Baked Caesar Chicken Freezer Recipe
With just five ingredients, this baked Caesar chicken recipe is the perfect freezer dinner! You can prepare this quick and easy meal in a matter of minutes, then pop it in the freezer for a rainy day. And when you’re ready to reheat this delicious and flavourful chicken, simply thaw and bake for a main dish that’s ready in no time.
Baked Caesar Chicken Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- pepper to taste
- 1 cup creamy Caesar dressing*
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese, grated
*I prefer to use the Caesar dressing in a jar rather than a bottle. These can usually be found in the produce aisle of the grocery store.
Assembly Instructions:
- Place the chicken breasts on the bottom of a casserole dish or foil baking tray and sprinkle with pepper.
- Mix together the Caesar dressing, sour cream, and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan in a bowl until well combined.
- Spread the dressing mixture on top of the chicken, then sprinkle with the remaining parmesan cheese.
- Cover the pan with foil and freeze until ready to eat.
Cooking Instructions:
- Thaw the chicken, then preheat the oven to 375°.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes.
- If desired, broil for 3 minutes at the end until the sauce and cheese on top is golden brown. Watch carefully so that it doesn’t burn.
How to Freeze Chicken
Properly storing your chicken in the freezer is essential to ensure your dinner tastes amazing and to keep your family safe from food poisoning. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to safely freeze your chicken if you follow these simple tips:
- Try a vacuum sealer. The best way to store frozen chicken and prevent freezer burn is with a vacuum sealer. Simply place your chicken and sauce in your vacuum bag and seal.
- Store the chicken in the pan. For a recipe like this, you can freeze chicken directly in the pan you’ll be baking it in. That makes it quick and easy to transfer the dish from the freezer to the oven without any extra steps. To store your chicken in the pan, start by making sure your dish is freezer safe. Glass or aluminum pans are perfect for freezer cooking. After that, prepare your chicken according to the recipe, then wrap the pan in foil. For an added layer of protection, wrap the entire dish in plastic wrap before placing it in the freezer.
How Long Can You Keep Chicken in the Freezer Before it Goes Bad?
Freezing your chicken is a great way to extend its life. But even frozen chicken has an expiration date, so it’s important to know how long you can keep your chicken in the freezer before it goes bad. Raw chicken can be kept in the freezer for up to nine months before it should be cooked.
To ensure you use your chicken before it goes bad, it’s a good idea to write down the date you freeze it on the top of the casserole dish. That way, you know exactly when you need to take it out of the freezer and cook it for dinner. 
What is the Proper Way to Thaw Frozen Chicken?
Once your chicken is frozen, it will need to be thawed before you can cook it. That’s because your chicken won’t cook evenly if you place it directly into the oven from the freezer. On top of running the risk of burning your sauce, your chicken will probably still be raw in the middle when the cook time is up.
That means you’ll need to reserve a little bit of extra time before you plan to cook your dinner to allow for the chicken to thaw. Follow these simple steps for safely thawing your frozen chicken:
- Thaw the chicken in the refrigerator. The safest way to thaw your frozen chicken is in the refrigerator. Since thawing the poultry in the fridge takes some time, you’ll need to transfer the chicken to the refrigerator at least 24 hours before you plan to cook it.
- Place the frozen chicken at the bottom of the fridge. To prevent cross-contamination between the chicken and the other ingredients, it’s a good idea to thaw your chicken on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
- Use the chicken within three days. After the chicken has been thoroughly thawed, it should be cooked within three days. If you wait any longer than that, you run the risk of bacteria forming on the meat, making it unusable.
- Is it OK to defrost chicken on the counter? It’s not a good idea to place your frozen meat on the counter to thaw. When chicken and other poultry products get warmer than 40 degrees or are at room temperature for more than two hours, bacteria quickly begins to form. Allowing the chicken to thaw on the counter gives that bacteria plenty of opportunity to start building up, potentially making the chicken unsafe to eat.
What to Serve with Caesar Chicken:
This delicious main dish is so versatile! That means you can easily pair your chicken dinner with a variety of side dishes. Try these serving ideas if you’re wondering what to serve with your Caesar chicken:
- over pasta, preferably a long noodle such as spaghetti
- over rice
- on top of a salad
- with steamed vegetables
- alongside baked or mashed potatoes
- with toasted garlic bread
- 4 chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- pepper to taste
- 1 cup creamy Caesar dressing*
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese grated
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Place the chicken breasts on the bottom of a casserole dish or foil baking tray and sprinkle with pepper.
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Mix the Caesar dressing, sour cream, and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan together until well combined.
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Spread the dressing mixture on top of the chicken, then sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese.
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Cover the pan with foil and freeze.
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Alternatively, you can place all ingredients except the cheese into a large freezer bag. Squish around to coat the chicken evenly.
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Place the cheese in a medium freezer bag. Remove excess air, seal and staple both bags together above the seal line.
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Thaw.
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Preheat the oven to 375°.
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If using the bag method, place chicken and sauce on a baking sheet and sprinkle the cheese on top.
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Bake for 45-50 minutes.
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If desired, broil for 3 minutes at the end until the sauce and cheese on top is golden brown. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
*I prefer to use the Caesar dressing in a jar rather than a bottle. These can usually be found in the produce aisle of the grocery store.
