If you are looking for a delicious, lightweight, and quick dish for dinner, try baked Italian chicken. It gets ready quickly, but it tastes so good and looks so attractive that people think you must have spent a lot of time on this recipe.
Whenever I make it for dinner, my husband thinks I have been working on this recipe all day.
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Why I Love Baked Italian Chicken So Much?
There are many reasons why I personally really like this dish, but I want to share a few with you.
First of all, it’s healthy food. Chicken is full of protein. When meat is baked instead of fried, it maintains moisture and doesn’t produce extra fat.
If you add Italian flavors, this dish becomes very tasty. You can add anything, like garlic, herbs, and tomatoes.
Lastly, what impresses me the most is that baked italian meat recipe is versatile. You can try it with anything—like pasta, rice, or whatever you want!
Baked Italian Chicken Recipe’s Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts ( i prefer Boneless)
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic(minced)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)
3 Optional Ingredients
- Cooked pasta (like spaghetti or penne)
- Steamed vegetables
- Garlic bread
Baked Italian Chicken Preparing Guide
Preheat oven
First, preheat the oven. You might be wondering why I mentioned preheating the oven. This is the right way to bake any recipe. Which helps the meat bake evenly and stay moist and tender. This is a main and important step that you should definitely follow.
Prepare the Chicken Breasts
Now, place the meat on a cutting board. I recommend drying them well with a towel. If there is moisture on them, they won’t bake properly in the oven, which means they won’t cook evenly.
If you dry them before adding them to the oven, the taste will be better and the texture will be nice.
Tip: Use boneless chicken for this recipe. It bakes well and is easier to handle.
Add Spices & Add Garlic
Secondly, stick some olive oil drizzled on top of the chicken piece and rub it inside well. And not only does it add flavor, but it keeps the meat moist during bake. Then you season the meat. Generously sprinkle salt & pepper over breasts, on each side.
Salt creates synergy with the chicken’s natural flavor, but pepper by itself brings a bit of heat.
And now, you need to add dried oregano and dried basil, these are just herbs that help bring the Italian flavor profile.
Finally, just sprinkle garlic on each chicken breast. This adds a really great taste and texture. I always use garlic in every recipe, even when it’s optional.
Arrange in a Baking Dish
Now season & place a baked dish, carefully arranging baked italian chicken in a single layer. Don’t overcrowd the dish: this lets hot air circulate each piece, and each piece cooks evenly.
When it’s too close together, the meat will steam rather than bake, and you may not have the texture you’d like.
Pour Marinara Sauce
Once that is done, pour marinara sauce evenly over each chicken breast. It’d help if you wrapped them well enough to keep them from getting dry, but not so much that it wilts into the sauce.
It’ll keep the meat moist as it bakes and add a unique Italian flavor to the marinara sauce. If you prefer, choose a quality Marinara sauce or make your own.
Once spread gently, each piece is coated in the sauce, and the flavors will merge while cooking.
Cheese Addition
This is my favorite step because I love cheese.Preheat a grill or pan to medium, or bring a cast iron or stainless skillet to medium heat with some canola or olive oil. Then grate some shredded mozzarella cheese to sprinkle over each piece well.
Mixing meat with the sauce makes for a perfect combination with mozzarella because mozzarella melts beautifully and combines to create a gooey, creamy texture.
A great way to serve this dish is by sprinkling Parmesan cheese over grated mozzarella. A few Parmesan shavings can add a nice sharpness and make it more satisfying.
Bake
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil to keep the moisture in and the meat juicy while baking. Place the dish in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes.
Remove the foil after this time and let the cheese brown carefully. The dish should be placed in an oven preheated to 400°F for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden.
How To Check the Doneness of Chicken?
- Use a Meat Thermometer
- Check the internal temperature of the chicken.
- To be safe (i.e. without risk of food poisoning) it should have reached 165°F (75°C).
- No Thermometer? Cut and Check
- If you don’t have a thermometer, cut into one (small) piece of the meat.
- The meat should be pink neither on the outside nor on the inside.
- Let It Rest
- Cook it for about an hour, or until it’s done, then remove it from the oven.
- Serve it soon after it’s made. This allows the juices to re-distribute for better flavor and tenderness.
Conclusion
Baked Italian chicken recipe is a simple and flavorful dish that is perfect for any occasion. Creating a meal that will wow your family and friends with just a few simple ingredients and steps is possible. This dish is sure to be a hit with your family whether you serve it with pasta or veggies.
FAQs
What pairs well with baked Italian chicken?
- Pasta, garlic bread, or steamed veggies make great partners for this dish.
Can I make this dish healthier?
- Make the dish low-fat using skinless chicken & cutting the cheese in amounts.
How long does it have to be prepared?
- You can marinate the chicken for a couple of hours or even a night, adding more flavor.