Baked chicken with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella is a main course that wins everyone over at the table. The recipe I want to tell you about today features very tender slices of chicken breast that I turned in a few minutes into a main course that conquered my little family. This is the classic “weeknight-saver” that everyone loves: the chicken stays very tender thanks to the moisture of the cherry tomatoes and the gooey mozzarella makes it super indulgent. It’s a colorful dish that immediately cheers up the table and is also loved by the little ones. The baked chicken breast often has the reputation of being dry and a bit boring… but not this time! And with chicken you can’t miss my recipes for Fried Chicken and Chicken alla Puttanesca. Today I’ll show you how to turn a simple slice of meat into a very fragrant Mediterranean-style chicken breast. a delicious crust makes the chicken crispy on the outside and very tender inside. The secret is to coat the chicken in breadcrumbs and fry it briefly in a pan first. It’s the perfect recipe when you have little time but don’t want to give up something really tasty. Let’s run to the kitchen and prepare together the best chicken breast you’ve tasted.
DON’T MISS THESE RECIPES TOO:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Budget-friendly
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Cooking time: 18 Minutes
- Portions: 4People
- Cooking methods: Oven, Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Energy 251.92 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 7.02 (g) of which sugars 3.03 (g)
- Proteins 29.76 (g)
- Fat 11.75 (g) of which saturated 5.87 (g)of which unsaturated 3.36 (g)
- Fibers 0.75 (g)
- Sodium 346.27 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 200 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Baked Chicken
- 1.1 lb chicken breast
- 1 1/3 cups cherry tomatoes
- 7 oz mozzarella
- 1 oz breadcrumbs (about 3 tbsp)
- to taste extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp oregano
- to taste salt
- 1 sprig basil
How to prepare Baked Chicken with cherry tomatoes
To prepare this recipe you need thin slices of chicken breast. If necessary, make them thinner with a meat mallet. Coat the chicken slices in breadcrumbs on all sides.
Cook the breaded chicken slices in a pan with 3-4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. They should brown on both sides.
Transfer the slices to an oiled baking dish. Add small pieces of cherry tomatoes on each slice.
Continue with lots of small cubes of mozzarella. Add a pinch of salt to each slice, the oregano and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Bake the chicken in a hot oven at 374°F in conventional mode (no fan) for 10 minutes. At the end of baking add fresh basil leaves.
See you tomorrow with a new recipe, hugs, Loredana
Loredana’s Tips
The secret to avoid the mozzarella releasing too much liquid in the dish is to cut the mozzarella an hour before and let it drain in a colander. If you’re in a hurry, you can use pizza mozzarella or scamorza.
Add some Taggiasca olives or rinsed capers together with the cherry tomatoes for an even more pronounced flavor.
Don’t miss the recipe for Fried Chicken Bites
Your questions
Can I use large tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes?
Yes, but be sure to cut them into small cubes and remove some of the tomato juices and seeds. Cherry tomatoes (datterini or cherry) are ideal because they are sweeter and release the right amount of sauce.
The mozzarella released too much liquid in the dish, what did I do wrong?
No worries! The mozzarella was probably very fresh. The trick is to cut it into cubes and let it drain in a colander for at least 30 minutes before using. If you want to be safe, use “mozzarella for pizza” in a block: it melts beautifully and doesn’t release liquids.
Can I prepare the baking dish in advance?
Certainly! You can arrange the chicken and cherry tomatoes in the dish a few hours in advance and keep it in the fridge. Remember to add the mozzarella just before baking.
What can I use instead of oregano?
Fresh basil is the queen alternative, but it should only be added raw after baking so it doesn’t darken. If you like a sharper taste, try thyme or marjoram.
