Description
Mozzarella Chicken brings together tender chicken and gooey cheese in a super satisfying weeknight dinner that comes together faster than you can order takeout. Melted cheese, golden chicken, and simple ingredients make this meal a total winner for busy families craving something delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella
- 1 (15 oz) can crushed tomatoes
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 onion
- 3 to 4 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Cooking and Garnish:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Fresh basil
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté 1 finely chopped onion for 2-3 minutes until edges turn golden.
- Add 3-4 minced garlic cloves and cook 30 seconds until aromatic. Your kitchen will smell amazing.
- Pour in 15 oz crushed tomatoes. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Stir and simmer 2 minutes.
- Place 4 chicken breasts into the skillet. Brown each side for 1-2 minutes to develop a nice color.
- Transfer skillet to a 400°F oven. Bake chicken for 10 minutes, then carefully flip each breast.
- Top each chicken breast with 2 oz fresh mozzarella or shredded cheese. Return to oven for another 10 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature.
- Check chicken’s doneness with a meat thermometer. The cheese should look melted and slightly bubbly.
- Pluck several fresh basil leaves and scatter them over the chicken before serving directly from the skillet.
Notes
- Choose a thick, oven-safe skillet to seamlessly transfer from stovetop to oven without extra dishes.
- Ensure chicken breasts are similar in size and thickness for even cooking and consistent doneness.
- Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels before seasoning to help achieve a nice golden-brown surface when searing.
- For a low-carb version, replace crushed tomatoes with diced fresh tomatoes and reduce total liquid to prevent excess moisture.
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 37 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg