Melt in Your Mouth Mayonnaise Chicken
This melt in your mouth mayonnaise chicken comes straight out of the Southern church cookbook tradition, the kind of recipe that gets passed on index cards because it never fails. A buttermilk soak tenderizes the chicken, then a mayonnaise, parmesan, and hot paprika crust seals in the moisture while it bakes. One pan, no breading required, and dinner's in the oven in about 10 minutes of prep.
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon hot paprika
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Add chicken breasts to a ziplock bag along with a cup or so of buttermilk. Seal and refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight. Rinse and pat dry.
- Preheat the oven to 375º. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- If using large chicken breasts, Slice each chicken breast in half horizontally. If regular sized chicken you won’t need to cut them in half. You will have enough sauce for 6 large chicken breasts. Salt and pepper both sides and place in the prepared dish.
- In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder and hot paprika. Add ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper and mix. Spread it over the top of the chicken breasts. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes until golden brown and a meat thermometer registers 150-155º. The chicken will continue to cook once it has been removed from the oven.
Barbara's Notes + Tips
- Marinate the chicken in buttermilk for at least an hour. Overnight gives you noticeably more tender results.
- Slice large chicken breasts in half horizontally so they cook evenly in 30 minutes.
- Cover every bit of exposed chicken with the mayo mixture. Any bare spots could dry out.
- Pull the chicken at 150 to 155°F and let it rest five minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 475kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 678mg | Potassium: 503mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 336IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 253mg | Iron: 1mg
