Cheesy Ritz Cracker Chicken!

This "Cheesy Ritz Cracker Chicken" is absolutely scrumptious!  This is an oven fried chicken coated in Ritz cracker crumbs mixed with cheese.  What could be bad about that, right?  I soaked my chicken in buttermilk for about an hour ahead of time and it was so tender you could cut it with your fork.

 If you don't have time to marinade it for the hour, it still works fine. There is a cream sauce you can also make that is so easy and it's great over the chicken and mashed potatoes or rice.

Here is what you are going to need for this:

12 boneless chicken breast tenderloins or 4 large boneless chicken breasts cut in thirds lengthwise

2 cups buttermilk

2 sleeves of Ritz crackers, crushed fine

1 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese

4 Tbs. butter, melted

seasoned salt

black pepper

Cream Sauce

1 (10.5 oz.) can of cream of chicken soup

1 cup milk

1 cup sour cream

1/4 tsp. seasoned salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Place the chicken pieces in a bowl and pour the buttermilk over it all making sure to coat it all over really well.  If you have time, cover and let it hang out in the fridge for about an hour.  This really tenderizes the chicken and makes it so good.  If you don't have time for that, you can skip it and it's still good.  

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Place the Ritz cracker crumbs and the finely shredded cheddar cheese in a gallon size Ziplock bag.   You can crush the crackers in the food processor or place them in the bag and use your rolling pin to crush them.  I prefer using the rolling pin to do this, because I don't like them too fine.

Place about three pieces of the chicken at a time in the bag, seal and shake to coat the chicken.  Be sure to let the excess buttermilk drip off first.   Place each piece on a baking sheet you have covered with nonstick foil and sprayed with nonstick spray.  Make sure they are not touching.   If the pieces do not get good and coated, once they are on the baking sheet, I go back and pack some extra crumbs on top of each piece.   Continue  breading until all pieces are coated.  

Drizzle each piece with the melted butter.  Sprinkle each piece with a little seasoned salt and a little black pepper.   

 Place in a 375 degree oven and bake for 40-45 minutes or until browned on top.  There is no need to turn them during cooking.

To make the cream sauce, just place all of the ingredients for it in a saucepan.  Heat over medium heat just until heated through.  I served the sauce on the side and let everyone that wanted it over their chicken or mashed potatoes, serve themselves.   

 This is a must try!  It's so good!  

Caramelized Brown Sugar Chicken!

This "Caramelized Brown Sugar Chicken" has only 3 basic ingredients!   This is definitely 'easy peasy', but it tastes wonderful!  It was a huge hit at our house!  I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but you could also use boneless, skinless thighs, if you prefer darker meat.  Here is what you will need:

5-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 cup brown sugar

1 envelope of dry Italian dressing mix

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a shallow dish, I used a pie plate, mix the brown sugar and the Italian dressing mix.  I used a fork to mix it all up and break up the brown sugar.  

Line a baking sheet that has sides to it, because this runs and spreads out some, with foil.  The Reynolds Wrap nonstick foil is best.  If it is not that type, spray it with nonstick spray.   It's best too use a double thickness of foil and wrap it around the sides of the pan, so the sticky caramel doesn't run under the foil.  

Rinse the chicken with water, shaking off excess, then dip in the brown sugar mixture, covering both sides.  Lay each one on the foil lined sheet.  Sprinkle any excess over the top.   Place in oven and bake for about 20 minutes.  Flip each piece over.  Use a spoon to drizzle the sauce that is on the pan over each piece.  Bake for another 20 minutes.   You should now see the brown sugar is thickened. Spoon it from the sheet pan back over each breast and turn the oven to broil.   Broil for about 2 minutes, but watch it very carefully, because it can burn a second!  

Remove from the oven and plate!  This would be great with most any side dish!  I serve mac & cheese, green beans and a salad!  I think rice would be excellent with this also!

Easy Oven Barbequed Pork Chops!

These "Easy Oven Barbequed Pork Chops" turn out fork tender and so flavorful!  The sauce is really delicious with just a few ingredients!  I like to use bone-in pork chops for this, because I think they have more flavor, but you can use boneless pork loin chops also.  Here is what you will need:

6 bone in pork chops

seasoned salt

black pepper

1 cup ketchup

1/2 cup chili sauce

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup honey

1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce

1 Tbs. yellow mustard

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. celery seeds (optional)

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper or a few dashes of hot sauce 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Place the pork chops in a single layer in a baking dish sprayed with nonstick spray.   Sprinkle both sides of the chops with seasoned salt and black pepper.

In a bowl stir together the rest of the sauce ingredients.  Pour evenly over the pork.  Cover tightly with foil and bake for about 40- 45 minutes.  Uncover and turn each pork chop over and spoon the pan sauce back over each one.  Place back in the oven, uncovered and bake for another 5-10 minutes or until the sauce has thickened some.   I usually go about 10 minutes.  The thicker your pork chops the longer baking time.

These are so tender and delicious.  I served them with Cheesy Potatoes, pinto beans, Cole Slaw, and cornbread!