Juicy chicken with cheese topping (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded to about ¾ inch thickness
02 - 1½ cups Italian dressing (for marinating)

→ Cheese Layer

03 - 1 cup shredded provolone cheese

→ Ranch Spread

04 - ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
05 - ¼ cup buttermilk ranch dressing

→ Parmesan Topping

06 - ½ cup plain panko bread crumbs
07 - 1 teaspoon garlic salt
08 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

# Instructions:

01 - Place chicken breasts in a shallow dish and pour Italian dressing over them. Make sure they're well coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2-4 hours or overnight for the best flavor.
02 - Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard excess marinade. Heat your grill (outdoor or indoor cast iron) to medium-high heat. Grill the chicken for about 6 minutes per side until fully cooked and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
03 - Once cooked, remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest while you prepare the toppings.
04 - In a small bowl, mix together ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese and ¼ cup buttermilk ranch dressing until smooth and well combined.
05 - In another bowl, combine panko bread crumbs, garlic salt, grated Parmesan cheese, and melted butter. Mix until the bread crumbs are evenly moistened.
06 - Position an oven rack in the center of your oven and preheat the broiler to HIGH setting.
07 - Place the grilled chicken breasts in an oven-safe dish. Spread about 2 tablespoons of the ranch mixture over each piece of chicken. Sprinkle the shredded provolone cheese evenly over each chicken breast. Finally, top each piece with the Parmesan-panko mixture.
08 - Place the dish under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, just until the cheese melts and the topping turns light golden brown. Watch carefully to prevent burning!
09 - Remove from the oven, garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve immediately while hot and cheese is melty.

# Notes:

01 - This recipe is a restaurant-quality copycat of Longhorn Steakhouse's famous Parmesan Crusted Chicken.
02 - For best results, don't skip the marinating step - it helps keep the chicken juicy and flavorful.
03 - You can substitute provolone with mozzarella if needed, though the flavor profile will be slightly different.

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