Easy Italian Chicken Bake: Cheesy Pesto Chicken for a Delicious Weeknight Dinner
Discover the ultimate weeknight hero: a cheesy, flavorful Italian Chicken Bake featuring succulent chicken, vibrant pesto, juicy tomatoes, and melted mozzarella. With just 5 simple ingredients, this dish promises a delicious, stress-free dinner that’s perfect for any night of the week.
Navigating busy weeks often calls for recipes that are both incredibly easy and undeniably delicious. When schedules get packed, the last thing you want is a complicated meal that demands hours in the kitchen. This is where the magic of easy baked chicken truly shines, and our Italian Chicken Bake stands out as a prime example. Requiring only five core ingredients and minimal prep, it’s a hands-off wonder that goes straight into the oven, allowing you to reclaim your evening.
My love for pesto runs deep; its rich, herbaceous, and garlicky notes infuse dishes with an instant burst of Italian flair. It’s a powerhouse ingredient that elevates simple components into something extraordinary. While I often turn to quick stovetop options like Italian Turkey Cutlets (which work beautifully with chicken too!) on hectic nights, this baked version offers a similar flavor profile with even less effort. It’s the kind of meal that feels gourmet but is achievable on even your most chaotic days.
Mastering Baked Chicken: Temperature and Timing Tips
Baking chicken is a fundamental cooking skill, yet a few key questions often arise regarding temperature and cooking duration to achieve perfectly tender and juicy results every time. Getting it right ensures safety without sacrificing flavor or texture.
What Temperature to Bake Chicken?
For safe consumption, chicken must reach an internal temperature of 165º F (74º C). This guarantees that all harmful bacteria are eliminated, and the chicken is no longer pink inside. However, avoiding overcooking is crucial, as it can quickly lead to dry, unappetizing chicken. This is where a reliable meat thermometer becomes your best friend in the kitchen, offering peace of mind and precision.
I personally prefer to bake chicken at a slightly higher temperature of 400º F (200º C). This elevated heat helps cook the chicken more quickly and efficiently, creating a beautiful golden exterior while locking in moisture. While many recipes suggest 350º F, I find that 400º F prevents the exterior from drying out before the interior is fully cooked, resulting in consistently moister chicken. It’s a small adjustment that makes a significant difference.
How Long to Bake Chicken?
The cooking time for chicken can vary significantly based on the thickness and size of the chicken pieces. Standard boneless, skinless chicken breasts from the grocery store can be surprisingly large, sometimes weighing almost a pound each. To ensure even cooking and faster dinner prep, I recommend slicing larger breasts into 2-3 pieces and gently pounding them to a uniform thickness, usually about 1 inch. At 400º F, these pieces typically cook in about 25-30 minutes.
For thicker cuts, cooking might extend to 40 minutes. Conversely, if you’re using thinner chicken cutlets or tenders, they could be done in as little as 20 minutes. Always use your meat thermometer to verify the internal temperature has reached 165º F in the thickest part of the chicken. Don’t rely solely on visual cues; temperature is the ultimate indicator of doneness.
If you’re truly pressed for time, opting for boneless, skinless chicken tenders is an excellent shortcut. Their smaller, more uniform size allows them to cook much faster, making them ideal for this and many other baked chicken recipes.
The Five Flavorful Ingredients in Italian Chicken Bake
This Italian Chicken Bake truly simplifies dinner without compromising on flavor, thanks to its carefully selected, minimal ingredient list. Each component plays a vital role in creating a harmonious and utterly delicious meal.
- Chicken Breasts: The lean protein foundation of our dish. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are preferred for their ease of preparation and quick cooking time. Their mild flavor perfectly absorbs the rich pesto and tomato notes.
- Pesto: The star flavor contributor. Pesto, typically a vibrant blend of fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil, infuses the chicken with its characteristic aromatic and savory taste. Store-bought pesto works wonderfully for convenience, but feel free to use homemade if you have it!
- Italian Style Diced Tomatoes: These provide a flavorful, saucy base for the chicken to bake in. Italian-style diced tomatoes often include herbs like basil and oregano, adding another layer of classic Italian flavor and contributing moisture to keep the chicken tender.
- Mozzarella Cheese: What’s Italian chicken without gooey, melted cheese? Shredded mozzarella provides that irresistible stretchy, creamy, and slightly salty finish that makes every bite heavenly.
- Fresh Basil: A final flourish of fresh basil, finely chopped, adds a burst of vibrant color and a fresh, peppery aroma just before serving. It brightens the dish and reinforces its Italian character.
The allure of this easy baked chicken lies greatly in its generous topping of melted mozzarella. Who can resist that moment when you lift the first piece, and strands of warm, stretchy cheese follow? It’s a visual and culinary delight! While this recipe features the cheese on top, other favorites like Italian Stuffed Chicken offer a delightful surprise of cheese tucked inside, with a satisfyingly crispy exterior. This baked Italian chicken, however, captures all those beloved Italian flavors – tomatoes, cheese, and basil – beautifully, with the pesto adding a wonderfully herby depth. The chicken cooks gently within the diced tomatoes, which create their own savory, self-saucing liquid, ensuring every piece remains incredibly moist and tender.
Perfect Pairings: What to Serve with Your Italian Chicken Bake
While this Italian Chicken Bake is a complete and satisfying meal on its own, pairing it with complementary side dishes can elevate your dining experience. Here are some fantastic options that beautifully round out the flavors and textures:
- Italian Cheese Pull Apart Bread: Crusty on the outside, soft and cheesy on the inside, this bread is perfect for soaking up the delicious tomato-pesto sauce.
- Sautéed Asparagus: A vibrant and healthy green vegetable that offers a pleasant crispness and light, earthy flavor, balancing the richness of the chicken and cheese.
- Olive Garden Breadsticks: For that classic restaurant feel, warm and garlicky breadsticks are always a hit and an excellent choice for dipping.
- Oven Roasted Potatoes: Simple, savory, and satisfying. Cubed potatoes roasted until golden and tender make a hearty and comforting side that pairs well with almost any meal.
- Simple Green Salad: A fresh salad with a light vinaigrette provides a refreshing contrast and helps cut through the richness of the cheesy chicken.
- Garlic Parmesan Pasta: A light pasta dish tossed with olive oil, garlic, and Parmesan can be a wonderful addition, especially if you want a more substantial meal.
Crafting Your Italian Chicken Bake: Step-by-Step Instructions
Creating this flavorful Italian Chicken Bake is incredibly straightforward, involving just a few simple steps. Here’s how you can assemble this delightful meal with ease:
- Prepare the Dish: Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly spray a 9-inch square baking dish or a similarly sized casserole dish with non-stick spray to prevent sticking and make cleanup a breeze.
- Layer the Base: Pour the entire can of Italian-style diced tomatoes into the prepared baking dish. Spread them evenly across the bottom to create a flavorful, moist bed for the chicken.
- Add and Flavor the Chicken: Gently nestle the chicken breasts into the bed of diced tomatoes. Then, spread about 1 tablespoon of pesto over the top of each piece of chicken. You don’t need a thick layer; just enough to impart that delicious herby flavor.
- Initial Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 25-30 minutes. The goal is to cook the chicken almost entirely through, reaching an internal temperature close to 165°F (74°C).
- Cheesy Finish: Once the chicken is nearly done, remove the dish from the oven. Evenly sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the chicken breasts. Return the dish to the oven for another 5 minutes, or until the cheese is beautifully melted and bubbly. For an extra golden-brown, slightly crispy cheese topping, you can briefly use the broiler for a minute or two, keeping a close eye on it to prevent burning.
- Serve and Garnish: Carefully remove the baked chicken from the oven. Immediately sprinkle with fresh, finely chopped basil for a burst of color and aromatic freshness. Serve hot and enjoy this incredibly easy and delicious Italian chicken bake!
Baked chicken is a household staple, but it certainly doesn’t have to be boring. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal effort, you can transform it into this exciting and flavorful Italian Chicken Bake. If pesto isn’t your preferred flavor profile, perhaps this savory Garlic Tomato Chicken will be more to your liking.
And for those who favor a taste of the Southwest, don’t miss this vibrant Southwest Baked Chicken, offering a delicious, taco-inspired twist that’s equally simple and satisfying!
More Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes to Explore
If you loved the simplicity and flavor of this Italian Chicken Bake, you’ll be thrilled to discover more effortless and delicious chicken recipes that make weeknight cooking a breeze. Chicken is incredibly versatile, and these recipes highlight its potential to be both quick and exciting:
- Margarita Grilled Chicken: A zesty and refreshing twist on grilled chicken, perfect for summer evenings.
- Cafe Rio Chicken: A famously tender and flavorful copycat recipe that’s great for salads, tacos, or burritos.
- Instant Pot Crack Chicken: Creamy, cheesy, and incredibly addictive, made quickly in your Instant Pot.
- Chicken Pot Pie Noodles: All the comforting flavors of chicken pot pie transformed into a delightful noodle dish.
- Crispy Chicken Cordon Bleu: A classic dish with a satisfying crispy coating, featuring ham and cheese.
- Creamy Chicken and Rice: A one-pot wonder that’s comforting, hearty, and incredibly simple to make on the stovetop.
Italian Chicken Bake
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Ingredients
- 1 to 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup pesto
- 1 14 oz can Italian style diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
- 2 Tablespoons fresh basil, finely chopped
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Spray a 9” square baking dish (or casserole dish) with non-stick spray.
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Pour the can of diced tomatoes (undrained) into the pan and spread evenly over the bottom. Nestle chicken breasts into the tomatoes. Spread about 1 tablespoon of pesto evenly over each piece of chicken.
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Bake for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C) when measured with a meat thermometer in the thickest part.
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Remove the dish from the oven. Evenly sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the chicken and return it to the oven for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. For a golden-brown top, you can use the broiler for 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
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Remove from the oven and sprinkle with fresh basil. Serve immediately and store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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