Baked Sour Cream & Onion Chicken
An easy baked chicken recipe is always a good idea on a busy weeknight, and for this one I set out to take those classic sour cream and onion flavors and turn them into a dinner that’s family-friendly, takes very little effort, and brings something a little different to the usual chicken routine!
The result is tender chicken baked in a creamy sour cream and onion sauce, finished with melted cheddar cheese on top. If sour cream and onion is your favorite chip flavor, there’s a good chance you’re going to love this dinner too.
More reader-favorite ideas you’ll love include my creamy chicken caesar bake, sheet pan BBQ chicken thighs, sheet pan honey garlic chicken, cheesy Korean gochujang chicken, and crockpot white chicken enchilada casserole!
Reasons To Try This Recipe:
- Easy enough for busy weeknights
- Uses simple ingredients you may already have on hand
- A fun twist on classic baked chicken
- Family-friendly comfort food
- Great served over mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles
- Brings something a little different to the dinner rotation without being complicated
What You’ll Need
This recipe starts with boneless skinless chicken breasts that get seasoned and quickly seared before baking to keep them juicy and flavorful.
The creamy sauce couldn’t be much easier. Sour cream and onion soup mix combine to create that classic sour cream and onion flavor with almost no effort.
A layer of shredded cheddar cheese melts over the top while the chicken bakes, adding even more comfort food appeal. Finish everything with a little fresh parsley if you’d like some color before serving.
Recipe Notes & Tips
- The goal when searing the chicken is simply to add some color and flavor. It doesn’t need to be cooked through before it goes into the oven.
- If your chicken breasts are especially large or thick, consider slicing them in half so they cook more evenly.
- Don’t skip spooning the sauce from the bottom of the baking dish over the chicken when serving. That’s where a lot of the flavor is.
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes after baking so the sauce has a chance to settle slightly.
- Freshly shredded cheddar melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese, but either will work.
- This recipe is especially good served over mashed potatoes, rice, or buttered noodles to soak up all of the creamy sauce.
- For extra onion flavor, add a few tablespoons of finely diced onion to the baking dish before baking.
Serving Ideas
Mashed potatoes are my favorite thing to serve with this chicken because they soak up all that creamy sour cream and onion sauce.
It’s also really good served over rice, buttered egg noodles, or roasted potatoes if you want something a little different.
For vegetables, try green beans, broccoli, asparagus, peas, or a simple side salad to balance out the richness of the dish.
Don’t forget to spoon plenty of the extra sauce from the baking dish over everything before serving. That’s the best part!
Baked Sour Cream & Onion Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 packet onion soup mix
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Parsley for topping optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and set aside a 9x13 baking dish.
- Add the chicken breasts, salt, pepper, and onion powder to a large bowl. Toss until the chicken is evenly coated with the seasoning.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for about 3 minutes per side, just until golden brown. The chicken doesn't need to be cooked through yet.
- While the chicken is browning, stir together the sour cream and onion soup mix in a small bowl.
- Transfer the chicken to the baking dish and spread the sour cream mixture over the top.
- Sprinkle the cheddar cheese evenly over the chicken.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for another 5 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted.
- Sprinkle with parsley if using, then serve warm over mashed potatoes with plenty of the extra sauce spooned over the top.
As always, your feedback always means so much to me, and it really helps me to create new recipes and dinner ideas that you’ll love. You can leave a comment and a star rating below. I’d love to hear from you!