Description
This Baked Cheesy Chicken with Mushrooms recipe features tender, thinly sliced chicken breasts seasoned with Italian herbs, seared to golden perfection, then baked with a savory mushroom, onion, and garlic mixture topped with melted mozzarella cheese. It’s a comforting, flavorful dish that comes together in just 30 minutes, perfect for a delicious weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced (pounded to 1/2 inch thickness if needed)
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
Cooking Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, diced small
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the chicken.
- Season Chicken: Season the thinly sliced chicken breasts evenly with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Ensure the chicken is pounded to about 1/2 inch thickness for even cooking.
- Heat Fat: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter and olive oil together to create a flavorful base for searing.
- Sear Chicken: Add the seasoned chicken breasts to the hot skillet and brown them on each side. The chicken will not cook all the way through at this stage; you’re just creating a golden sear. Once browned, transfer the chicken to a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Deglaze Pan: Pour the chicken broth into the hot skillet and scrape the bottom of the pan to release all the browned bits. This adds great flavor to your sauce.
- Cook Vegetables: Add the sliced mushrooms, thinly sliced onion, and diced garlic to the skillet with the chicken broth. Simmer this mixture until the vegetables are tender, infusing the sauce with rich flavors.
- Layer Vegetables: Spoon the cooked mushroom mixture evenly over the seared chicken breasts in the baking dish.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the chicken and mushroom layer.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F for safe eating.
Notes
- For even cooking, pound chicken breasts to uniform 1/2 inch thickness before seasoning.
- Use fresh mushrooms for best texture and flavor.
- Ensure not to overbake to keep chicken juicy and cheese perfectly melted.
- Using a meat thermometer guarantees safety and prevents overcooking.
- You can substitute mozzarella with a different melting cheese like provolone or Swiss.
