Ingredients:

  • 4 (170g) boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • 0.5 tsp cracked black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 cup part skim ricotta cheese
  • 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 0.5 cup low sodium marinara sauce
  • 0.5 cup shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
  • Fresh basil leaves for garnish

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 200°C. Note: A hot oven is key for browning the cheese.
  2. Pat the 4 chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  3. Place the seasoned chicken in a lightly greased baking dish.
  4. In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup ricotta, 0.5 cup Parmesan, the beaten egg, chopped spinach, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning.
  5. Mix until the spinach is evenly distributed through the creamy cheese.
  6. Spread the ricotta mixture generously over the top of each chicken breast.
  7. Top each breast with 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce. Note: This adds acidity to cut through the rich cheese.
  8. Sprinkle 0.5 cup mozzarella over the tops.
  9. Bake for 20 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and golden.
  10. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving with fresh basil.