Description
Pretzel Chicken with Mustard-Cheddar Sauce is a deliciously crispy baked chicken recipe featuring boneless, skinless chicken breasts coated in a crunchy pretzel crust and served with a creamy, tangy mustard-cheddar sauce. Perfect for a flavorful dinner that combines savory seasoning with a delightful cheese sauce.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken and Breading
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups coarsely crushed pretzels
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (for egg wash)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Mustard-Cheddar Sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare Chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to enhance their flavor.
- Set Up Breading Station: Prepare three bowls: one with all-purpose flour, one with beaten eggs mixed with Dijon mustard, and a third with coarsely crushed pretzels.
- Bread Chicken: Coat each chicken breast first in the flour, ensuring full coverage. Then dip into the egg and mustard mixture, allowing excess to drip off. Finally, press the chicken into the crushed pretzels so the pretzel pieces adhere well.
- Bake Chicken: Place the breaded chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C) and the crust is golden brown and crisp.
- Prepare Mustard-Cheddar Sauce: While chicken bakes, heat milk, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently until heated through.
- Add Cheese: Gradually stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then remove from heat.
- Serve: Remove chicken from the oven and let rest a few minutes. Serve each chicken breast drizzled with the warm mustard-cheddar sauce for a rich, comforting meal.
Notes
- Use a food thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked to 165°F (75°C) for safe consumption.
- Coarsely crush pretzels for better texture in the crust — fine crumbs can make it soggy.
- Let the baked chicken rest before slicing to retain juices.
- The mustard-cheddar sauce can be made ahead and gently reheated.
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of smoked paprika or cayenne to the pretzel coating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
