Baked Ricotta Chicken
This ricotta chicken is an easy one-pan meal that only requires 5 main ingredients. It's a delicious dinner ready in under 30 minutes!
Servings: 4 people
Equipment
- 1 oven-safe/cast iron pan
Ingredients
- 1¾ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or 4 breasts)
- Extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 cup ricotta cheese*
- 3-4 garlic cloves, minced (use 3 for large cloves)
- 1½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 24 oz marinara sauce*
- Optional: parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel and season both sides with salt and black pepper. Meanwhile, heat cast iron or oven-safe skillet over medium high heat, then add 2-3 teaspoons of oil. Sear the chicken for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until just golden brown.
- While the chicken is searing, mix together the ricotta, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Once the chicken is seared, remove it and set the pan on a heat-safe area. Spoon the marinara around the bottom of the pan, then top the chicken with about 1/4 cup of the ricotta cheese mixture.
- Bake at 375F for 15-20 minutes or until the ricotta has browned slightly on top and is bubbling, and the chicken registers at least 165 degrees F on a meat thermometer.
- Serve warm, with the sauce scooped on top or underneath the chicken.
Notes
- Using a good quality ricotta transforms this dish! My recommendations are Calabro, BelGiosio, Liuzzi, or any brand without added gums (which makes it grainy).
- For marinara sauce, I recommend Rao's or Carbone's. Use a "sensitive" sauce if onions are an issue. Recommendations in the post.
- I love a strong garlic flavor, so I always use 4 cloves, but I'd use 3 or less if they are very large or you're using a garlic marinara.
Nutrition
Calories: 395kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 51g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 159mg | Sodium: 1089mg | Potassium: 1314mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1085IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 174mg | Iron: 3mg
