Baked Caesar Chicken

Name: Baked Caesar Chicken with Crouton Topping
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup creamy Caesar dressing; 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs; 1 (5 oz) bag garlic and romano croutons; 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese; 1/4 cup butter, melted; 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Baked Caesar Chicken is a one-pan weeknight dinner where chicken thighs are coated in creamy Caesar dressing and finished with a crunchy crouton and Parmesan topping. It comes together in under 30 minutes with minimal prep.

🌍American 🏷️Baked chicken 🏷️Chicken casserole 🏷️Caesar chicken 🏷️Easy dinner Weeknight meal

🏷️

🏷️Comfort food

-0:00

TikTok

Total

45 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$14–$23

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

-0:00

TikTok

Ingredients

1 cup creamy Caesar dressing
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 (5 oz) bag garlic and romano croutons
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tsp Italian seasoning

6 Ingredients

Delivery in as fast as one hour.^*

Powered by Instacart

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2
Pour a layer of Caesar dressing into the bottom of a baking dish.
3
Arrange the boneless, skinless chicken thighs in a single layer in the dish.
4
Pour more Caesar dressing over the chicken to coat it completely.
5
In the crouton bag, crush the croutons into smaller pieces.
6
Add the shredded Parmesan cheese, melted butter, and Italian seasoning to the bag with the crushed croutons.
7
Seal the bag and shake well to combine the topping ingredients.
8
Pour the crouton mixture evenly over the chicken in the baking dish.
9
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the topping is golden brown.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Pat chicken dry before adding Caesar dressing so it browns properly and absorbs flavor evenly.
Toss croutons with melted butter before sprinkling on top to ensure even crisping and golden color.
Don't skip the Parmesan — it adds savory depth and helps the crouton topping stay crispy rather than soggy.
Check doneness at 20 minutes with a meat thermometer; ovens vary, and chicken thighs can cook faster in some models.

Substitutions

Creamy Caesar dressing → homemade Caesar or mayo-based dressing (maintains creaminess and flavor)
Garlic and romano croutons → panko breadcrumbs mixed with garlic powder and Parmesan (lighter topping, faster cooking)
Chicken thighs → boneless, skinless chicken breasts (reduces fat, shortens cook time to 20–25 minutes)

Storage & make-ahead

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10–12 minutes until heated through; croutons may soften slightly.

Common Questions

Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?

Yes, but chicken breasts cook faster and dry out more easily. Reduce baking time to 20–25 minutes and check internal temperature reaches 165°F. Thighs stay moister and more forgiving.