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    Home » Chicken & Poultry

    Baked Ricotta Chicken

    Published: Apr 30, 2023 / Updated: Jun 1, 2023 / 10 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe

    This simple baked ricotta chicken recipe is an ultra comforting, cheesy meal after a busy day! Your oven does all the work in this easy chicken dinner with minimal prep.

    Got some ricotta to use up? Try my Easy Skillet Lasagna or Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells next.

    closeup of baked ricotta chicken with basil

    Why you'll love it

    If you're one of those people that enjoys recipes with a lot of sauce, I think you'll find a new favorite in this easy ricotta chicken bake. We're sauce people over here at S&L, and there's more than enough for a generous amount to drizzle over potatoes, rice, or veggies.

    Mozzarella, ricotta, and parmesan make this baked chicken recipe extra special. It's pretty much guaranteed to be a hit for busy families that happen to have a finicky eater. I mean, who can resist tender chicken with three kinds of cheese and marinara sauce? Comfort food bliss!

    What you'll need

    • Chicken - we're slicing chicken breasts in half lengthwise so it cooks faster, more evenly, and doesn't overcook. The cutlets are seasoned with salt & pepper to bring out the flavors.
    • Ricotta - whole milk ricotta gives the creamiest result
    • Parmesan - our second delicious cheese. Definitely grate your own.
    • Garlic - we're pretty generous, but garlic is measured with your heart
    • Italian seasoning - it's a tantalizing blend of aromatic herbs that has a burst of flavor. Conveniently, it comes all in one jar!
    • Marinara sauce - use your favorite brand. I like Mezzetta or Rao's.
    • Mozzarella - since it's such a good melting cheese, it's ideal to top off this chicken bake
    ingredients for baked ricotta chicken in measuring cups

    Tools for this recipe

    Check out Natasha's favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!

    • I use a 9x13 casserole dish for this chicken bake and others.
    • Use a large glass mixing bowl to comfortably make the ricotta mixture.
    • A chef's knife makes it easy peasy to cut the chicken effortlessly.
    • This Microplane zester is perfect for the parm.
    • An instant read thermometer ensures your chicken is cooked to 165F.

    How to make baked ricotta chicken

    This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

    mixing ricotta in a bowl and adding marinara sauce to a casserole dish

    Cut the chicken in half to make the four smaller cutlets, and generously season with salt & pepper. In a bowl, add the ricotta, parm, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Mix together. Meanwhile, evenly spread half the marinara in a baking dish.

    adding ricotta and marinara sauce to chicken in a baking dish

    Add the chicken to the baking dish, and spread the ricotta mixture over top each piece. Spoon the remainder of the marinara sauce over the chicken. Cover tightly with foil, and then bake for 20 minutes.

    ricotta chicken bake in a casserole dish before and after cooking

    Remove the foil, top with the mozzarella, and bake uncovered until the chicken is cooked through. Broil for a minute or two if you want. Let it rest for a few minutes, and garnish with fresh basil if desired.

    Helpful tips

    • I would definitely recommend using whole milk ricotta if possible. It's way creamier and not grainy/crumbly like other varieties can be.
    • As chicken breasts can vary a lot in size, to ensure chicken isn't overcooked or undercooked, use a meat thermometer.
    • Grate your own parmesan for best meltability and flavor. It makes a big difference!

    Substitutions and variations

    • Try adding a cup or two of chopped spinach to the ricotta mixture to get your greens in.
    • If you want a little heat, add some crushed red pepper flakes on top of the marinara sauce or into the ricotta mixture.
    • This baked chicken recipe is meant to be fast, but if you're in the mood for making my Homemade Marinara Sauce, go for it!

    What to serve with this chicken bake

    • To balance everything out, try a salad with my homemade Olive Garden Salad Dressing. Easy, quick, and you know all the ingredients going into it.
    • This makes a lot of sauce! It's great with plain pasta or my Buttered Noodles, Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes, your favorite kind of rice, or steamed green beans or broccolini.

    Leftovers and storage

    • Store leftovers of this chicken bake for 3-4 days in an airtight container.
    • Reheat slowly over a low heat in a saucepan for best results so it doesn't dry out.
    • I don't recommend freezing cheesy and creamy recipes like this one.

    More simple chicken recipes

    • Cheddar Broccoli Chicken Bake
    • Easy Baked Honey Mustard Chicken
    • Chicken Alfredo Ravioli Bake
    • Buffalo Chicken Casserole
    • Cheesy Mozzarella Chicken Bake
    a plate with baked ricotta chicken, green beans, and penne

    If you made this cheesy chicken bake recipe, please leave a star rating and review! You can also tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram. Questions the post didn't answer? Talk to me below.

    closeup of baked ricotta chicken with basil

    Baked Ricotta Chicken

    This simple baked ricotta chicken recipe is an ultra comforting, cheesy meal after a busy day! Your oven does all the work in this easy chicken dinner with minimal prep.
    4.50 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 40 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 542 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 large chicken breasts cut in half lengthwise
    • Salt & pepper to taste
    • 1 cup ricotta cheese whole milk preferred
    • 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • 2 cups marinara sauce
    • 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
    • Fresh basil optional, for serving

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat your oven to 375F and move the rack to the top third of the oven.
    • Cut the chicken in half lengthwise to make four thinner cutlets, then season the chicken with salt & pepper.
    • To a medium bowl, add the ricotta, parmesan, garlic, and Italian seasoning, and mix together.
    • Pour half of the marinara sauce into a 9x13 casserole dish, and then spread it out evenly.
    • Arrange the chicken side-by-side in the casserole dish, and spread the ricotta mixture on top of each piece of chicken.
    • Spoon the rest of the marinara sauce over each piece of chicken.
    • Tightly cover the casserole dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
    • Take the casserole dish out of the oven, and remove the foil. Sprinkle the mozzarella on top of the chicken, and return it to the oven, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through (165F).
    • If desired, broil for a couple of minutes to brown the cheese (watch it doesn't burn).
    • Let the chicken rest for a few minutes prior to serving. Season with extra salt & pepper if needed, and top with fresh basil if using.

    Notes

    • This recipe makes a lot of sauce. It's great over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.
    • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 542kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 52gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 170mgSodium: 1552mgPotassium: 947mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1437IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 662mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword baked ricotta chicken, ricotta chicken bake
    Author Natasha Bull
    « Turkey Sweet Potato Chili
    Easy Asparagus Soup »

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    1. Teighlor says

      September 14, 2023 at 4:46 PM

      3 stars
      I had to adjust my temp because after following the temp and cook time my chicken was still raw

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 15, 2023 at 10:22 AM

        Did you cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise? Was the foil sealed very tightly? If your chicken breasts were especially large, it's expected to have to add a little more time onto the recipe.

        Reply
    2. Terri says

      July 28, 2023 at 8:19 AM

      5 stars
      Made this for the first time last night, and one of my boys who is going to college in 3 weeks asked if we can add it to the list of recipes he learns before he goes. I have been collecting easy recipes that he can make with few ingredients and not much equipment, and this one is perfect. So easy, so fast, so little mess-perfect to put together after work. I served it with buttered pasta on the side to soak up the extra sauce.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 28, 2023 at 9:24 AM

        Aww that makes me so happy!! Thanks for coming back and writing me a review!

        Reply
    3. JOHN says

      May 9, 2023 at 7:10 PM

      5 stars
      NOT CHEESY ENOUGH!!!!!

      Reply
    4. Ashley says

      May 6, 2023 at 4:38 PM

      Hi!

      What temperature do you recommend cooking this at? Thank you!

      Reply
      • Ashley says

        May 6, 2023 at 4:40 PM

        Oh my gosh - never mind! I just saw the comment below 🙂

        Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 6, 2023 at 5:49 PM

        Hi! 375F - I updated the recipe card a couple of days ago, so it should be displaying now.

        Reply
      • JOHN says

        May 9, 2023 at 7:12 PM

        AT 375 DEGREES

        Reply

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