Two sharp cheeses and a bite of mustard make this baked chicken breast dinner a weeknight favorite.
Ingredients
3bonelessskinless chicken breasts
3tablespoonsbutterdivided
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2heaping tablespoons shallotsminced
1garlic clovepressed or minced
1tablespoonall-purpose flour
¾cupwhole milk
1tablespoonwhole grain mustard
1cupextra sharp white cheddar cheese4 ounces, grated
½cupParmesan cheesegrated and divided
⅓cuppanko bread crumbs
Italian flat leaf parsleychopped, for garnish
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare a baking dish with cooking spray and place chicken in the dish. Spread 1 tablespoon of the butter onto the chicken breasts and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bake the chicken breasts for about 20 minutes or until the internal temperature is about 155 degrees F.
Meanwhile, melt the remaining butter in a small saucepan and add the shallots and garlic clove and cook for 2 minutes, stirring until the garlic is fragrant and the shallots begin to soften. Add the flour and cook for another 2 minutes so the flour smells lightly nutty. Whisk the milk into the flour mixture and raise the heat to medium high. Continue whisking until the sauce thickens and slightly bubbles. Stir in the mustard and white cheddar cheese and ¼ of the Parmesan cheese, whisking until the cheese is smooth. Season with a pinch of cayenne pepper and kosher salt to taste.
Remove the chicken breasts from the oven and raise the oven temperature to 475 degrees F. Pour the sauce over the chicken breasts and sprinkle each of them with the panko bread crumbs and remaining parmesan cheese. Bake for 5-10 more minutes or until chicken has an internal temperature of 165 degrees and the tops of the chicken and sauce is golden brown. Garnish with parsley.