Chicken Mozzarella Bake Oven (Print-Friendly Version)
Tender chicken with gooey mozzarella and tomato sauce, baked in one pan for a savory meal.
# What You’ll Need to Make This:
→ Chicken
01 -
4 small chicken breasts, skinless, boneless, thin or pounded
02 -
1 tablespoon garlic powder
03 -
1 tablespoon onion powder
04 -
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
05 -
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
06 -
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
→ Tomato Sauce
07 -
1 can (450g) chopped tomatoes
08 -
3 garlic cloves, minced
09 -
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
10 -
2 teaspoons dried oregano
11 -
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Topping & Garnish
12 -
100g grated mozzarella cheese
13 -
Fresh basil leaves, chopped, for garnish
# How to Prepare:
01 -
Preheat the oven to 190°C.
02 -
Pound chicken breasts to an even thickness if needed. On a cutting board, make incisions on one side of each breast without slicing all the way through.
03 -
Season chicken with half of the garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Rub seasonings into the cuts. Place the chicken, cuts facing up, in a baking dish.
04 -
Sprinkle the remaining garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper over the top. Drizzle with olive oil and rub it evenly over each breast.
05 -
In a bowl, combine chopped tomatoes, minced garlic, red onion, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly.
06 -
Pour the tomato sauce mixture evenly over the chicken in the baking dish. Top with grated mozzarella.
07 -
Bake for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and cheese is melted.
08 -
Broil for 2 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbling, monitoring closely to avoid burning.
09 -
Remove from the oven and garnish with freshly chopped basil before serving.
# Extra Tips:
01 -
For maximum flavor, ensure seasonings are rubbed into the incisions of the chicken breast.
02 -
Using thin or pounded chicken breasts promotes even cooking.