Next Post
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
Weeknight-easy and crowd-pleasing—this creamy ranch chicken bakes up with creamy ranch-seasoned chicken, a salsa verde kick, tender broccoli, and plenty of parmesan. Just mix, bake, and spoon everything over rice or potatoes for a cozy dinner with hardly any dishes. You’ll have the perfect dinner that can be enjoyed on busy weeknights.
The ranch seasoning is homemade (so much fresher), the sauce is rich with a touch of cream, and the leftovers are even better the next day.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- One dish, minimal prep, family-friendly flavor.
- Creamy, tangy ranch sauce with a little heat from salsa verde and jalapeños.
- Flexible: use chicken breasts or thighs and serve with rice, orzo, or potatoes.
Ingredient Notes
Chicken: Use either boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs here. Either one is great. My mom loves chicken breasts, but my brothers enjoy the thighs. I’ll usually use a mix of the two! Cut into even pieces for consistent bake.
Homemade ranch seasoning: Dried parsley, chives, dill, garlic powder, paprika.
Cream cheese + cream: Bring both to room temp so they fold in smoothly and reduce curdling risk.
Salsa verde: Tomatillo-based; choose mild or medium heat. A thicker, chunky style yields a richer sauce.
Pickled jalapeños: Add tangy heat; dice small to distribute.
Broccoli: Small florets cook through in the stated bake window; very large florets can stay firm.
Recipe Inspiration
I’m finally sharing one of our favorite dishes of the month: my baked ranch chicken recipe! This has become a favorite with my family, it’s just simple, delicious food. It’s not fancy, it’s not complicated, and it’s definitely not the prettiest dish in the world. But it sure is yummy!
This recipe began with my idea to create a dinner with my favorite homemade ranch seasoning mix. It’s sounded so yummy!
Growing up, ranch dressing was always my favorite. I often snacked on carrots and ranch dressing after school. It’s the yummiest!
The details
Coat the chicken well: Toss until every piece is evenly coated with softened cream cheese and ranch spices—no dry spots.
Now, toss the chicken with cream cheese and my homemade ranch seasoning spice mix. Then add dried parsley, dried chives, dried dill, garlic powder, and paprika. Toss well to really coat the chicken. Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature or it will not mix easily.
Layer smart: Next, add the onion, then salsa verde, pickled jalapeños, and cream. Or try using canned coconut milk, yum. Mix in the parmesan, then arrange broccoli on top so it steams and stays bright.
The salsa verde is the secret here. It adds just the right amount of spice to the sauce. We love the flavor!
Bake to “just done”: And now you bake. In about 30 to 40 minutes, you’ll have perfectly cooked spicy ranch chicken and broccoli in a very deliciously creamy sauce.
Pull when chicken is opaque and tender and the sauce is bubbling around the edges.
Stir everything together before serving to coat the broccoli.
All you have to add is steamed rice. Orzo pasta would be really nice too. I also love serving this with my honey beer bread on the side.
Sauce texture: If sauce looks thinner than you’d like, let the pan rest a few minutes; it thickens as it stands. A handful of parmesan off-heat also adds body.
How are the leftovers?
They taste even better the following day. The flavors have time to mend, and the sauce is that much more intense. Just store in an airtight container.
You could even add some crispy bacon to the top. I’m sure that would be so great too!
Can I use frozen broccoli?
Yes, add it straight from frozen on top so it steams; expect a slightly softer texture and a bit more moisture in the sauce.
My sauce looks separated..what happened?
Cream sauces can split if boiled hard. Stir well after baking, let rest a couple minutes, and whisk in a small splash of cream to bring it back together.
Breasts or thighs—what’s best here?
Both work. Breasts are lean and slice neatly; thighs stay extra juicy and are more forgiving if slightly overbaked.
How spicy is this?
It depends on your salsa verde and jalapeños. Choose mild salsa and skip (or seed) the jalapeños for a gentler sauce; add more for extra heat.
Looking for other easy family dinners? Here are a few ideas:
Crockpot Buffalo Chicken and Broccoli
One Pot Buffalo Chicken “Helper”
Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper
Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole
One Pan Autumn Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
Easy Southern Style Baked Mac and Cheese
Pumpkin Cheese Stuffed Pasta Bolognese Bake
One Skillet Cheesy Broccoli Cheddar Orzo Bake
Lastly, if you make this One Pan Creamy Parmesan Ranch Chicken, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
One Pan Creamy Parmesan Ranch Chicken
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 534 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds small boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried chives
- 2 teaspoons dried dill
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 cup salsa verde
- 2 tablespoons pickled jalapeños (optional)
- 1 cup heavy cream, or canned coconut milk
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons cold, salted butter, sliced
- 3 cups chopped broccoli
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.2. In a baking dish, toss together the chicken, cream cheese, parsley, chives, dill, garlic powder, and paprika. Season well with salt and pepper. 3. To the chicken, add the onion, then pour over the salsa verde, jalapeños, and cream/milk. Add 1/2 cup parmesan. Stir until creamy and well-mixed. Arrange the butter, then broccoli on top. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Gently stir to combine. Top with 1/2 cup parmesan. 4. Serve the chicken and sauce over steamed rice or orzo for a complete meal. Enjoy!
This post was originally published on February 21, 2024
This recipe was so delicious and quick/easy to make I had to comment. I didn’t even have the cream cheese and it was still soooo tasty. I was surprised how great it came out. I’ll be keeping this one around. Thanks, Tieghan!
Hey Jen,
Happy Tuesday!! I’m so glad to hear this recipe turned out nicely for you, thanks a lot for making it!
In the steps you talk about coating the chicken in your homemade ranch seasoning and then adding the herbs. What does the homemade ranch consist of? Thanks!
Hi Kelly,
The homemade ranch is all of the herbs listed in this recipe. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
I cut up the chicken and mixed everything together. I added uncooked penne pasta to the dish and then baked. Easy one dish meal.
Hey Debbie,
Yay! Love to hear this dish turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! Have the best week:)
Let me start off by saying that I wasn’t expecting much from this recipe. It seemed too simple—but it was SO GOOD! The husband called it “a keeper,” and I still can’t get over how quick and easy it was to make. I put everything but the milk and Parmesan cheese together the night before in a casserole dish, added the remaining ingredients the following day, and popped it in the oven. So perfect for those evening filled with extracurriculars and sports.
Hey Mallory,
Happy Friday!! I appreciate you trying this recipe and your feedback, love to hear it turned out well! xx
Wow! I didn’t have broccoli so I added bok choy and asparagus and had to substitue a bit of the cream cheese with Greek yogurt. Love, love, love this recipe. It will be easy to modify it and replace the chicken with shrimp and scallops. Great recipe!
Hey Nicole,
Fantastic! So glad to hear this recipe turned out well for you, I appreciate you making it! xx