Description
A flavorful and wholesome Chicken Bake with garlic croutons, featuring tender chicken breasts cooked in a rich tomato sauce, topped with melted mozzarella and crispy garlic-seasoned croutons. This hearty baked dish is complemented by fresh basil and served with a refreshing green salad, perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 4 skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 200g passata
- 250g cherry tomatoes
- 125g ball reduced-fat mozzarella, drained and sliced
Garlic Croutons
- 3 thick slices of sourdough or bloomer bread, cut into 2cm cubes
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- pinch of dried oregano
Garnish and Serving
- ½ small bunch of basil, leaves picked
- green salad, to serve
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan)/gas mark 6. Cut each chicken breast in half horizontally without cutting all the way through and open them out like a book. Season the chicken breasts well with salt and pepper.
- Brown the Chicken: Heat half of the olive oil in an ovenproof frying pan or shallow casserole over medium heat. Fry the chicken breasts for 3 minutes on each side until they are lightly golden brown.
- Add Sauce and Tomatoes: Spoon the passata evenly over the browned chicken breasts. Nestle the cherry tomatoes in and around the chicken in the pan.
- Add Mozzarella: Lay the sliced reduced-fat mozzarella on top of the chicken and tomatoes to cover.
- Prepare Garlic Croutons: Place the bread cubes in a bowl. Add the remaining olive oil, crushed garlic, and a pinch of dried oregano. Toss everything together well until the bread cubes are evenly coated.
- Assemble and Bake: Scatter the garlic and oregano-coated bread cubes over the mozzarella and tomato layer. Transfer the pan (or the contents if using a frying pan moved to a roasting tin) to the preheated oven.
- Bake to Finish: Bake for 15 minutes until the mozzarella is melted, the chicken is cooked through, and the croutons are golden and crispy.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven. Scatter fresh basil leaves over the baked chicken dish and serve immediately with a fresh green salad.
Notes
- You can use any firm white bread for the croutons if sourdough or bloomer is unavailable.
- Ensure the chicken is cooked through by checking the internal temperature reaches 75°C (165°F).
- For a stronger garlic flavour, you can rub the crushed garlic directly onto the chicken before frying.
- This dish can be made ahead up to the point before baking and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
- Serve with a simple green salad dressed with lemon juice or balsamic vinegar for added freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 21 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: chicken bake, garlic croutons, baked chicken, mozzarella chicken, easy dinner, Italian chicken recipe
