Description
This delicious Chicken Bake with Garlic Croutons is a flavorful oven-baked dish combining tender chicken breasts, rich passata, cherry tomatoes, and melted mozzarella, topped with crispy garlic-infused croutons and fresh basil. Perfectly paired with a green salad, it offers a satisfying and easy-to-make meal that is beautifully balanced and sure to impress.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 4 skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 200g passata
- 250g cherry tomatoes
- 125g ball reduced-fat mozzarella, drained and sliced
- pinch of dried oregano
- ½ small bunch of basil, leaves picked
Garlic Croutons
- 3 thick slices of sourdough or bloomer bread, cut into 2cm cubes
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
To Serve
- Green salad
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Carefully cut each chicken breast in half horizontally, without cutting all the way through, then open them like a book. Season both sides well with salt and pepper.
- Brown the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in an ovenproof frying pan or shallow casserole dish over medium heat. Fry the chicken breasts for 3 minutes on each side until lightly golden and partially cooked through.
- Add Sauce and Toppings: Spoon the passata evenly over the chicken. Nestle the cherry tomatoes around and on top of the breasts. Lay the sliced mozzarella over the chicken and tomatoes.
- Prepare Garlic Croutons: In a bowl, toss the bread cubes with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, crushed garlic, and dried oregano until well coated.
- Assemble and Bake: Scatter the garlic croutons evenly over the top of the mozzarella and tomatoes. Transfer the pan or dish to the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the chicken is cooked thoroughly (no pink inside).
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven, scatter fresh basil leaves over the top, and serve immediately alongside a fresh green salad.
Notes
- You can substitute mozzarella with regular mozzarella or another melting cheese if preferred.
- To check chicken doneness, ensure internal temperature reaches 75°C (165°F).
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free bread for the croutons.
- Adding a pinch of chili flakes to the passata can add a spicy kick if desired.
- Make sure to use an ovenproof frying pan or transfer chicken to a roasting tin before baking if your pan is not oven safe.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 21 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: chicken bake, garlic croutons, mozzarella chicken, baked chicken recipe, Italian chicken bake, easy chicken dinner, healthy chicken recipe
