Description
Baked Pesto Mozzarella Chicken is a mouthwatering, cheesy, oven-baked dish bursting with bold Italian flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup basil pesto
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 1/2 cups marinara or tomato pasta sauce
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or basil (for garnish)
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
- 1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Place the chicken in the baking dish with space between each piece.
- Spread 1–2 tablespoons of basil pesto over each breast.
- Pour marinara sauce over and around the chicken.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and Parmesan over the top.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165°F internally.
- Optional: Broil for 2–3 minutes for extra browned cheese.
- Let rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with parsley or basil.
- Serve hot as-is or with a side of pasta, salad, or vegetables.
Notes
- This dish is great for meal planning.
- Adjust the spice level by modifying red pepper flakes.
- Use fresh ingredients for the best flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 44g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: Baked Pesto Mozzarella Chicken, Italian Chicken Recipe, Easy Dinner