Description
Pretzel Crunch Baked Chicken Cherry is a delightful dish featuring tender chicken breasts coated in a crunchy pretzel crust, topped with a flavorful cherry mustard drizzle.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups salted pretzels, crushed to coarse crumbs
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup cherry preserves
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a wire rack.
- In a large bowl, whisk together buttermilk, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Add chicken breasts and toss to coat. Marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours.
- In a shallow dish, combine crushed pretzels and melted butter, mixing until evenly moistened.
- Remove chicken from the marinade, letting excess drip off, and coat each breast with the pretzel mixture, pressing gently.
- Arrange the coated chicken on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 22–25 minutes, until the crust is golden and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- In a small saucepan, combine cherry preserves, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, honey, and a pinch of salt. Warm over low heat, stirring until smooth and glossy, then remove from heat.
- Serve the baked chicken hot, generously drizzled with the cherry mustard sauce.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, add cayenne pepper to the pretzel crust or the marinade.
- The marinating time can enhance the flavor, so it’s best to marinate for the maximum time if possible.
- This recipe can easily be doubled for larger gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus marinating time)
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 75mg