Chicken Mozzarella Bake Recipe
This Chicken Mozzarella Bake is a flavorful and comforting dish featuring tender chicken breasts seasoned with aromatic herbs and spices, topped with a rich tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a hearty dinner, it combines Italian-inspired flavors with simple ingredients for a delicious meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Low Carb
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 4 small skinless, boneless chicken breasts (thin or pounded out)
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- Salt & black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
For the Tomato Sauce:
- 1 can (16 oz) chopped tomatoes
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Topping:
- 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
- A few basil leaves, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the chicken.
- Prepare Chicken Breasts: Use small, thin chicken breasts or pound them out to an even thickness to ensure even cooking and flavor absorption.
- Make Cuts on Chicken: On a cutting board, make shallow cuts on one side of each chicken breast without cutting all the way through. This allows seasonings to penetrate the meat.
- Season One Side: Flip the chicken breasts so the cut side is up. Sprinkle evenly with half of the garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Rub the seasoning into the cuts and meat.
- Arrange Chicken: Place the seasoned chicken breasts into a baking dish with the cut side facing up.
- Season Other Side: Sprinkle the remaining seasonings over the uncut side of the chicken breasts. Drizzle olive oil on top and rub it evenly to coat.
- Prepare Tomato Sauce: In a bowl, combine chopped tomatoes, minced garlic, finely chopped red onion, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.
- Top Chicken with Sauce and Cheese: Pour the tomato sauce evenly over each chicken breast, then sprinkle grated mozzarella cheese on top.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and cheese is melted.
- Broil Cheese: Turn on the broiler and broil the chicken for 2 minutes to brown and slightly crisp the cheese. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, sprinkle chopped fresh basil over the top, and serve warm.
Notes
- For even cooking, make sure chicken breasts are uniform in thickness.
- If fresh basil is unavailable, dried basil can be used as a garnish.
- You can substitute mozzarella with provolone or a blend of Italian cheeses for variation.
- This dish pairs well with a side of steamed vegetables or a fresh green salad.
- To reduce sodium, adjust salt quantities according to taste or omit added salt in the sauce.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the oven.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce and cheese (approximately 180 grams)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
Keywords: Chicken Mozzarella Bake, baked chicken, Italian chicken recipe, low carb chicken, mozzarella chicken, tomato sauce chicken
Find it online: https://cheflenacooks.com/chicken-mozzarella-bake-recipe/
