Chicken marinara is an easy dinner recipe that everyone will love--even your picky kids! Pairing juicy, cheesy chicken with a delicious homemade marinara sauce is guaranteed to please!
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepperto taste
¾cupfreshly shredded mozzarella cheeseor more to taste
basil ribbonsto garnish
For the Marinara Sauce:
2tablespoonsolive oil
4clovesgarlicminced
28ouncespeeled whole tomatoes(1 large can)
1teaspoondried oregano
½teaspoonkosher salt
3sprigsfresh basil
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Pat the chicken dry and rub both sides with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, plus Italian seasoning, salt and, pepper.
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add in the chicken and cook until both sides are golden, about 4 minutes per side. Set aside on a plate.
To the same skillet, add in 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add in the tomatoes, oregano and salt. Simmer, mashing the tomatoes with the back of a spoon. Add in the basil sprigs, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove the basil and add the chicken back to the sauce, spooning some of the sauce over each breast. Top with mozzarella and bake until the cheese is melted and the chicken reads 165°F, about 7-10 minutes.
¾ cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, basil ribbons
Video
Notes
Instead of making your own marinara sauce, use 3 ½ cups of your favorite jarred marinara sauce.
Make sure to pat the chicken dry before coating them in olive oil and seasonings so that they stick.
Storage: Store chicken marinara in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.