Baked Chicken Marinara
Baked Chicken Marinara features pan-seared chicken breasts nestled in rich marinara and finished in the oven under a blanket of melted mozzarella. It’s hearty and comforting with bright basil to balance the savory sauce and browned cheese, perfect for a weeknight dinner or a casual gathering. Serve with pasta to soak up every drop of saucy goodness.
- Prep5 mins
- Cook35 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Baked Chicken Marinara, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 48 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 16 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 92 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 38
- Heart Health
- 67
- Metabolic
- 32
- Digestive
- 34
- Inflammatory
- 58
- Performance
- 48
- General Wellness
- 1
Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) with the racks set in the upper and lower third positions.
- 2
Season both sides of the chicken evenly with salt and Italian seasoning. Heat oil in a deep, large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
- 3
Pour the marinara sauce evenly over the chicken and sprinkle with mozzarella. Cover with aluminum foil.
- 4
Bake on the lower third rack in the preheated oven until the cheese has melted, the sauce is bubbling around the edges, and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reads 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), 20 to 25 minutes.
- 5
Remove the skillet from the oven and take off the foil. Increase the oven temperature to broil. Once preheated, return the skillet to the upper third rack and broil until the cheese is lightly browned in spots, about 2 minutes.
- 6
Garnish with fresh basil and serve with pasta. Recipe developed by Catherine Jessee.
- Calories 2292.14 kcal High 115%
- Protein 397.1 g Good Source 794%
- Carbohydrate 39.66 g 14%
- Total Fat 61.75 g High 79%
- Saturated Fat 7.98 g High 40%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 1302.3 mg High 434%
- Sodium 4529.71 mg High 197%
- Dietary Fiber 3.73 g Moderate 13%
- Total Sugars 9.05 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 473.23 mg Good Source 36%
- Iron 2.13 mg Moderate 12%
- Potassium 567.18 mg Moderate 12%
- Vitamin A 10.38 mcg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin C 0.53 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin D 0.27 mcg Low Source 1%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Tomatoes 🍅
About This Recipe
Baked Chicken Marinara is made with 8 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 40 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Cooked Penne Pasta, Fresh Basil, Italian Seasoning, and Marinara Sauce. Each serving provides about 2292.14 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Baked Chicken Marinara made of?
- The main ingredients are Cooked Penne Pasta, Fresh Basil, Italian Seasoning, Marinara Sauce, Olive Oil. The full list of 8 is above.
- How long does it take to make Baked Chicken Marinara?
- About 40 mins in total: 5 mins to prepare and 35 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 2292.14 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Baked Chicken Marinara easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 8 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Baked Chicken Marinara healthy?
- Baked Chicken Marinara has an easyChef Pro health score of 51/100. Per serving, it provides 2292.14 calories and 397.1 g of protein, or 794% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of calcium. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 4529.71 mg (197% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 7.98 g (40% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat, Gluten and Tomatoes, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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