Creamy Baked Ricotta Chicken (Printable Version)
Juicy chicken breasts topped with creamy ricotta, mozzarella, and fresh herbs, oven-baked to golden perfection.
# Ingredient List:
→ Poultry
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Ricotta Mixture
03 - 1 cup ricotta cheese, whole milk preferred
04 - 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
05 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
06 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
07 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, plus extra for garnish
08 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil
09 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
10 - Zest of 1 lemon
11 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes, optional
→ Finishing
12 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
# How to Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to fit the chicken breasts in a single layer.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry and season both sides well with salt and pepper. Arrange them in the prepared baking dish. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
03 - In a bowl, combine ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, garlic, parsley, basil, onion powder, lemon zest, and chili flakes if using. Season with a little salt and pepper. Mix until well combined.
04 - Spread the ricotta mixture generously over each chicken breast, covering the tops evenly.
05 - Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the ricotta topping.
06 - Bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F and the topping is golden and bubbling.
07 - Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, garnish with extra parsley, and serve hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The ricotta topping keeps the chicken incredibly moist even if you accidentally overcook it by a few minutes
- It tastes like something from an Italian restaurant but comes together in about 15 minutes of active work
02 -
- The ricotta mixture will look too thick at first but this is exactly what prevents it from sliding off during baking
- An instant thermometer reading 165°F is your insurance policy against dry chicken
03 -
- Room temperature ricotta mixes more smoothly and spreads evenly over cold chicken
- Letting the chicken rest before cutting keeps all those juices inside where they belong