Crispy, savory, comfort-food dinner winner
If you’re craving a dinner that delivers big flavor with minimal effort, this Pretzel Chicken with Mustard Cheddar Sauce will be an instant favorite. The chicken bakes up incredibly crispy thanks to a crunchy pretzel coating, giving you all the satisfaction of fried chicken without the mess. Drizzled with a warm, creamy mustard cheddar sauce, every bite hits that perfect balance of salty, savory, and tangy. It’s a great weeknight meal because the ingredients are simple, kid-friendly, and fast to prepare—even on busy evenings. Whether you serve it with veggies, fries, or a fresh salad, this dish brings cozy comfort and bold flavor to the table with almost no fuss.
⏱️ Time Breakdown
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20–25 minutes
- Total Time: 35–40 minutes
- Servings: 4
📝 Ingredients
For the Pretzel Chicken
- 1 ½ lbs chicken tenders or thin-sliced chicken breasts
- 2 cups crushed pretzels
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp milk
- 2 tbsp olive oil (for drizzling)
For the Mustard Cheddar Sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- Salt & pepper to taste
✨ Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free.
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Shallow bowls for dredging
- Saucepan
- Whisk
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife (if slicing chicken)
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat: Heat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Prepare coating: In a bowl, mix crushed pretzels, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Whisk wet mix: In another bowl, whisk eggs, Dijon mustard, and milk until smooth.
- Coat the chicken: Dip each piece of chicken into the egg mixture, then press firmly into the pretzel crumbs to coat completely. 😊
- Bake: Arrange on the baking sheet and drizzle lightly with olive oil. Bake 20–25 minutes, or until crispy and cooked through (165°F internal temperature).
- Make the sauce: In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk for 1 minute.
- Add milk: Slowly whisk in milk and simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Finish the sauce: Stir in cheddar, Dijon, yellow mustard, salt, and pepper. Sauce should be smooth and creamy. ✨
- Serve: Spoon warm mustard cheddar sauce over the crispy pretzel chicken and enjoy! 🍽️
💡 Pro Tips
- Extra crispy: Use thin-sliced chicken breasts or pound thicker pieces to even thickness.
- Flavor twist: Swap sharp cheddar for white cheddar or smoked cheddar for a deeper flavor.
- Storage: Store leftovers up to 3 days; reheat in the oven or air fryer to keep the coating crispy.
- Sauce reheat: Warm gently over low heat—add a splash of milk if it thickens too much.