Creamy Ricotta Chicken Bake
As part of my Budget Firendly Family Meal Series- Creamy Ricotta Chicken Bake is an easy week night meal that the whole family will love!
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!