Description
This 30 Minute Mozzarella Chicken in Homemade Tomato Sauce recipe features tender chicken breasts cooked in a flavorful, homemade tomato sauce with Italian seasonings, topped with melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a quick yet comforting dinner served alongside pasta or crusty bread.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 small chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste
Tomato Sauce
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 1 (14-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon sun-dried tomato pesto (homemade)
- ¼ cup water
Toppings and Serving
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese (or 1 cup shredded mozzarella)
- Chopped parsley or basil for garnish
- Pasta or crusty bread for serving
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat with olive oil. Add chicken and cook for 5 minutes per side or until fully cooked through. Remove chicken to a plate. If serving with pasta, start boiling water and cook pasta according to package instructions.
- Make Tomato Sauce: Preheat oven broiler. In the same skillet, add onions to remaining oil. If none remains, add ½ teaspoon oil. Sauté onions for 2-3 minutes until softened; add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Stir in crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, dried basil, and sun-dried tomato pesto. When sauce simmers, add ¼ cup water, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12 minutes or until sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper.
- Assemble and Broil: Nestle chicken breasts into the tomato sauce, spooning sauce over the chicken. Top each breast with a slice of mozzarella cheese. Place skillet under broiler for 1-2 minutes until cheese bubbles and melts.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped parsley or basil ribbons. Serve immediately with cooked pasta or crusty bread and a fresh salad if desired.
Notes
- Sun-dried tomato pesto enhances the sauce flavor, but basil pesto can be substituted.
- Adjust red pepper flakes for heat preference or omit for a milder sauce.
- Use fresh mozzarella slices or shredded mozzarella depending on availability.
- To save time, start pasta water boiling while cooking chicken.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
