Creamy Baked Ricotta Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken breasts topped with a creamy ricotta, parmesan, and herb mixture, baked until golden and bubbling.

# What You'll Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Ricotta Mixture

03 - 1 cup ricotta cheese, whole milk preferred
04 - 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
05 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
06 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
07 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley plus extra for garnish
08 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil
09 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
10 - Zest of 1 lemon
11 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes optional

→ Finishing

12 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to fit the chicken breasts in a single layer.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Arrange in the prepared baking dish and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
03 - In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, garlic, parsley, basil, onion powder, lemon zest, and chili flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Mix until thoroughly incorporated and smooth.
04 - Spread the ricotta mixture generously over each chicken breast, ensuring the tops are evenly covered.
05 - Drizzle the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over the ricotta topping to promote golden browning.
06 - Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the topping is golden brown and bubbly.
07 - Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional fresh parsley and serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The ricotta topping keeps the chicken incredibly juicy while creating a golden, bubbling crust
  • You can prep everything in 15 minutes and let the oven do the rest of the work
  • It looks elegant enough for company but simple enough for a Tuesday night
02 -
  • Dont skip patting the chicken dry, this step ensures the seasoning sticks and helps the chicken sear rather than steam
  • The ricotta mixture should be thick enough to stay put, if it feels too loose add another tablespoon of Parmesan
  • Lemon zest is essential for brightness, don't try to substitute lemon juice which will make the topping too wet
03 -
  • Room temperature ricotta blends more smoothly into the topping mixture
  • Grate your own Parmesan for the best melting and flavor

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