Description
Spinach Ricotta Chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make baked chicken dish featuring tender chicken breasts topped with a creamy mixture of ricotta, parmesan, fresh spinach, and Italian seasonings, all smothered in marinara sauce and baked to perfection with a golden parmesan crust.
Ingredients
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1 ½ lb chicken breast (3-4 breasts, pounded to even thickness, approx. 1 inch)
- ½ tsp cracked pepper
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 3 garlic cloves, minced (separated)
Ricotta Mixture
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup fresh chopped spinach
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper
Sauce and Topping
- 1 ½ cups marinara sauce
- Extra parmesan cheese for topping (about ¼ - ⅓ cup)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F to prepare for baking the chicken.
- Make the ricotta mixture: In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, chopped spinach, one minced garlic clove, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper. Mix thoroughly until well blended.
- Prepare chicken: Lightly spray the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish or large pan with oil. Arrange the pounded chicken breasts evenly in the baking dish. Season each breast with salt, cracked pepper, and the remaining two minced garlic cloves.
- Add ricotta topping and sauce: Evenly spread the ricotta and spinach mixture over the tops of the chicken breasts. Pour marinara sauce over the chicken ensuring each piece is fully covered.
- Bake the chicken: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the thickest part of the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. For thicker breasts, baking may take longer. In the last few minutes of baking, sprinkle extra shredded parmesan over the chicken and return to the oven to melt and slightly brown the cheese.
- Rest and serve: Once cooked, allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving. This helps lock in the juices and makes slicing easier. Store any leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator; flavors improve after sitting overnight.
Notes
- You can pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness of about 1 inch to ensure even cooking.
- If your chicken breasts are very thick, baking time will need to be extended to reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature to avoid under or overcooking.
- Leftover chicken tastes even better the next day after marinating in the sauce overnight.
- Feel free to substitute marinara sauce with your favorite tomato-based pasta sauce for different flavor variations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
