Description
A creamy, cheesy, and savory chicken bake that combines tender chicken breasts with a tangy sour cream sauce and three kinds of melted cheese. Perfect for busy weeknights yet elegant enough for entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6–7 ounces each)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or melted butter
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika (optional, for color)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- For the Sour Cream Sauce:
- 1 cup sour cream (full-fat recommended)
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley (or 1 teaspoon fresh)
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- For Topping:
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (sharp recommended)
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Season Chicken: Pat chicken breasts dry. Drizzle with olive oil, then season with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Arrange in the baking dish.
- Mix Sauce: In a bowl, whisk sour cream, mayonnaise, onion powder, garlic powder, parsley, paprika, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Smother Chicken: Spread sauce evenly over the chicken breasts.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan over the top.
- Bake: Cover loosely with foil. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes, until chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) and cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Rest & Garnish: Let rest 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley or chives. Serve warm.
Notes
- Pound chicken breasts to even thickness for uniform cooking.
- Use freshly shredded cheese for better melting.
- For extra flavor, sprinkle red pepper flakes into the sour cream mixture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35–40 minutes
- Category: Dinner / Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce and cheese
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 46 g
- Cholesterol: 165 mg
Keywords: smothered cheesy sour cream chicken, creamy baked chicken, chicken with sour cream sauce