Description
Mississippi Mud Chicken is a flavorful, comforting baked chicken dish featuring tender chicken breasts topped with tangy ranch dressing, smoky barbecue sauce, melted cheddar cheese, and crispy fried onions, creating the perfect blend of creamy, savory, and crunchy textures.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Optional: ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Toppings and Sauce
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup crispy fried onions (store-bought)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s hot and ready for baking the chicken evenly.
- Season Chicken: Season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt, pepper, and if using, garlic powder and smoked paprika for added flavor.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly grease a baking dish to prevent sticking. Place the seasoned chicken breasts inside in a single layer.
- Add Sauces: Brush the barbecue sauce evenly over each piece of chicken, then spoon the ranch dressing on top, distributing it to cover each breast well.
- Top with Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the sauced chicken breasts, ensuring good coverage for melty, cheesy goodness.
- Bake Chicken: Place the dish uncovered in the preheated oven and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the cheese is bubbly and starting to brown.
- Add Fried Onions: Remove the chicken from the oven and immediately top each breast with a generous amount of crispy fried onions to add crunch and flavor.
- Rest and Serve: Let the chicken rest for 3–5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute for moist, tender bites.
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness to avoid overcooking the chicken.
- Store-bought crispy fried onions save time, but homemade ones can give extra flavor if preferred.
- Adjust seasoning to taste; smoked paprika adds great smoky depth but can be omitted if unavailable.
- This dish pairs well with mashed potatoes or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and can be reheated gently in the oven.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Mississippi Mud Chicken, baked chicken, ranch chicken recipe, barbecue chicken, cheesy chicken casserole
