Creamy Ricotta Chicken Bake (Print Version)

Creamy ricotta-topped chicken baked with mozzarella and herbs for an easy, comforting weeknight dinner.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

→ Ricotta Mixture

02 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
03 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1 large egg
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tablespoon dried)
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Topping

09 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
10 - 1/3 cup breadcrumbs (gluten-free optional)
11 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
12 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to hold the chicken breasts in a single layer.
02 - Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and arrange them in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth and well blended.
04 - Spoon the ricotta mixture evenly over each chicken breast, spreading it to cover the entire surface.
05 - Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the ricotta-covered chicken breasts.
06 - In a small bowl, toss the breadcrumbs with olive oil and dried Italian herbs. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the mozzarella layer.
07 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the topping is golden brown.
08 - Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute for more tender chicken.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The ricotta layer keeps the chicken incredibly moist, even if you accidentally overcook it by a few minutes.
  • It looks like something from a restaurant menu but comes together with almost zero effort on a busy weeknight.
02 -
  • Do not skip patting the chicken dry because excess moisture makes the ricotta layer slide right off during baking.
  • Draining the ricotta for ten minutes in a fine mesh sieve over the sink transforms the texture from watery to luxuriously creamy.
03 -
  • Let the baked dish rest those full five minutes because cutting too early releases all the moisture and leaves the chicken drier than it should be.
  • Broiling for the last two minutes creates a perfectly browned crust but watch it every second because it goes from golden to charred in a heartbeat.

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