Sharing is caring!

Imperial Chicken is the perfect main dish that’s kid approved and family friendly! Easy enough for a weeknight, fancy enough for company!

 

 

Crispy seasoned imperial chicken coated in butter and Parmesan cheese is a family favorite! So yummy and perfect on a bed of rice.

I love this imperial chicken recipe because it is made with all simple ingredients that I’ve always got in my pantry!

I also love eating chicken imperial because it gets rave reviews! And for such an easy recipe? I’ll take those reviews!

Plus this chicken imperial recipe goes with so many things! Salad, rice, noodles, etc. All simple and all delicious!

This is also a perfect family meal! It’s a big enough recipe to feed large crowds! Which is always a win!

But you can also easily cut this imperial.chicken in half to make it smaller or double it and feed even more!

And I love that this is one of those healthy recipes I can feel good about serving to my family!

 

 

What is Imperial Chicken?

Imperial chicken is a baked chicken recipe that is coated in a crispy crust.

The addition of parmesan makes it such a gourmet meal too that might taste like a high class meal but it is so simple!

It is best served over a bed of rice or noodles but also tastes great on a bed of lettuce or with a side salad.

 

 

What Ingredients are in Imperial Chicken?

I love when chicken recipes only use a few ingredients but taste great anyway!

• Bread Crumbs: Get unseasoned bread crumbs so they can be seasoned by the other ingredients in this recipe.
• Parmesan Cheese: Use grated parmesan cheese not powdered as it tastes and cooks much better.
• Garlic Powder: A hint of garlic flavor really adds a lot to the chicken.
• Salt and Pepper: For flavoring!
• Fresh Parsley: Can be swapped out with dried parmesan. Be sure to adjust the amounts.
• Butter: You need quite a bit of melted butter to get the perfect flavor.
• Chicken Breasts: Use boneless skinless chicken breasts.

Pro Tips:

• You can melt butter in the microwave oven but be sure to use a microwave safe dish.
• If you use chicken breast halves be sure to adjust the bake time for the smaller chicken pieces.

 

 

How to Make Imperial Chicken

For a full recipe see the recipe card below. Here’s the basics of what you’ll need to get started.

1. Combine: Mix together bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and seasonings.
2. Dip: Dip chicken in butter and then bread crumb mixture.
3. Bake: Chicken will be golden brown and have an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Pro Tips:

• Rinse and dry chicken to get the slime off and then get the butter and bread crumb mixture to stick.
• Pour any remaining melted butter into the pan. So that your chicken can soak up all that butter while it cooks!
• Cut chicken pieces in halves to make this recipe go further for the little ones at your table.

 

 

Can You Freeze Imperial Chicken?

Yes! Imperial chicken freezes well and still tastes great when reheated.

Follow the recipe as written and then allow the chicken to cool completely to room temperature.

Then move the chicken into a freezer safe bag or container and store for up to 3 months.

Be sure to write the name of the recipe, date, and how to reheat on the bag. Then you don’t have to look for it later!

 

 

Can You Make Imperial Chicken Ahead of Time?

I wouldn’t recommend making imperial chicken ahead of time.

While it still tastes great the next day, the bread crumb crust will become much softer and less crunchy.

It’s still great for leftovers but as a main dish that you’re serving to company I don’t recommend it.

 

 

How to Store Leftover Imperial Chicken

Store any leftover imperial chicken in the fridge.

Let it cool completely and then move to an airtight container.

Leftover imperial chicken will stay good for up to three days.

 

 

How to Reheat Leftover Imperial Chicken

Any leftover imperial chicken is best when reheated in the oven.

The microwave will soften the crust and while the flavor is still great, you’ll miss out on that crunchy crust!

I recommend turning your oven on to 350 and heating until warmed through.

Be careful not to recook the chicken though as it can quickly dry the chicken out.

 

 

Can My Dog Eat Imperial Chicken?

Unseasoned and cooked chicken is completely okay to serve to your dog. 

It is packed with protein and nutrients that your dog needs.

But imperial chicken is loaded with butter and bread crumbs. Neither of which your dog needs.

And while it requires only a small bit of garlic powder, even small amounts can be harmful.

Garlic and onions and other members of the same family are actually toxic for dogs. So avoid serving any food with them to your dog.

 

 

Is This Recipe the Same as Chinese Imperial Chicken?

Chinese imperial chicken and this imperial chicken bake are actually different things.

Usually imperial chicken you might get at a Chinese restaurant is going to include soy sauce, ginger, water chestnuts, nuts, and chili peppers.

It tends to be a sweetened chicken that doesn’t have any sort of crust at all, though it is often still served with a rice dish.

 

 

More Chicken Recipes You’ll Love…

• Chicken Alfredo Lasagna
• Frozen Chicken Tenders in Air Fryer
• Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
• Air Fryer Chicken Breast
• Pretzel Crusted Chicken
• Chicken Satay
• Best Fried Chicken Tenders Recipe
• Instant Pot Roast Chicken
• Chicken Marsala
• Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe
• Chicken Tortilla Wrap
• Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas
• Teriyaki Chicken
• Mexican Chicken Skewers

Imperial Chicken is a delicious and easy main dish perfect for your busy weeknight! It’s filling, packed with nutrition and quickly going to become a favorite! Enjoy!

 

Originally Posted: December 6, 2016

Photos & Text Updated: December 15, 2022

Sharing is caring!