February 18, 2023
Review RecipeSkillet Chicken and Mozzarella Bake
This skillet chicken and mozzarella bake is an easy way to get dinner on the table fast and will be a sure family favorite.
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This skillet chicken and mozzarella bake is the ideal dish for all of you cheese lovers! The seasoned homemade tomato sauce pairs perfectly with tender chicken breasts and gooey mozzarella cheese for this perfect skillet meal.
We have tons of easy chicken dinner recipes. This chicken cacciatore and creamy garlic chicken parmesan are both delicious stove top recipes.
Skillet Chicken and Mozzarella Bake Ingredients
You’ll need:
For the Chicken
- 6 (6 to 8 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
For the Tomato Sauce
- 2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons rough chopped fresh basil
- 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1½ teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 6 slices fresh sliced mozzarella
- 1 teaspoon freshly chopped flat parsley
SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
MIX-INS: Fresh spinach or jarred roasted red peppers can be added to the tomato sauce.
CHEESE: You can substitute shredded mozzarella for fresh, but it will not give the same creaminess of the fresh mozzarella.
CHICKEN: If you prefer dark meat, boneless skinless chicken thighs would also be delicious in this recipe.
SPICE: Add a dash of red pepper flakes to the sauce for an extra kick of spicy flavor in this mozzarella chicken skillet.
BREAD CRUMBS: Add bread crumbs to the top of your mozzarella for a little bit of added crunch.
How to Make This Skillet Chicken and Mozzarella Bake Recipe
STEP ONE: Lay the chicken breast on a plate or baking sheet.
STEP TWO: Sprinkle both sides of the chicken breast with salt and pepper.
STEP THREE: Using a 12-inch oven-safe skillet, heat pan with the 2 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat.
PRO TIP:
If you do not have an ovenproof skillet, you can prepare the stove top portion in a large skillet and transfer everything to a greased baking dish to finish under the broiler.
STEP FOUR: Cook the breast in the hot skillet, covered for 5 to 8 minutes per side.
PRO TIP:
If you are in a time crunch, you can pre-cook the chicken ahead of time and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Then just start at Step 6 below when it’s dinner time.
STEP FIVE: Remove the breasts to a baking sheet.
STEP SIX: Lower the stovetop temperature to medium-low.
STEP SEVEN: Add the fresh minced garlic for 30 seconds, stirring constantly to avoid burning.
STEP EIGHT: Add the crushed tomatoes, fresh basil, dried Italian seasoning, sugar, onion powder, kosher salt, and cracked pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring often.
STEP NINE: Preheat the oven to broil.
STEP TEN: Stir in the grated parmesan cheese and heavy cream. Reduce the heat to low.
STEP ELEVEN: Add the chicken breast to the tomato sauce. Cover and continue to simmer, covered for 5 to 8 minutes.
PRO TIP:
Make sure your chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F.
STEP TWELVE: Remove the skillet from the heat. Lay one slice of fresh mozzarella cheese on each chicken breast.
STEP THIRTEEN: Transfer skillet to the oven and broil for 5 to 7 minutes until the mozzarella is melted and bubbling.
STEP FOURTEEN: Remove from the oven, and allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes.
How To Serve
You can serve this mozzarella chicken bake over cooked pasta, steamed veggies, or rice. Try our delicious and simple cacio e pepe pasta recipe for a great Italian-inspired choice. A Caesar salad on the side is always a great go-to option as well.
MORE CHICKEN RECIPES
Storage
IN THE FRIDGE: Store any leftovers of this chicken mozzarella bake in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
The amazing flavor of this dish will have your whole family asking for it again and again. This chicken mozzarella bake is so delicious with the tender chicken, tomato sauce and melted cheese that you will be eager to add it to your weekly meal plan.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts in this recipe?
This chicken dish would work fine with boneless skinless chicken thighs as well.
What if I don’t have an oven-safe skillet?
If you don’t have an oven safe skillet for this mozzarella chicken in tomato sauce, you can prepare the recipe on the stove top in a pan and then transfer it to a baking dish for the final step in the oven.
Can I use a different cheese in this recipe?
While mozzarella is a classic choice, you could change it up with cheddar, Monterey Jack or provolone cheese instead.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Chicken Tetrazzini
- Lemon Chicken
- Crack Chicken Casserole
- Ritz Cracker Chicken
- Oven Baked Chicken
- One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta
- Italian Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner
- Garlic Butter Chicken and Potatoes Skillet
- Chicken Parmesan Casserole
- Bacon Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks
Skillet Chicken and Mozzarella Bake
This skillet chicken and mozzarella bake is an easy way to get dinner on the table fast and will be a sure family favorite.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 6
Ingredients
Chicken
- 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (6 to 8 ounces)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
Tomato Sauce
- 2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil rough chopped
- 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1½ teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
- 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese grated
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 6 slices fresh sliced mozzarella
- 1 teaspoon flat parsley freshly chopped
Instructions
- Using a baking sheet, lay the chicken breast on the baking sheet.
- Sprinkle both sides of the chicken breast with salt and pepper.
- Using an oven-safe 12-inch skillet, heat the 2 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Cook the breast, covered for 5 to 8 minutes per side.
- Remove the breasts to a baking sheet.
- Lower the stovetop temperature to medium-low.
- Add the fresh minced garlic for 30 seconds, stirring constantly to avoid burning.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, fresh basil, dried Italian seasoning, sugar, onion powder, kosher salt, and cracked pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring often.
- Preheat the oven to broil.
- Stir in the grated parmesan cheese and heavy cream. Reduce the heat to low.
- Add the chicken breast to the tomato sauce. Cover and continue to simmer, covered for 5 to 8 minutes.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Lay one slice of fresh mozzarella on each chicken breast.
- Broil for 5 to 7 minutes until the mozzarella is melted and bubbling.
- Remove from the oven, and allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes.
Notes
PRO TIP: If you do not have an ovenproof skillet, you can prepare the stove top portion in a large skillet and transfer everything to a greased baking dish to finish under the broiler.
PRO TIP: If you are in a time crunch, you can pre-cook the chicken ahead of time and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Then just start at Step 6 below when it’s dinner time.
PRO TIP: Make sure your chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F.
Nutrition
Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 1689mg | Potassium: 866mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 654IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 248mg | Iron: 3mg
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Comments
Gloria says
My family loved this. Very easy.