This recipe has such a special place in my heart. I made it for my extended family after my grandmother’s passing last year and over that meal we were able to laugh and find comfort together in all of the amazing memories she left us with. Food is often such a simple after thought but it can also be a thing of comfort and joy. That’s what this dish now is to us.
In this picture we served it over zucchini noodles but after my grandmother’s service we used fresh fettuccini. This is your dinner, serve it how you will love and enjoy it!
Mozzarella Chicken Bake
This prosciutto wrapped chicken cooks in a tomato sauce that is pure heaven. It's rich and garlicy and the stuff dreams are made of. It cooks up in under 35 minutes and can be served over pasta, gnocchi, or spiralized vegetable noodles.
Servings 4
Calories 638kcal
Ingredients
- 1- 1 1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 4 oz prosciutto
- 8 oz mozzarella, sliced thin or shredded
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 10 oz can tomato sauce
- 6 oz can tomato paste
- 1 tsp granulated garlic
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, optional
- 1-2 TBSP avocado oil
- Pasta, gnocchi, or spiralized vegetable pasta for serving
Instructions
- Wrap a piece of prosciutto around each chicken thigh
- preheat an oven proof skillet over medium high heat and add the avocado oil. Once the skillet is hot, place the chicken in the skillet with the tail ends of the prosciutto on the bottom to secure it in place while the chicken cooks. Cook the chicken for 7 minutes on each side or until it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees
- Remove the chicken to a plate add an additional TBSP of avocado oil if needed. Add the diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until they are translucent.
- Add garlic and cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant
- Add tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes or until you can easily smash the tomatoes with the back of a wooden spoon
- Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, granulated garlic, basil, oregano, thyme, pepper, salt, and crushed red peppers. Stir to combine and cook for 2-3 minutes
- Turn on your oven broiler to high and move a rack to the top 1/3 of the oven. Make sure you have enough room for your skillet without it touching the top of the oven
- Wedge the chicken into the sauce. Spread the mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the sauce and chicken
- Place into the oven and broil for 3-5 minutes or until the cheese gets brown and bubbly. Check on the dish frequently as broilers cook very fast
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving
- Serve over your favorite pasta, gnocchi, or spiralized vegetable
Nutrition
Calories: 638kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 25g | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 11g
This cheesy mozzarella chicken bake is simple to make and only uses a handful of ingredients. Tender chicken, mozza, parmesan, and marinara sauce make one awesome combo! If you have a large oven-safe skillet, feel free to use it instead of transferring the chicken to the baking dish.
So glad you enjoyed this recipe!