Description
Homemade creamy cheddar almond chicken delivers rich comfort on dinner plates across North America. Melted cheese, toasted almonds, and tender meat combine for a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (1.5 lbs / 680 g)
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup (100 g) sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) mayonnaise
- ½ cup (60 g) almonds, slivered, lightly toasted
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder
- Salt, kosher, to taste
- Pepper, black, to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and create a workspace for chicken preparation, protecting each breast inside a zip-top bag and gently flattening to an even 1/2-inch thickness using a rolling pin.
- Seasoning: Uniformly season chicken pieces with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, creating a foundational flavor profile.
- Cheese Mixture: Whisk cream cheese and mayonnaise until silky, then incorporate grated cheddar, toasted slivered almonds, garlic powder, and half the green onions into a rich, creamy blend.
- Oven Preheating: Warm the oven to 400°F, positioning the baking sheet on the middle rack to ensure consistent heat distribution.
- Assembly: Spread the decadent cheese mixture evenly across each chicken breast, creating a luxurious coating that promises depth of flavor and texture.
- Roasting: Transfer prepared chicken onto the preheated baking sheet, roasting until the cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling topping and the chicken reaches a safe 165°F internal temperature, approximately 10-15 minutes.
- Resting and Serving: Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes, enabling juice redistribution, then garnish with remaining green onions for a fresh, vibrant finish.
Notes
- Flatten Evenly: Use a zip-top bag and rolling pin to ensure uniform 1/2-inch chicken thickness for consistent cooking and tender results.
- Season Strategically: Apply kosher salt and black pepper sparingly across entire chicken surface to enhance natural flavors without overwhelming.
- Cheese Mixture Tip: Blend cream cheese and mayonnaise thoroughly to create a smooth base that helps ingredients integrate seamlessly.
- Temperature Precision: Monitor chicken’s internal temperature closely, aiming for exact 165°F to guarantee safe and juicy meat while preventing overcooking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 42 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 28 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 39 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg