Description
This Baked Ricotta Chicken is a comfort food dream—juicy chicken breasts layered with herby ricotta, rich marinara, and melty mozzarella. Perfect for weeknights or entertaining, it’s a one-dish dinner that delivers bold flavor and creamy, cheesy satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil (plus more for garnish)
- 1 ½ cups marinara sauce
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Place chicken breasts in the dish and season both sides with salt, pepper, and a pinch of garlic powder.
- In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, egg, Parmesan, basil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir until creamy and smooth.
- Spoon and spread the ricotta mixture evenly over each chicken breast.
- Pour marinara sauce around and slightly over the chicken, making sure not to fully cover the ricotta layer.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella on top of each breast. Add extra Parmesan or basil if desired.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes, or until chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) and cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil and serve.
Notes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 150mg
Keywords: Baked Ricotta Chicken, Chicken, Italian, Comfort Food