Baked Chicken with Tomato Basil Sauce & Melted Cheese

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🍗 Baked Chicken with Tomato Basil Sauce & Melted Cheese

🧾 Servings

Serves 4

🥕 Ingredients

🍗 Chicken

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or 8 small fillets)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt & black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning

🍅 Tomato Sauce

  • 1½ cups thick tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp chili flakes (optional)
  • Salt & pepper to taste

🧀 Topping

  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh basil leaves (for garnish)

🔥 Instructions

1. Prep the Chicken

  • Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F).
  • Lightly grease a baking dish.
  • Arrange chicken in a single layer.
  • Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.

2. Make the Sauce

  • Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
  • Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
  • Stir in tomato sauce, oregano, chili flakes, salt, and pepper.
  • Simmer for 5–7 minutes until slightly thickened.

3. Assemble

  • Spoon the tomato sauce over each piece of chicken (just like in your image).

4. Bake

  • Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.

5. Add Cheese

  • Remove from oven, sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
  • Return to oven and bake another 10–15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

6. Garnish & Serve

  • Top with fresh basil and serve hot.

💡 Tips

  • Pound chicken evenly for faster, even cooking.
  • Use fresh mozzarella for extra creaminess.
  • Broil for 2–3 minutes at the end for a golden cheesy top.
  • Add sliced mushrooms or spinach for extra veggies.

🥗 Nutritional Info (Approx. per serving)

  • Calories: ~320–380 kcal
  • Protein: 35–40g
  • Carbs: 6–10g
  • Fat: 18–22g

❓ Q&A

Q: Can I make this low-carb?
Yes! It already is—just pair with veggies instead of pasta.

Q: Can I use chicken thighs?
Absolutely—they’ll be even juicier, just increase cooking time slightly.

Q: What should I serve this with?
Pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables all work great.

Q: Can I make it ahead?
Yes—assemble everything, refrigerate, and bake when ready.

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