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–+ servings

Shortcut Baked Caesar Chicken

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A quick and flavorful dish that combines creamy Caesar dressing with chicken thighs for a crowd-pleasing meal.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 43 minutes
Total Time 53 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken and Coating
  • 4-6 pieces bone-in chicken thighs (or substitute thighs/drumsticks or your favorite pieces) Boneless chicken breasts will cook faster.
  • 8-9 ounces creamy Caesar salad dressing Use a good-quality jarred dressing.
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese For a bronzed finish.
  • to taste Salt and freshly ground black pepper For seasoning.
  • optional Chopped fresh parsley For garnish.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Position a rack in the middle of the oven.
  2. Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels. Place them in a single layer in a baking dish. Season both sides lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Pour the creamy Caesar dressing evenly over the chicken, ensuring each piece is coated.
Cooking
  1. Bake, uncovered, for about 40 minutes. Check for doneness with an instant-read thermometer — chicken is safe at 165°F (74°C). Bone-in thighs often take closer to the full 40 minutes.
  2. Remove the dish from the oven and sprinkle the grated Parmesan across the chicken.
  3. Switch the oven to broil. Return the chicken to the oven and broil for 2–3 minutes, watching closely, until the cheese is melted and begins to brown.
  4. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired, then serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 320kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 30gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 600mgSugar: 1g

Notes

For extra umami, mix in 1 tsp anchovy paste to the dressing. Lower-sodium dressings work well if you're watching salt; taste before adding extra. The skin can be dried for crispier edges.
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