Longhorn’s Secret Parmesan Crusted Chicken Recipe Revealed

Crispy parmesan crusted chicken has become my weekend obsession since discovering this incredible longhorn steakhouse copycat technique.

Restaurants often charge premium prices for such delectable dishes.

My kitchen experiments revealed surprising shortcuts for achieving golden, crunchy perfection.

Generous cheese coating creates an irresistible exterior that seals in tender meat juices.

Home cooks can master this restaurant-quality recipe with minimal kitchen skills.

Simple ingredients make this dish surprisingly straightforward to prepare.

Let me show you how to create a restaurant-worthy meal that will impress everyone at your table.

Parmesan Crusted Chicken Longhorn Copycat

• Satisfy Gourmet Cravings: Recreate a restaurant-quality dish right in your kitchen with professional-level flavors that will impress family and friends.
• Customize with Ease: Adjust seasoning and cheese quantities to match personal taste preferences, making this recipe incredibly flexible for different palates.
• Quick Restaurant-Style Meal: Transform ordinary chicken into a restaurant-worthy entrée without complicated techniques or professional cooking skills, delivering maximum flavor with minimal effort.
• Crowd-Pleasing Comfort: Delivers a rich, cheesy experience that appeals to both adults and kids, perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings with its irresistible combination of crispy panko and melted cheese.

Ingredients Included in Parmesan Crusted Chicken

• Chicken Breasts: A tender and lean protein that serves as the main star of this restaurant-style dish.

• Ranch Dressing, Olive Oil, Worcestershire Sauce: A flavorful mixture that helps tenderize and add rich depth to the chicken.
• Garlic: Provides a robust and aromatic flavor to the marinade.
• Lemon Juice: Adds brightness and helps to tenderize the meat.
• Italian Seasoning: A blend of herbs that enhances the overall taste profile.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings that bring out the natural flavors of the chicken.

• Parmesan Cheese: Adds a sharp and nutty flavor to the creamy sauce.
• Provolone Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese: Provide a smooth and melty texture to the cheese mixture.
• Ranch Dressing: Creates a creamy base for the cheese sauce.
• Garlic: Adds an extra layer of aromatic flavor to the cheese topping.

• Panko Breadcrumbs: Creates a light and crispy coating that adds texture to the dish.
• Butter: Helps the breadcrumbs brown and become golden and crunchy.

• Fresh Parsley: Adds a pop of color and fresh herb flavor to the finished dish.

Step-by-Step Guide to Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Step 1: Blend Zesty Marinade

Whisk ranch dressing, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper in a shallow dish. Submerge chicken breasts completely in the marinade, ensuring every inch gets coated.

Cover and let flavors mingle in the refrigerator for one hour.

Step 2: Sear Golden Chicken

Heat olive oil in a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat.

Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off. Carefully place chicken in hot skillet and sear each side until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side.

Keep chicken in skillet after searing.

Step 3: Create Creamy Cheese Sauce

• Ranch dressing
• Parmesan cheese
• Provolone cheese
• Mozzarella cheese
• Minced garlic

Warm over low heat, stirring continuously until cheese melts into a smooth, velvety sauce.

Step 4: Prepare Crunchy Panko Topping

Mix panko breadcrumbs with melted butter in a small bowl until evenly coated.

Step 5: Broil and Finish

Preheat oven to low broil.

Generously spoon cheese mixture over each chicken breast. Broil for 3-4 minutes until slightly golden.

Sprinkle panko mixture on top and broil for another 2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

Tips to Perfect Parmesan Crusted Chicken

• Let chicken soak in ranch mixture for exactly one hour to maximize flavor absorption without making meat mushy.
• Stir cheese sauce constantly and keep heat low to prevent separation and ensure silky smooth consistency.
• Watch panko topping closely during final broiling stage, rotating skillet if needed to achieve even golden-brown color.
• Use medium-high heat when searing chicken to develop beautiful golden crust without overcooking interior.
• Swap regular panko with gluten-free breadcrumbs and verify ranch dressing is gluten-free for celiac-friendly version.

Flavor Variations of Parmesan Crusted Chicken

• Spicy Jalapeño Parmesan Chicken: Add diced jalapeños to the cheese mixture and sprinkle red pepper flakes in the panko topping for a fiery kick.
• Mediterranean Herb Chicken: Replace ranch with tzatziki sauce, use feta cheese instead of provolone, and add oregano and mint to the breadcrumb mixture.
• Smoky Bacon Parmesan Chicken: Crumble crispy bacon into the panko topping and mix smoked paprika into the cheese blend for a rich, smoky flavor.
• Pesto Parmesan Chicken: Swap ranch for homemade basil pesto, use pecorino cheese, and mix sun-dried tomatoes into the panko crumbs for an Italian-inspired version.

Side Dishes to Serve With Parmesan Chicken

• Zesty Green Salad Sidekick: Craft a crisp mixed green salad with tangy vinaigrette to cut through the rich cheese and provide fresh contrast to the decadent chicken.
• Wine Harmony Enhancement: Select a medium-bodied white wine like Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio that complements the creamy cheese topping and balances the chicken's robust flavors.
• Roasted Vegetable Medley: Prepare a colorful blend of roasted seasonal vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, and asparagus to add nutritional depth and earthy undertones that match the chicken's savory profile.

How to Store Parmesan Crusted Chicken Properly

Store cooled chicken in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Wrap individual pieces in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bags, storing for up to 2 months. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn.

Preheat oven to 350°F, place chicken in a baking dish with a splash of chicken broth, cover with foil, and warm for 10-15 minutes until heated through.

Heat on 50% power in 30-second intervals, stopping to check temperature and prevent drying out. Add a damp paper towel over the chicken to retain moisture.

FAQs

• What ingredients make the marinade special?

The marinade combines ranch dressing, Worcestershire sauce, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and Italian seasoning, creating a rich and tangy flavor that tenderizes the chicken and adds depth to the overall taste.

• Why use an oven-proof skillet for this recipe?

An oven-proof skillet allows you to sear the chicken on the stovetop and then seamlessly transfer it to the broiler, ensuring even cooking and helping to develop a golden-brown exterior with a perfectly melted cheese topping.

• How do the different cheeses contribute to the dish?

The combination of Parmesan, provolone, and mozzarella creates a complex, creamy cheese sauce with varying levels of sharpness and meltability, resulting in a luxurious and flavorful coating for the chicken.

Parmesan Crusted Chicken (Longhorn Steakhouse Copycat) Recipe

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4.6 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 29 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Longhorn Steakhouse’s Parmesan Crusted Chicken delivers a crispy, golden exterior with juicy, tender meat inside. Cheese-lovers and comfort food enthusiasts will savor this restaurant-quality dish that brings restaurant magic directly to home kitchens.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 4 (6 ounces/170 grams) chicken breasts

Marinade Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Cheese Topping:

• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup grated provolone cheese
• 1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Panko Topping:

• 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons melted butter

Garnish:

• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Cooking Oil:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

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Instructions

1. Marinate chicken breasts in a zesty blend of ranch dressing, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, ensuring complete coverage.
2. Allow chicken to absorb flavors in refrigerator for 60 minutes, enhancing tenderness and taste.
3. Preheat a large oven-proof skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering.
4. Extract chicken from marinade, discarding excess liquid, and sear for 5 minutes on each side until achieving a golden-brown exterior.
5. Create a luxurious cheese sauce by gently melting ranch dressing with Parmesan, provolone, mozzarella, and garlic over low heat until smooth and creamy, approximately 5 minutes.
6. Prepare crispy panko topping by combining breadcrumbs with melted butter until evenly coated.
7. Set oven to low broil setting, positioning rack about 4 inches from heat source.
8. Lavishly drape melted cheese mixture over seared chicken breasts.
9. Broil for 3-4 minutes until cheese develops light golden patches.
10. Sprinkle buttered panko across chicken, then broil an additional 2 minutes, monitoring closely to prevent burning.
11. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve immediately while cheese remains warm and panko stays crisp.

Notes

• Marinate chicken for at least an hour to ensure deep flavor penetration and tender meat.
• Pat chicken dry before searing to achieve a perfect golden-brown crust that locks in moisture.
• Use freshly grated Parmesan for better melting and richer cheese flavor compared to pre-shredded varieties.
• Adjust broiling time carefully to prevent burning, as cheese and panko can quickly turn from golden to charred.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 14 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Searing, Broiling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 447 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 730 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
• Trans Fat: 0.3 g
• Carbohydrates: 11 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 41 g
• Cholesterol: 132 mg