Creamy Baked Ricotta Chicken (Printable version)

Juicy chicken breasts smothered in a rich, cheesy ricotta-herb topping and baked until golden.

# What You'll Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Ricotta Mixture

03 - 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
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
08 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
09 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
10 - Zest of 1 lemon
11 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes

→ Finishing

12 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

# Directions:

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. 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 (internal temperature 165°F) and the topping is golden and bubbling.
07 - Let rest for 5 minutes, garnish with extra parsley, and serve hot.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • Its fancy enough for company but comes together in under 15 minutes of prep
  • The ricotta keeps the chicken incredibly juicy even after baking
  • You probably have everything in your fridge right now
02 -
  • The ricotta layer might look a bit pale at first but it will turn golden in the last 5 minutes of baking
  • If your chicken breasts are particularly thick, pound them gently to even thickness so they finish cooking at the same time
03 -
  • Let your ricotta come to room temperature before mixing, it incorporates much more smoothly
  • If the topping is browning too quickly, tent the dish with foil for the last 10 minutes

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