Description
Crispy Chicken with Mustard-Cheddar Sauce is a hearty, oven-baked dish featuring pretzel-crusted chicken breasts topped with a rich, cheesy mustard sauce. It offers a perfect combination of crunch, creaminess, and tang, ideal for family dinners or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups coarsely crushed pretzels
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter
- 2 tablespoons butter (for sauce)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for sauce)
- 1 1/2 cups milk (for sauce)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (for sauce)
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (for sauce)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (for sauce)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a baking dish or line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Pound chicken breasts to an even thickness between two sheets of parchment paper.
- Set up three bowls: one with flour, one with whisked eggs and milk, and one with pretzels, cheddar, and seasonings.
- Dredge each chicken breast in flour, then dip in the egg mixture, and press into the pretzel mixture to coat.
- Arrange chicken in the baking dish and drizzle with olive oil or melted butter.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F / 74°C).
- Meanwhile, make the sauce: melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, whisk in flour, and cook for 1 minute.
- Gradually whisk in milk and cook until thickened, about 3–4 minutes. Reduce heat to low.
- Stir in cheddar cheese until melted, then add Dijon, yellow mustard, salt, and pepper. Mix well and keep warm.
- Serve the crispy chicken hot, drizzled with mustard-cheddar sauce.
Notes
- Use chicken thighs for a juicier alternative—adjust cook time as needed.
- Crushed crackers or breadcrumbs can substitute pretzels, though pretzels give the best crunch.
- To reheat and retain crispiness, warm the chicken in the oven and sauce on the stove.
- Add a pinch of cayenne to the coating or spicy mustard to the sauce for a kick.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 160mg
