Mississippi Chicken
Butterflied chicken baked with ranch seasoning, tangy banana peppers, and a small amount of cream cheese that melts into the pepper juice and creates a light, creamy sauce — all the signature flavors of Mississippi chicken without the full stick of butter. Simple, satisfying, and completely on plan.
- 1 lb chicken breast, butterflied
- 4–8 oz banana peppers, drained (mild or hot, to taste)
- 2 tbsp dry ranch seasoning mix
- 2 oz reduced-fat cream cheese, cut into small pieces
- ½ cup 2% shredded cheese (Parmesan, cheddar, or mozzarella)
- 1 tsp olive oil
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1
Preheat & prep
Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil. Butterfly the chicken breasts and place flat in the dish.
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2
Season & top
Sprinkle the ranch seasoning evenly over both chicken breasts. Layer the banana peppers generously over the top — use 4 oz for a milder result or the full 8 oz if you want more tang and heat. Scatter the small pieces of cream cheese over the peppers so they melt evenly into the sauce as it bakes.
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3
Add the cheese & bake
Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the top. Bake uncovered at 375°F for 28–30 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, the cheese is melted, and the cream cheese has melted into the banana pepper juice creating a light, creamy sauce in the bottom of the dish.
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4
Rest & serve
Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Spoon the creamy banana pepper sauce from the bottom of the dish over the chicken and serve immediately — that sauce is the best part. Cauliflower rice alongside soaks it up beautifully.
- Mild vs. hot banana peppers: Mild banana peppers give you the tangy, slightly sweet flavor without much heat — hot banana peppers bring a real kick. Either works beautifully here; choose based on your heat preference.
- The cream cheese is the WeightWise upgrade: Traditional Mississippi chicken uses a full stick of butter — a small amount of reduced-fat cream cheese melts into the pepper juice and creates the same creamy, indulgent sauce with a fraction of the fat and calories.
- Spoon the sauce: The banana pepper and cream cheese sauce that pools in the bottom of the baking dish is exceptional — don't leave it behind. Spoon every drop over the chicken before serving or use it to dress cauliflower rice.
- Cauliflower rice is the perfect base: The creamy, tangy sauce soaks into cauliflower rice beautifully and makes this feel like a complete, restaurant-worthy meal completely on plan.
- Scale up easily: Double everything for 4 servings — use a 9x13 baking dish and add 5 minutes to the cook time. The sauce doubles too which is never a bad thing.