Description
Tired of boring chicken dinners? This Chicken & Mozzarella Bake delivers juicy chicken smothered in bubbling cheese that’ll have your family racing to the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 lbs/900g)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup (240ml) marinara sauce
- 8 oz (225g) fresh mozzarella, sliced into ¼-inch rounds
- ¼ cup (25g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup (10g) fresh basil leaves, torn
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer to a plate.
- Reduce heat to medium and add garlic to the same skillet. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add dried oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes. Stir for 30 seconds.
- Pour marinara sauce into the skillet, stirring to incorporate pan drippings. Return chicken to the skillet, nestling pieces into the sauce.
- Layer mozzarella slices over each chicken breast and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) and cheese is bubbly and golden. For extra browning, broil for the final 2-3 minutes.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with fresh basil and enjoy!