Cheesy Mozzarella Chicken Bake (Printable Version)
Tender chicken covered in marinara and melty mozzarella, baked for a quick and easy dinner everyone will enjoy.
# What You'll Need:
01 -
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
02 -
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
03 -
1 1/2 cups of marinara sauce
04 -
Salt and black pepper, adjust to your liking
05 -
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
06 -
2 tablespoons olive oil
07 -
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (large)
# Steps to Follow:
01 -
Turn on your oven to 375°F and position the rack in the center area.
02 -
Grab each chicken breast and sprinkle both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder until coated well.
03 -
In a skillet, warm olive oil over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken on each side for about 5 minutes till it’s golden. Move the browned chicken into a greased 9x13 pan.
04 -
Evenly pour marinara sauce over the chicken, using a spoon to spread it around.
05 -
Scatter the parmesan over the chicken first, then cover with the mozzarella.
06 -
Bake uncovered for 20 minutes (small chicken breasts may only need 15). Broil for a few minutes to brown the cheese lightly—stay nearby so it doesn’t burn!
07 -
Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes. It’s fully cooked when the thickest part hits 165°F.
# Additional Notes:
01 -
Skipping the searing step is okay. Just bake raw seasoned chicken for around 30 minutes, or until it reaches 165°F.
02 -
Cooking time will depend on your chicken breast size. Keep a meat thermometer handy to be sure.
03 -
If you've got an oven-safe skillet that's big enough, you can skip transferring to a separate baking dish and do everything in one pan.