Cheesy Garlic Chicken

   

Who doesn't love cheesy, buttery, chicken?  This is a perfect comfort food recipe: chicken breasts dipped in garlic butter and cheddar bread crumbs, then drizzled with more butter and sprinkled with crushed croutons.  Mmmmmm.  I served this a few days ago with my cucumber tomato salad recipe, found here.  The combo was so delicious together and my parents wouldn't stop telling me how amazing the meal was.  I can't wait to experiment with this recipe by using different cheeses, breadcrumbs, and crackers/croutons.  I want to try it with Ritz crackers and white cheddar cheese next(:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3/4 cup dry, italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup crushed croutons
• 8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - pounded thin

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat, and cook the garlic until tender, about 5 minutes.
3. In a shallow bowl, mix the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, Cheddar cheese, parsley, oregano, and pepper.  Sprinkle some breadcrumbs (not from the mixture) onto the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish in a thin layer.
4. Dip each chicken breast in the garlic butter to coat, then press into the cheddar bread crumb mixture. Arrange the coated chicken breasts in the 9x13 inch baking dish. Drizzle with any remaining butter and top with any remaining bread crumb mixture.  Sprinkle crushed croutons on top, lightly pressing them onto the chicken to keep from falling off.
5. Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.