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
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