Preheat the oven to 425°F. Spray a baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
Brine The Chicken:
Add chicken breasts to a large bowl. Cover with enough warm water (not hot) and ¼ cup salt. Mix together and let sit for 15 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Pat with paper towels to dry completely.
Prep and Bake:
Prepare three dishes: Add the ranch dressing to a shallow bowl, breadcrumbs to a separate bowl, and one clean plate.First, coat the chicken breast in ranch dressing.Next add it to an empty plate and sprinkle bread crumbs overtop. Flip to coat the other side. Place on baking dish. Repeat with other chicken breasts.
Bake for 18-20 minutes or until cooked, turning the oven setting to broil in the last 2-3 minutes.
Remove and let rest by covering loosely with foil for 5-10 minutes. Then serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes:
The best way to tell if the chicken is done is from a meat thermometer. Poke it through the center of the chicken breast to read the temperature. Once it reaches 165°F internally, it’s cooked. It's also important to let it sit covered for 10 minutes as it will continue to cook during this time.
Brining the chicken is an important step not to be missed. This will create juicier, tender chicken. It only takes 15 minutes to do and it’s worth it!
Each chicken breast should be fully dry before dipping in ranch dressing. If not, the ranch won’t stick as well.
For crispier chicken coating, turn the oven setting to broil for last 3-5 minutes, keeping a close eye on the chicken during this time (so that it doesn’t burn).