Butter Cracker Chicken

If you’re looking for a simple baked chicken dinner that the whole family will love, this Butter Cracker Chicken is one of those recipes you’ll make again and again. Juicy chicken breasts are coated in buttery cracker crumbs, seasoned just right, and baked with plenty of melted butter until golden and crispy.

This recipe is similar to the classic Ritz Cracker Chicken you may have seen before, but this version has extra seasoning and a generous amount of butter baked right into the crust so every bite is flavorful and crunchy. It’s also similar to baked cornflake chicken.

The best part? It’s made with just a handful of pantry ingredients and takes only about 15 minutes to prep. Serve this cracker crusted chicken with a simple salad, roasted vegetables, or mashed potatoes and dinner is done.

Why You’ll Love This Buttery Baked Chicken

✔ It uses 7 simple ingredients that you probably already have at home.
✔ The crispy, buttery coating turns golden in the oven.
✔ It’s family-friendly comfort food that even picky eaters love.
✔ Ready in about 40 minutes.
✔ It baked in just one dish, which makes for easy cleanup.
✔ It’s an easy baked chicken recipe for an easy weeknight dinner.

This recipe is a great reminder that sometimes the simplest recipes turn out to be the most delicious.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Ritz Crackers: These buttery crackers create the crispy coating. Finely crushing them helps them stick to the chicken and bake evenly.
• Eggs: The eggs help the cracker crumbs adhere to the chicken breasts.
• Italian Seasoning: Adds a subtle herb flavor that makes the crust more interesting.
• Garlic Powder and Onion Powder: These pantry staples bring savory depth to the coating.
• Cayenne Pepper: Just a small amount adds a mild warmth without making the dish spicy.
• Lemon Pepper: A hint of brightness that pairs perfectly with baked chicken.
• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: Lean and tender, these bake beautifully with the buttery cracker coating.
• Salted Butter: This is the magic ingredient! As it melts in the oven it soaks into the cracker coating, creating that rich, crispy crust.
• Fresh Parsley: A sprinkle of parsley adds fresh color and flavor before serving.

How to Make Butter Cracker Chicken

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
2. Place the crushed crackers in a shallow bowl. Stir in the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne and lemon pepper. Place the beaten eggs in a separate bowl.
3. Dip each chicken breast into the eggs, coating both sides. Press the chicken into the cracker mixture, turning to coat evenly. Place the coated chicken into the prepared baking dish. Scatter the butter pieces over the top of the chicken.
4. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the coating is golden and crispy. Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F when tested with a thermometer.
5. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving.

Why Butter Makes the Cracker Crust So Good

The combination of buttery crackers and real butter is what makes this chicken so irresistible. As the chicken bakes, the butter melts and soaks into the cracker crumbs, creating a rich, golden crust that becomes crisp in the oven. The result is a coating that tastes similar to fried chicken—but it’s oven baked crispy chicken.

Using butter also helps keep the chicken moist while adding a deep, savory flavor that pairs perfectly with the simple seasonings in the cracker coating.

What to Serve with Butter Cracker Chicken

This chicken pairs well with classic comfort food sides such as:

• Creamy mashed potatoes
• Roasted green beans
• Fresh corn salad
• Green salad with strawberries
• Rice pilaf
• Mac and cheese

Variations to Try

1. Cheesy Cracker Chicken: Add ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese to the cracker mixture.
2. Spicy Butter Cracker Chicken: Increase cayenne pepper or add a pinch of smoked paprika.
3. Creamy Cracker Chicken: Serve with a drizzle of cream sauce or gravy.
4. Chicken Tenders Version: Cut chicken breasts into strips for kid-friendly baked chicken tenders.

Storage and Reheating

Refrigerator:
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Reheating:
Reheat in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes to keep the crust crisp. Avoid microwaving if possible since it softens the coating.

Freezing:
You can freeze cooked chicken for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Print

Butter Cracker Chicken

Butter Cracker Chicken is an easy baked chicken dinner made with buttery cracker crumbs, simple seasonings and melted butter. The chicken bakes up juicy and tender with a golden, crispy crust that tastes a little like fried chicken—without the frying. It’s a comforting, family-friendly dinner that comes together quickly with pantry ingredients.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword butter crackers, chicken, Crackers, ritz

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 552kcal

Author Lori Lange

Equipment

• 9×13-inch baking dish

Ingredients

• 1 cup finely crushed Ritz crackers (or another buttery cracker)
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ¼ teaspoon lemon pepper
• 4 whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, cut into small pieces
• chopped fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375℉.
• Place cracker crumbs in one bowl and eggs in another. Add Italian seasoning, garlic and onion powder, cayenne and lemon pepper to the cracker crumbs and stir.
• Dip the chicken into the eggs and then into the crumbs. Place the coated chicken in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the butter pieces on top of the chicken.
• Bake for about 30 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. 165℉ is the safe cooking temperature for chicken.

Notes

• Crushing the crackers: For best results, crush the crackers into fine crumbs so they stick well to the chicken. You can place them in a zip bag and crush with a rolling pin or pulse briefly in a food processor.
  • Chicken thickness: If your chicken breasts are very thick, consider pounding them slightly so they cook more evenly.
  • Butter placement: Scatter the butter pieces evenly over the chicken. As it melts in the oven, it helps the cracker coating become rich and crispy.
  • Use a thermometer: Chicken is safely cooked when it reaches 165°F internally.
  • Substitutions: Any buttery-style cracker can be used in place of Ritz.
  • Optional variation: Stir ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese into the cracker crumbs for extra flavor.
  • Leftovers: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven to help keep the coating crisp.
  • Serving idea: This chicken is great served with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a simple green salad.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 552kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 284mg | Sodium: 589mg | Potassium: 811mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 995IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 2mg

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