Sour Cream Chicken is an easy delicious dinner that your family will love. A simple creamy marinade makes for moist chicken – everyone will want seconds!
This very simple chicken recipes comes to you courtesy of my grandmother’s church lady friends. It has all the makings of an old school recipe, and I think you are going to love it.
Is there anything better than easy comfort food?
The chicken in this recipe is first marinated in a sour cream based marinade and then it is lightly breaded and baked with butter on top. While the pictures make it seem so, it doesn’t crisp up. Rather, it is delicious and moist and full of perfect simple flavors.
This is my favorite recipe for chicken that’s just right for a family meal, company and equally as luscious cold! Trust me a rating lower than 5 is just wrong in my opinion. This recipe rocks.
How to Make Sour Cream Chicken
- Cut Chicken Cutlets: The original recipe didn’t call for this, but as chicken breasts come so large now, you will want to cut the chicken into cutlets. You can see how to do that in my post about Chicken Piccata.
- Marinate the Chicken: As mentioned, the chicken is marinated in a creamy marinade overnight. With just a few minutes of prep, dinner is almost done when you walk in the door the next day.
- Bread the Chicken: The sour cream covered chicken gets a light toss in bread crumbs.
- Bake: Finally the chicken gets a drizzle of butter and then is baked.
Sour Cream Marinade
The marinade for this recipe is very simple, and I bet you have most of it in your refrigerator and pantry already.
- Sour Cream: Since this recipe is baked, do not use low fat.
- Lemon Juice
- Garlic
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Salt
- Paprika
- Cayenne Pepper
- Celery Salt
Marinating Chicken
I love marinating chicken. Chicken is like a blank canvas that can easily take on flavors, and marinating is the perfect way to do that.
I recommend marinating for at least 2 hours, but no more than 24 hours. The bottom of that time range gives the chicken great flavor. Past the end of that range and your chicken will start to break down too much.
FAQ
Yes! If you can find gluten free bread crumbs, then the rest of the recipe will be good to go.
I find that sour cream, when put to heat, can separate or curdle if it isn’t full fat. Since it is the foundation of the marinade, it’s best to stick to full fat.
How to Serve Sour Cream Chicken
If you are looking for some side dishes to go with this great and easy recipe, here are a few of our favorites:
Sour Cream Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut to be 1/2 inch thick
- 1 cup sour cream (I do not recommend using low fat)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon celery salt
- 3/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup butter melted
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breasts in half. Use a very sharp knife to cut them in half, butterfly them compltely open, and make two chicken cutlets – like very thin chicken breasts.
- In a reusable and sealable container, combine the sour cream, lemon juice, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, paprika, cayenne pepper, and celery salt.
- Pat chicken dry. Add to the sour cream mixture, turning it several times to make sure it is fully coated. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours.
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees, and coat a 9 by 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Place bread crumbs in a shallow dish. Gently remove the chicken from the sour cream mixture. Roll in the bread crumbs and place in the prepared baking dish. Repeat with each piece of chicken.
- Pour the butter over the chicken and bake, covered, for 30 minutes or until the chicken registers 165 degrees with an instant read thermometer.
Michelle says
Curious does this have a sour cream taste? What could you use instead (cream cheese)?
I don’t think it has an overwhelming sour cream taste, because of everything else involved, but you can taste it. I’m sorry, I’ve never tried it with anything else. It would likely work with yogurt, but of course then you would have a yogurt taste.
Michelle says
This a nice quick marinade with the sour cream..I used it for pork chops trying to use up some sour cream …I did marinate overnight..very nice👍
I’m so glad you liked it!
Amy Gordon says
Since you cover chicken and bake are the bread crumbs on chicken soggy? Should I bake uncovered to get crispy ? Thanks so much !!!’
The breadcrumbs are crispy, but not like in fried chicken. I don’t recommend baking it uncovered.
Saundra Britton says
Can you use yogurt in place of sour cream?
I haven’t tasted that, but I can’t think of a reason why it wouldn’t work.
Karen says
Delish! And very easy!
I’m so glad that you liked it!
karla says
Instead of breadcrumbs, can I use an alternative? I’m asking since I’m on keto.
I haven’t tried this with pork rinds as a substitute, but that is the first thing I would try.
Mitzi says
Nutritional info ?
It is at the bottom of the recipe card :)
Judy says
Made this tonight for dinner, delicious!
I used chicken tenders… they turned out moist and tender.
Will definitely make again.
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it!
Leona says
I’ve made this before and my family loves it.
Has anyone used a packet of ranch seasoning for flavor?
I’m glad you liked it!
Lori says
Can you make this dish ahead and heat it a day later?
This wouldn’t be my favorite to do the day ahead.