Tender Italian Baked Chicken

Baked chicken dinner is never disappointing, especially when it combines Italian flavors. That is why tender Italian baked chicken is one of the most delicious foods everyone enjoys.

The traditional baked chicken is made even better with this easy recipe that will not only prepare an incredible dinner, but also take you to trattoria in Italy. Aromatic flavors from oregano and basil, combined with a tangy sauce and cheesy, tender chicken, make this dish hard to resist.

You can try this recipe and make a dinner that everyone in your family will enjoy.

Health Benefits

The dish is full of protein and iron from the chicken, which is beneficial in preventing anemia, deficiency of iron and other muscular diseases. While vitamin C and other nutrients from the tomato sauce makes the dish an excellent source of minerals essential for a healthy body.

Ingredients

cups all purpose flour (sifted): 1/2 cup

salt: 1/2 tsp

Freshly ground black pepper: 1/4 tsp

boneless and skinless chicken breast halves: 4 (6 ounce each)

olive oil--divided: 3 tbsp

cloves of garlic – minced: 5

chicken broth: 2 cups

tomato puree: 1 cup

dried basil: 1 tsp

Dried oregano: 1 tsp

slices mozzarella cheese: 2

grated parmesan cheese: 4 tbsp

angel hair pasta (hot cooked)

fresh parsley (finely chopped)

How To Make Tender Italian Baked Chicken

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degree F.
2. Grease a 1x7 inch baking dish with butter or extra olive oil and keep aside.
3. In a large zip lock or re-sealable plastic bag, add flour, pepper and salt and give it a shake to mix everything.
4. Pat dry chicken breasts halves with a paper towel and add them to the flour mixture.
5. Shake the bag vigorously to coat each piece evenly.
6. Heat 2 tbsp. olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the flour coated chicken breasts to the skillet and fry them until lightly golden brown on both sides.
7. Transfer chicken to the greased baking dish and set aside.
8. In the same skillet add the remaining 1 tbsp. oil and sauté garlic for 1 minute.
9. Add tomato puree to the skillet and season with oregano and basil, and bring the sauce to a boil.
10. Pour sauce over the chicken in the baking dish, cover the dish with aluminum foil and put it in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
11. Remove the chicken from the dish and reserve the sauce in a separate bowl.
12. Add chicken back to the baking dish, top each piece with one slice of mozzarella and sprinkle parmesan.
13. Bake in the oven, uncovered for 6-8 more minutes or until the cheese is melted.
14. To serve, add angel hair pasta on a platter, top with one chicken breast, pour reserved sauce on top and garnish with parsley.

Trivia

• Did you know that the Egyptians loved chicken so much that 4,000 years ago they built brick incubators that could hold up to 10,000 chicks at one time?

According to the National Chicken Council, more than 100 million pounds of chicken wings are consumed during the Super Bowl weekend each year.