Easy Chicken Mozzarella Bake Recipe
This Easy Chicken Mozzarella Bake is a flavorful and comforting dish featuring thinly pounded chicken breasts seasoned with garlic, onion, and Italian herbs, topped with a fresh tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Quick to prepare and baked to perfection, it’s a perfect family-friendly meal that pairs beautifully with a simple side salad or pasta.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Low Salt
Ingredients
Scale
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
Tomato Sauce
- 1 can chopped tomatoes (16 oz)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
- 2 tsp oregano
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Topping & Garnish
- 1 cup grated mozzarella
- 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: Take small and thin chicken breasts; if they are thick, pound them out to ensure even cooking and better seasoning penetration.
- Score Chicken: On a cutting board, make shallow cuts on one side of each chicken breast without cutting all the way through. This allows the seasonings to soak inside the meat.
- Season First Side: Flip the chicken breasts and sprinkle half of the garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper on the uncut side, rubbing the spices in thoroughly.
- Place in Baking Dish: Arrange the chicken breasts in a baking dish with the scored (cut) side facing up.
- Season Scored Side: Sprinkle the remaining seasonings over the tops and drizzle with the olive oil. Rub in the spices to infuse flavor into the cuts.
- Make Tomato Sauce: In a bowl, combine the canned chopped tomatoes, minced garlic, finely chopped red onion, oregano, salt, and black pepper, mixing well to create a fresh tomato sauce.
- Top Chicken: Spoon the tomato sauce evenly over the chicken breasts, ensuring they are well covered.
- Add Mozzarella: Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese generously over the sauce-covered chicken breasts.
- Bake: Bake the dish in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted.
- Broil for Finish: Turn on the broiler for about 2 minutes to brown and golden the cheese on top, watching closely to prevent burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and sprinkle chopped basil leaves on top before serving for a fresh, aromatic finish.
Notes
- For even cooking, use small or flattened chicken breasts to avoid dryness.
- Keep an eye on the cheese during broiling to prevent it from burning.
- You can serve this dish with a side of pasta, rice, or a fresh green salad.
- Leftovers keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
Keywords: chicken bake, mozzarella chicken, Italian chicken recipe, baked chicken breast, mozzarella bake, easy chicken dinner, tomato sauce chicken
Find it online: https://tastybella.com/easy-chicken-mozzarella-bake-recipe/
