Ingredients
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1 ½ lb chicken breast (3-4), pounded to even thickness, approx. 1 inch
- ½ tsp cracked pepper
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 3 garlic cloves, minced (separated)
Ricotta Mixture
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup fresh chopped spinach
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper
Other
- 1 ½ cups marinara sauce
- Extra Parmesan for topping, about ¼ – ⅓ cup
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to prepare for baking the chicken.
- Prepare Ricotta Mixture: In a bowl, thoroughly mix ricotta cheese, shredded Parmesan, fresh chopped spinach, one minced garlic clove, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper until well combined.
- Season Chicken: Spray the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish with oil. Arrange the pounded chicken breasts evenly in the dish. Season both sides with sea salt, cracked pepper, and two minced garlic cloves.
- Assemble Dish: Evenly spread the ricotta and spinach mixture over the top of each chicken breast. Pour marinara sauce over the chicken, covering it completely.
- Bake Chicken: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the thickest part of the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Thicker breasts may take longer, so monitor carefully.
- Add Parmesan Topping: In the final several minutes of baking, sprinkle the extra shredded Parmesan cheese evenly over the chicken. Return to the oven to allow the cheese to melt and slightly brown.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for about 5 minutes to retain juices before serving. Store any leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator; leftovers develop even better flavor.
Notes
- If chicken breasts vary in thickness, pound thicker pieces to an even thickness to ensure uniform cooking.
- Whole milk ricotta is preferred for creaminess, but any ricotta will work well.
- If you don’t have spinach, you can omit it. The dish will still be delicious but technically won’t be Spinach Ricotta Chicken.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
