Ritzy Cheddar Chicken Breasts

 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for greasing wire rack
• ¼ cup sour cream
• 1 large egg white
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
•  Kosher salt (Diamond Crystal)
• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds total)
• 1 sleeve Ritz crackers (about 100 grams)
• 2 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, coarsely grated (about 1 cup)
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder

PREPARATION

1. Position rack in the bottom third of the oven and heat oven to 450 degrees. Place an ovenproof wire rack over a sheet pan. Dab a folded-up paper towel with olive oil and rub it over the wire rack to grease it.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sour cream, egg white and Dijon mustard until smooth. Season with salt. Lay the chicken flat on a cutting board and carve each breast in half laterally so you end up with four thin cutlets. Add the chicken to the sour cream mixture and, using your hands, smear the sour cream all over the chicken.
3. In a large bowl, crush the Ritz crackers into coarse pieces with your fingers. Some crackers will turn to rubble while others turn to dust. Add the cheese, garlic powder, onion powder and olive oil. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and toss until evenly distributed. Holding one of the chicken cutlets by its thinner end, add to the bowl with the crumbs and, using your hands, pack the crumbs onto the chicken, pressing them in to create a thick coating. Transfer the breaded chicken to the rack in the sheet pan. Repeat with the remaining three cutlets.
4. Bake the cutlets until the outsides are crispy and the insides are no longer pink, 10 to 15 minutes. Let the chicken cool slightly so the coating can set, about 5 minutes, before transferring to plates and serving.