have an internal temperature of at least 165°F

Hungry For More Chicken Recipes? Check out these family favorites:

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (approximately 4 thin breasts)
1 cup flour
2 ½ cups Panko breadcrumbs
2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup dried buttermilk Ranch seasoning
2 eggs
1/4 - 1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 Tablespoon dried onion powder
1 Tablespoon dried garlic powder
¼ cup olive oil

Directions

You will need three separate medium-sized, shallow bowls. In the first bowl, mix eggs and buttermilk.

In the second bowl, mix 2 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup Ranch seasoning, 1 cup Parmesan, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, ½ tablespoon onion powder, ½ tablespoon garlic powder, and 1 tablespoon of parsley.

In the third bowl, add 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup Parmesan, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, ½ tablespoon onion powder, and ½ tablespoon garlic powder.

Coat each chicken breast in flour mixture, then egg mixture, and finally in breadcrumb mixture. To ensure each chicken breast is thoroughly coated, press the breadcrumb mixture into the chicken. To double dredge, repeat this process.

Over medium-high heat, heat ¼ cup olive oil in a large skillet. Fry each chicken breast for approximately 3-4 minutes on each side or until cooked through and reach an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees.

Place cooked chicken on a plate lined with paper towels to remove any excess oil. Sprinkle your remaining parsley over the chicken and enjoy!

If you enjoyed this Parmesan-Ranch Crusted Chicken recipe, let us know in the comments below and share it with a friend who loves homemade, delicious food as much as you do!

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THE AZALEA HOMESTEAD

Parmesan Ranch Crusted Chicken