Description
Caesar chicken with asparagus brings together tender chicken breasts and fresh asparagus in a light, garlicky sauce that comes together in just 30 minutes on your weeknight dinner table. Your family gets a restaurant-quality meal without the fuss, with crispy chicken paired alongside perfectly cooked asparagus tossed in that classic caesar flavor you can’t resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup Caesar dressing
Seasonings and Cooking Fat:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 400°F and lightly oil a baking dish so nothing sticks during cooking.
- Pat your 2 chicken breasts completely dry with paper towels, then sprinkle both sides with ½ teaspoon garlic powder and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
- Place the seasoned chicken in the center of your baking dish.
- Trim your bunch of asparagus and arrange the spears around the chicken in the dish.
- Drizzle the asparagus with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season it lightly with salt and pepper to your taste.
- Spoon ½ cup Caesar dressing directly over each chicken breast, making sure it coats the top surface.
- Sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese over the chicken, then top with ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese.
- Slide your dish into the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 400°F until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Check that your cheese is golden brown and melted; if you prefer extra browning, place the dish under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes at 500°F.
- Remove from the oven and let your dish rest for a minute before serving it hot from the baking dish.
Notes
- Pound your chicken breasts to an even thickness so they cook uniformly without drying out on the edges.
- Pat the chicken completely dry before seasoning because moisture prevents browning and helps the seasonings stick better.
- Arrange the asparagus in a single layer around the chicken rather than piling it up, which ensures even cooking and prevents steaming.
- Check that your chicken reaches exactly 165°F at the thickest part since even a few degrees makes the difference between juicy meat and dry results.
- For a vegetarian version, swap the chicken for thick slices of zucchini or cauliflower steaks and reduce baking time to 15-20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Baked Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 710 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 49 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 55 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg