This Secret Ingredient Will Give You the Most Amazing Crusted Chicken

There are few things more thrilling than finding out a secret ingredient that will take your cooking to the next level. So, if one secret is exciting, you better sit down for this one because this chicken dish has two special tricks that make it one of the most popular recipes on our site.

And, did we mention that the recipe only takes six ingredients and an hour to make? Talk about an all-around winner. The recipe in question is our Amazing Crusted Chicken, which reviewers say is incredibly juicy, flavorful, crunchy, and picky-eater pleasing.

The six ingredients required are ones you likely already have in your kitchen, but the two important secret components are the key to crunchy breading and tender, juicy chicken breasts. Those ingredients are mayonnaise and Cheez-It crackers. 

Sure, you might be thinking that's a weird combination for a chicken dish, and to that, we say let the hundreds of 5-star reviews do the talking. This chicken dinner just works—but why?

Why You Should Add Mayo to Your Chicken

We’ve talked about using mayo on chicken before, so it should come as no surprise that we’re loving this Amazing Crusted Chicken recipe because it uses mayo to hold the breading on. Each chicken breast is coated in a thin layer of mayo before adding the breading mixture, which features Cheez-It crackers, French-fried onions, Italian bread crumbs, and toasted sesame seeds (but more on that later). The mayo not only helps keep the breading in place so you won’t lose it in the oven, but it also keeps the chicken moist and tenderized.

You always need some kind of fat when cooking chicken breasts because they’re quite lean and can dry out easily. Mayonnaise is an emulsion of fats, including eggs and oil, so as the chicken cooks—and naturally wants to dry out—it’ll absorb the fats and stay juicy.

If you’re thinking gross, I hate mayonnaise, you don’t have to worry. The chicken doesn’t actually take on a mayo flavor—and even if it did, there are so many flavorful additions to the breading, that you’d never taste the mayo base.

Why You Should Add Cheez-It Crackers to Your Chicken

Now, on to the part you’re probably here for: the Cheez-It breading. After the mayo, the chicken is coated in a mixture of crushed Cheez-It crackers, French-fried onions, Italian bread crumbs, toasted sesame seeds, salt, and pepper. After all the crusted chicken breasts are on the pan, they’re coated one more time in the breading mixture for maximum flavor and crispiness.

The Cheez–It crackers, French-fried onions, and Italian bread crumbs together pack a flavorful punch and will create a crunchy breading when baked—one that you might not get without the three ingredients together. Italian bread crumbs are already seasoned, so they bring an herby flavor; French-fried onions, obviously, provide a subtle, oniony flavor; and Cheez-It crackers have a nice, deep Cheddar flavor that’s different from the traditional Parmesan cheese in some chicken breading.

Just make sure you use regular Cheez-It crackers and not the Extra Toasty kind because those are a little bit drier and have a different flavor.

Together, the breading creates a unique flavor that everyone will love. But, when in doubt, just tell your picky eaters they’re having Cheez-It crackers for dinner and that will definitely turn their frowns upside down.