Serves 4
45 min
Chicken Pizzaiola
Recipe GLPR674a199c2618a5
A delicious Italian-inspired one-pan dinner featuring tender chicken breasts baked in marinara sauce and topped with melted mozzarella and pepperoni, served alongside al dente spaghetti tossed with the savory pan juices. Simple, elegant, and ready in under 45 minutes.
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Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 ounces each)
3 cups marinara or spaghetti sauce
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 ounces sliced pepperoni
8 ounces spaghetti
Salt and black pepper to taste
Directions
Preheat your oven to 450°F. Pour the marinara sauce evenly into a 9x13-inch baking dish, creating a base layer.
Pour the grated Parmesan cheese into a shallow dish or plate. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels, then season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
Coat each seasoned chicken breast thoroughly in the Parmesan cheese, pressing gently so it adheres well to all surfaces.
Carefully arrange the Parmesan-coated chicken breasts on top of the sauce in the baking dish, spacing them evenly.
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the chicken, then distribute the sliced pepperoni on top. Increase the oven temperature to 475°F and bake uncovered for approximately 15-20 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the cheese is fully melted and lightly golden.
While the chicken bakes, bring 4 quarts of water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add the spaghetti and 1 tablespoon of salt, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Cook until the pasta is al dente (tender but still slightly firm), following package directions. Reserve ½ cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
Once the chicken is cooked and the cheese is melted, spoon some of the sauce from the baking dish into the pasta pot and toss gently to combine, adding reserved cooking water a little at a time as needed to reach your desired consistency.
Divide the sauced spaghetti among serving plates, top each portion with a Parmesan-and-mozzarella-topped chicken breast, and spoon additional sauce from the baking dish over the top. Serve immediately while hot.
