Spinach Ricotta Chicken Bake Recipe
This Spinach Ricotta Chicken recipe features tender chicken breasts baked under a creamy ricotta and spinach mixture, topped with marinara sauce and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. It’s a comforting, Italian-inspired dish that’s simple to prepare and perfect for a family dinner or meal prep.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 3-4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 ½ lb chicken breast (3–4 breasts), pounded to even thickness (approx. 1 inch)
- ½ tsp cracked pepper
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 2 garlic cloves, minced (for seasoning chicken)
Ricotta Filling
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup fresh chopped spinach
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 garlic clove, minced (for filling)
Other
- 1 ½ cups marinara sauce
- About ¼–⅓ cup extra parmesan cheese for topping
- Cooking spray or oil for greasing the pan
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to get it hot and ready for baking.
- Prepare Ricotta Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, shredded parmesan, chopped spinach, one minced garlic clove, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir well until the mixture is fully blended.
- Season Chicken: Lightly spray or oil the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Place the pounded chicken breasts evenly in the dish. Season them with sea salt, cracked pepper, and the remaining two minced garlic cloves, distributing the garlic over the chicken.
- Top with Ricotta Mixture and Sauce: Spread the prepared ricotta and spinach blend evenly over each chicken breast, fully covering them. Next, pour the marinara sauce over the chicken breasts, covering the ricotta mixture.
- Bake the Chicken: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). For thicker chicken breasts, baking time may be longer. Towards the final few minutes of baking, sprinkle extra shredded parmesan cheese over the chicken and return to the oven just long enough to melt the cheese.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving, allowing juices to redistribute and flavors to set.
- Store Leftovers: Place any leftovers in a tightly sealed container and refrigerate. The flavors intensify after resting, making leftovers even more delicious.
Notes
- Pounding the chicken breasts to an even thickness ensures they cook uniformly.
- If chicken breasts are thicker than 1 inch, increase baking time and verify doneness with a meat thermometer.
- You can substitute fresh spinach with frozen spinach that’s been well-drained if fresh is not available.
- For a spicier version, increase crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
- Leftovers reheat well in the microwave or oven and develop even richer flavors.
Keywords: Spinach Ricotta Chicken, baked chicken breast, Italian chicken recipe, healthy chicken dinner, ricotta cheese chicken, spinach chicken bake
Find it online: https://miarosetti.com/spinach-ricotta-chicken-bake-recipe/
