Ritz Cracker Chicken is an easy, family-friendly dinner idea that works any night of the week! Perfectly juicy chicken tenderloins are coated in creamy yogurt and topped with a cheesy Ritz cracker crust for a flavorful dish that pairs well with almost any side.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No Frying: The cracker topping crisps up nicely in the oven or air fryer, so there’s no need for deep frying.
- Family Favorite: Both kids and adults love the cheesy cracker topping, making this Ritz crusted chicken a dinnertime winner!
- Quick & Easy: This Ritz chicken comes together easily with a handful of ingredients and simple prep. Serve it with these pressure cooker mashed potatoes for a super simple weeknight meal.
For more easy dinners, check out this turkey burrito and herb-crusted salmon next.
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Ingredients
- Chicken: I used chicken tenderloins because they are already trimmed and ready to go. If you use chicken breasts, you’ll need to trim them and cut them into strips first. For thicker pieces, lightly pound them so they cook evenly.
- Greek Yogurt: Be sure to use plain (unflavored and unsweetened) yogurt for this Ritz cracker baked chicken. If you don’t have any yogurt on hand, you can use sour cream instead.
- Topping: A combination of Ritz crackers, Parmesan cheese, and seasoning salt creates the crispy crust. Feel free to use another brand of buttery, round crackers if you’d like. If you buy a brand-new box of crackers for this recipe, use some for this three cheese mac and cheese next.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Gluten-Free: To make this Ritz chicken recipe gluten-free, replace the Ritz crackers with a brand of gluten-free cracker rounds like Lance or FitJoy.
- Dairy-Free: Despite being described as “buttery,” original Ritz crackers do not actually contain butter or any dairy for that matter. To make the entire recipe dairy-free, you can use a non-dairy Greek yogurt or try mayonnaise (which is egg-based) instead. Then, use vegan Parmesan or simply leave out the cheese.
- Different Seasonings: Experiment with adding different seasonings to the cracker mixture to change things up. For example, add a little cayenne pepper for a spicy kick or try some dried herbs like parsley, thyme, or Italian seasoning for more flavor.
How to Make Ritz Cracker Chicken
To get started making chicken with Ritz crackers, preheat your air fryer to 350°F.
- Step 1: Make the topping. Add the Ritz crackers, Parmesan cheese, and seasoning salt to a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs form.
- Step 2: Coat the chicken. Coat both sides of each piece of chicken with yogurt, and then cover with the cracker mixture.
- Step 3: Place in the air fryer. Add the coated and crusted chicken pieces to the air fryer basket and spray the tops with a little cooking spray.
- Step 4: Cook. Air fry the chicken until crispy, about 15 minutes, flipping halfway during cooking. Serve them up with a sauce for dipping or on top of a bowl of fettuccine alfredo for a simple dinner.
Expert Tips
- Don’t crowd the air fryer: Be sure to arrange the chicken in a single layer with some space in between each piece to promote even cooking.
- Use a meat thermometer: Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken to check for doneness. It should read at least 165°F to ensure safe eating.
- Store leftovers in the fridge: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer at 350°F until heated through to help the crust crisp back up. I don’t recommend microwaving as the crust will be soft and soggy.
Serving Suggestions
- Our family loves Ritz chicken with a side of potatoes! Try these au gratin potatoes or these smashed potatoes for a flavor-packed meal.
- This chicken also pairs well with pasta! It’s great with some creamy mac and cheese.
- If you want to keep things on the lighter side, serve the chicken with a simple, fresh salad like this cucumber tomato onion salad.
Recipe FAQs
Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper. Place the chicken onto the prepared baking sheet and lightly spray with cooking spray. Bake until the topping is crispy and the chicken is thoroughly cooked, about 20 minutes.
The coating may not stick properly if it wasn’t pressed on firmly or if the chicken was too wet when removed from the package. If needed, pat the chicken dry with paper towels before dipping it into the yogurt, and then press the cracker mixture onto each piece so it sticks well during cooking.
More Delicious Chicken Dishes
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Ritz Cracker Chicken (Easy Dinner)
Ingredients
- 2 cups Ritz crackers crushed (about 30 crackers)
- 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons seasoning salt
- 1 ½ cups plain nonfat Greek yogurt
- Oil cooking spray
- 1 ½ pounds chicken tenderloins
Instructions
- Place Ritz crackers, Parmesan, and seasoning salt in a food processor or blender. Pulse until you have fine crumbs.
- Dip each chicken tenderloin into the Greek yogurt, coating both sides. Press into the cracker mixture until fully covered.
- Place coated chicken on a lightly greased baking sheet (or air fryer basket). Spray the tops with cooking spray to help them crisp up.
- Oven: Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes, or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Air Fryer: Air fry at 350°F for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through if needed, until crispy and fully cooked.
Video
Notes
- If the chicken seems too wet, pat it dry with paper towels before dipping to help the coating stick better.
- Be sure to leave a little space between each piece of chicken in the air fryer basket or on the baking sheet to ensure even cooking.
Nutrition
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Erin V says
love that this is baked and not fried- this is so easy and i looove so easy