Sour Cream Chicken

Your family will love this baked sour cream chicken! Tender and juicy chicken breasts, marinated in a seasoned sour cream sauce, are topped with buttery Ritz cracker crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Baked until golden brown, the easy dinner goes well with rice, biscuits, or cornbread, as well as a simple green salad, broccoli, or sauteed zucchini.

How to Make Sour Cream Chicken | 1-Minute Video

Sour Cream Chicken Marinade

Most busy home cooks will likely appreciate some new, quick and easy chicken recipes for dinner. This sour cream chicken is a perfect prep-ahead dish that appeals to even the pickiest little eaters. The sour cream marinade adds flavor and helps tenderize the meat, while the buttery cracker crumbs and Parmesan cheese give the chicken a crisp, rich finish. It's an ideal weeknight meal!

What should I make for dinner tonight?

Sour cream chicken is the answer! With only 10 minutes of hands-on prep, the oven does almost all of the work here. The chicken is best when you allow time for the meat to marinate in the sour cream sauce, but you can certainly skip that step if you're running short on time.

The chicken breasts are smothered in a seasoned sour cream marinade, topped with buttered Ritz cracker crumbs, and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. Bake the breaded meat until it's tender and juicy on the inside and crisp and golden brown on the outside. This is an easy dinner that you need to make tonight!

Ingredients

This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you'll need for our favorite sour cream chicken. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.

• Sour cream: the acid in the sour cream tenderizes the chicken.
• Mayonnaise: adds flavor to the marinade.
• Lemon juice: even more bright, acidic flavor for the chicken marinade.
• Worcestershire sauce: adds salty, umami flavor to the marinade.
• Kosher salt, paprika, garlic powder, and ground black pepper: the seasoning that adds flavor to the sour cream chicken marinade.
• Boneless skinless chicken breasts: you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe, but you'll need to adjust the total baking time. Thighs tend to cook faster than the larger white meat pieces.
• Ritz crackers and butter: come together to create the buttery, crunchy crumb topping that coats the top of the chicken.
• Parmesan cheese: for even more flavor on top!

Does sour cream tenderize chicken?

Yes! The sour cream sauce serves a few different purposes in this recipe. First, the slightly acidic nature of the sour cream helps to tenderize the meat. The fat adds rich taste to the chicken, and the thick texture of the marinade helps the cracker crumbs and cheese adhere to the meat.

How to Make Sour Cream Chicken

This chicken with sour cream sauce and buttery, cheesy crumb topping is an easy dinner that the whole family can agree on!

1. Prepare Sour Cream Chicken Marinade. In a small bowl, make the sour cream marinade by whisking together the sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, salt, paprika, garlic powder, and pepper.
2. Marinate Chicken. Add the chicken to the marinade and refrigerate for about 1 hour (or overnight).
3. Add Toppings. Remove the chicken from the marinade, place in a baking dish, and top with buttered Ritz cracker crumbs and grated Parmesan cheese.
4. Bake. Bake the chicken (uncovered) on a baking sheet or in a casserole dish in a 375°F oven for 35-45 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Garnish with fresh herbs, if you like, and serve!

What to Serve with Sour Cream Chicken

One reason boneless, skinless chicken breast recipe ideas are so popular is because they’re versatile! When you're tired of chicken casseroles, pair this protein with your family’s favorite sides and you have a kid-friendly meal ready in no time. Here are a few easy options that go well with the cheesy sour cream chicken:

• Egg noodles or pasta tossed in olive oil, butter, marinara, pomodoro sauce, or pesto sauce
• Sour cream chicken and rice is a classic combination! Just about any rice will work, such as this classic Rice Pilaf, this Charleston Red Rice, or this easy Baked Mushroom Risotto
• Skin-On Mashed Red Potatoes, Twice Baked Potatoes, Baked Potatoes, Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, Rosemary Roasted Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream and Chives, Easy Au Gratin Potatoes, Baked Potato Wedges, Easy Potato Salad, or Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Skillet Cornbread, Bakery-Style Corn Muffins, Honey Cornbread, Old-Fashioned Corn Sticks, Sweet Cornbread Muffins, or Jiffy Cornbread with Creamed Corn
• Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese, Crock Pot Mac and Cheese, Stovetop Shells and Cheese, or No-Boil Easy Mac and Cheese
• Southern Buttermilk Biscuits, Flaky Biscuits, 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits, Sweet Potato Biscuits, Cheese Biscuits, Easy Drop Biscuits
• Pumpkin Bread or Pumpkin Muffins
• 3-Ingredient Sour Cream Muffins
• Honey Beer Bread
• Wedge Salad, Classic Caesar Salad, House Salad with Candied Pecans, or a Green Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette
• Hoe Cakes
• Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon or Southern-Style Green Beans
• Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
• Fried Apples or Baked Apple Slices
• Southern Succotash
• Southern Collard Greens
• Mashed Cauliflower or Riced Cauliflower
• Sauteed Zucchini
• Tomato Salad or Tomato Cucumber and Onions Salad
• Cucumber Dill Salad, Cucumber Salad with Vinegar, or Quick Refrigerator Dill Pickles
• Fried Okra
• Broccoli and Cheese
• Easy Pasta Salad
• Homemade Baked Beans with Bacon
• Charleston Red Rice or Rice Pilaf
• Okra and Tomatoes
• Southern Squash Casserole
• Cheese Grits
• Fried Cabbage with Apples and Onion, Braised Red Cabbage, or Roasted Cabbage

Preparation and Storage Tips

• Make Ahead: You can marinate the chicken for up to 24 hours. Allow the chicken to come to room temperature on the counter for about 30 minutes before topping and baking.
• Short on Time? You can dip the chicken in the sour cream sauce and skip the marinating altogether. The chicken will not have time to absorb as much flavor or to become as tender, but the recipe will still work!
• Wrapped tightly, the baked chicken breast will keep in the fridge for up to 1 week. You can also store the chicken in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in the freezer for up to 3 months. It's important to note, however, that the crumb topping on the chicken will get soggy as it sits. This meal is best when enjoyed straight from the oven.

Recipe Variations

• Sour Cream Chicken Thighs: Use the same ingredients and baking process with boneless, skinless chicken thighs. The thighs will likely need less time in the oven, so reduce the baking time to a total of about 25-30 minutes.
• Don't have Ritz crackers? Substitute with other buttery crackers (like Keebler Club crackers). In a pinch, crushed saltines or even crushed Corn Flakes cereal will work. I don't recommend using plain breadcrumbs, because they don't have the flavor or texture that you get from these other options.
• Season the chicken with other herbs and spices that you enjoy. For instance, make it spicy with cayenne pepper, or try parsley, thyme, rosemary, basil, oregano, or chives.

Tips for the Best Sour Cream Chicken Recipe

• Line the pan or baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
• Since the size and thickness of chicken breasts can vary greatly, use a meat thermometer to know when your chicken is done. The meat needs to reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
• Freshly-grated Parmesan cheese or the powdered Parmesan cheese in a can will both work well in this recipe. Use whatever you prefer!
• Double the ingredients to feed a larger family, or cut all of the ingredients in half if you're serving just two. The cooking instructions remain the same.

More Quick and Easy Chicken Recipes for Dinner

• Crock Pot Mississippi Chicken
• Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
• Chicken Quesadilla with Corn and Black Beans
• Dump-and-Bake Chicken Mushroom Casserole
• Baked Parmesan Chicken Bites
• Parmesan Crusted Chicken
• Crock Pot Mexican Chicken
• Lemon Chicken
• Oven-Fried Chicken Breast
• Balsamic Chicken and Mushrooms
• 5-Ingredient Crescent Roll Chicken Casserole

Print Pin

5 from 6 votes

Sour Cream Chicken

Your family will love this tender and juicy Sour Cream Chicken, which is topped with buttery Ritz cracker crumbs and grated Parmesan cheese!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword Baked Chicken Breast, sour cream chicken, sour cream chicken marinade

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Marinating Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes

Servings 4 - 6 people

Calories 393kcal

Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

• 1 cup sour cream
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 lbs. total)
• ¾ cup crushed Ritz crackers (about 15 whole crackers or half of a sleeve)
• 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
• Optional garnish: chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, basil or thyme

Instructions

• Whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, salt, paprika, garlic powder and pepper. Add the chicken to the sour cream mixture and toss to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (or overnight).
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a large baking dish or rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray (about 9 x 13-inches or any other size dish that comfortably holds your chicken).
• Remove the chicken from the sour cream mixture and place in the prepared baking dish. Discard marinade.
• In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and melted butter. Press buttered cracker crumbs on top of each chicken breast. Sprinkle with Parmesan.
• Bake, uncovered, for 35-45 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve.

Video

Notes

• Line the pan or baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
• Since the size and thickness of chicken breasts can vary greatly, use a meat thermometer to know when your chicken is done. The meat needs to reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
• Freshly-grated Parmesan cheese or the powdered Parmesan cheese in a can will both work well in this recipe. Use whatever you prefer!
• Double the ingredients to feed a larger family, or cut all of the ingredients in half if you're serving just two. The cooking instructions remain the same.
• Sour Cream Chicken Thighs: Use the same ingredients and baking process with boneless, skinless chicken thighs. The thighs will likely need less time in the oven, so reduce the baking time to a total of about 25-30 minutes.
• Don't have Ritz crackers? Substitute with other buttery crackers (like Keebler Club crackers). In a pinch, crushed saltines or even crushed Corn Flakes cereal will work. I don't recommend using plain breadcrumbs, because they don't have the flavor or texture that you get from these other options.
• Season the chicken with other herbs and spices that you enjoy. For instance, make it spicy with cayenne pepper, or try parsley, thyme, rosemary, basil, oregano, or chives.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/5 of the chicken and sauce | Calories: 393kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 128mg | Sodium: 1172mg | Potassium: 606mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 680IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 1mg

This recipe was originally published in August, 2020. The photos were updated in May, 2022.