Description
This Dill Pickle Chicken Bake is a tangy, flavorful dish featuring seasoned chicken breasts topped with a creamy dill pickle ranch dressing and a crispy Parmesan breadcrumb crust. Cooked quickly in the air fryer, it delivers juicy, perfectly cooked chicken with a crunchy topping, garnished with fresh dill for a delightful finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 ½ pounds), sliced in half horizontally
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Dressing and Topping
- ½ cup (120 g) dill pickle ranch dressing, plus more for serving
- 1 cup (100 g) grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 3 tablespoons plain breadcrumbs
- Fresh dill, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Mix Spices: In a small bowl, whisk together the kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika until well combined to create the seasoning blend.
- Season Chicken: Evenly season the chicken breasts on all sides with the prepared spice mixture, ensuring full coverage for optimal flavor.
- Prepare Dressing Layer: In a separate small bowl, combine the dill pickle ranch dressing with half of the grated Parmesan cheese (½ cup). Spread this mixture evenly over the top of each seasoned chicken breast to provide tangy moisture and flavor.
- Prepare Topping: In a third bowl, mix the remaining Parmesan cheese (½ cup) with the plain breadcrumbs. Sprinkle this breadcrumb mixture evenly over the dressing-coated chicken breasts to form a crispy crust when cooked.
- Arrange in Air Fryer: Place each prepared chicken breast into the basket of your air fryer. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may cook the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Air Fry Chicken: Air fry the chicken at 375°F (190°C) for 8 to 10 minutes, checking at 8 minutes. Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure it is fully cooked and safe to eat.
- Rest Chicken: Remove the chicken breasts from the air fryer and let them rest for 5 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute for moist and flavorful meat.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the cooked chicken with freshly chopped dill and drizzle with additional dill pickle ranch dressing for extra zest before serving.
Notes
- To slice chicken breasts horizontally, use a sharp knife to carefully cut each breast into two thinner pieces for quicker, more even cooking.
- Ensure the air fryer basket is not overcrowded to allow proper air circulation and even cooking.
- Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to guarantee the chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat.
- For a crispier topping, you can lightly spray the breadcrumb mixture with cooking spray before air frying.
- If dill pickle ranch dressing is not available, you can mix ranch dressing with finely chopped dill pickles and a dash of pickle juice for a similar flavor.
