Description
Whipping up this Basil Pesto Tomato Mozzarella Chicken Bake brings Italian-inspired comfort straight to your dinner table. Melted cheese, juicy chicken, and herbal pesto create a simple yet delicious meal your family will devour in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Cheese:
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Supporting Ingredients:
- ½ cup basil pesto
- 2 medium tomatoes, sliced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Prepare your oven by heating it to 400°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with 1 tbsp olive oil.
- Pat the 4 chicken breasts dry and season each side with ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp black pepper.
- Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the greased baking dish, ensuring they do not overlap.
- Generously spread 2 tbsp of basil pesto across the surface of each chicken breast.
- Arrange 2 medium tomato slices carefully on top of the pesto-covered chicken.
- Distribute 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the tomato slices.
- Sprinkle ¼ cup of grated Parmesan cheese across the top if you prefer extra flavor.
- Transfer the baking dish to the preheated oven and cook for 25-30 minutes until your chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove the dish from the oven and let it rest for 3-5 minutes to allow the cheese to set.
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves just before serving to add a bright, aromatic finish.
Notes
- Check chicken thickness to ensure even cooking, and pound breasts to uniform thickness if needed.
- Fresh mozzarella works better than pre-shredded for a creamier, more melted texture on top of the chicken.
- For a low-carb version, replace tomato slices with roasted bell peppers or zucchini rounds.
- Gluten-free and dairy-free alternatives can be made by using dairy-free cheese and checking pesto ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 43 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg