Creamy Ricotta Chicken Bake
Welcome to Part 1 of my Budget Friendly Family Meal Series!
Creamy Ricotta Chicken is the perfect, easy week night meal that the whole family will love!
Author: Leslie Stokes
Budget Friendly Family Meal Series
This series is all about feeding your family on a budget!
I think we can all agree that groceries these days are breaking the budget! Aftering starting a conversation with my online community about the rising cost of food, I knew this series was something I had to do!
Each week I will be sharing a family style meal that fits the budget, along with a “healthy Mom” option because if your family is anything like mine, I’m the only one who likes to eat healthy!
I hope you follow along with this series and please reach out if you have any questions!
Ingredients:
- Chicken Breast –  I buy my chicken in bulk at Sams Club, so it is cheaper- I highlt suggest getting a membership! Read my blog post on budgeting your groceries to get more tips on this!
- Spinach
- ricotta cheese
- parmesan cheese
- italian seasoning
- saltÂ
- pepper
- parsley
- fresh basil (optional)
- Garlic-Â minced and granulatedÂ
- Pasta Sauce-Â I love the Mezzetta Marinara Sauce, it’s a great price, has no added sugar and taste amazing!
- Noodles-Â My family loves Rao’s Homemade Fusilli noodles, but there are cheaper options
- Zoodles (zucchni noodles)/Zucchini- this is totally optional, but I have includeded 2 fresh zucchni into the budget of this meal. You can make your own zoodles or buy them in the frozen section, it’s just a little more costly!
The Budget
Ok let’s break this down!
I did all of my shopping for this a Walmart, except for the chicken breast, I buy that at Sams Club in bulk!
chicken-Â Â $6.33Â
Spinach-Â Â $2.98
Ricotta-Â Â $2.48
Parmesan- $2.33
Sauce-Â Â Â $3.98
Noodles- $2.32Â Â Â ***definetly cheaper options
Zucchini- $1.08Â Â Â ***frozen zoodle option is around $4
 total=   $21.50
***Please Note***
prices will vary, depending on where you shop
- you do have spinach, ricotta and parmesan cheese leftover to use for another meal
- I did buy a more expensive, but better quality noodle. You can buy a cheaper brand
- Zucchini is totally optional, I just like extra veggies!
Let's Make iT!
Not only is this dish delicious, it also doesn’t take much effort or prep! Even if you don’t consider yourself a cook, you can make this dish!
- start by preheating your oven to 400℉
- Slice each chicken breast in half down the middle to create two thinner breast.
- Place the chicken breast in 9×13 in baking dish and season with salt, pepper, parsley and garlic powder.
- In a bowl mix together the ricotta cheese, spinach, parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, pepper and parEvenly spread Ricotta mixture over the chicken breast, pour the pasta sauce over the chicken and cover with tin foil.
- Bake at 400℉ for 30-35 minutes or until the chicken reaches and internal temperature of 165℉
- While the chicken is cooking boil the noodles and cook the zucchini.
- When the chicken is done, top with parmesan cheese and fresh basil if you have any, serve or noodles and enjoy!
This whole meal fed our family of 5 and we had enough for 2-3 leftovers!
I hope you guys make this meal for your family and i’d love to hear your feedback!!
Don’t forget to follow along on social for the rest of this series!
Creamy Ricotta Chicken Bake
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breast- sliced down the middle to creat 6 thinner breast
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/4 tsp italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 24.5 oz jar of your favortie pasta sauce (I love the Mezzeta Marinara)
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese for topping
- fresh basil for topping
- 5 oz of your favortie noodles My family loves Rao's Homemade Fusilli for this recipe!
- ***** Healthy mom option: 1-2 zucchini- either chopped and roasted or my personal favortie- zucchini noodles (you can even buy these in the frozen section at the grocery store)
Ricotta Mixture
- 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 cup chopped spinach
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp parsley
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 egg
Let's Make It
- Preheat the oven to 400℉
- Slice each chicken breast in half down the middle to create two thinner breast.
- Place the chicken breast in 9x13 in baking dish and season with salt, pepper, parsley and garlic powder.
- In a bowl mix together the ricotta cheese, spinach, parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, pepper and parsley.
- Evenly spread Ricotta mixture over the chicken breast, pour the pasta sauce over the chicken and cover with tin foil.
- Bake at 400℉ for 30-35 minutes or until the chicken reaches and internal temperature of 165℉
- While the chicken is cooking boil the noodles and cook the zucchini.I just bought a frozen option for this, but to keep this budget friendly, you can zoodle your own or even just chop 2 zucchini and fry/roast them to serve with your chicken istead of noodles.*** This is a totally optional step, this dish is great over noodles, but I am always trying to eat as many veggies as possible and try to cut back on carbs in the evenings for dinner!
- When the chicken is done, top with parmesan cheese and fresh basil if you have any, serve or noodles and enjoy!
Nutriton Facts
nutrition facts are calculated with noodles, not zucchini and may vary with ingredients used
Servings 8
