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This Spinach Ricotta Chicken is so simple to whip up but tastes like a fancy gourmet meal! Rich and creamy ricotta, parmesan, spinach and a few other simple ingredients come together in this delicious chicken recipe to keep you from making the same old chicken all the time! Ready in 30 minutes too!
I get in major chicken ruts. Its basically BBQ chicken half of the time and shredded chicken tacos the rest.
Trying to be better and say no to the same old boring chicken. And this Simple Baked Spinach Ricotta Chicken is where I am starting!
Any recipe I add ricotta to gets absolutely zero argument from my husband so I already know it is a win. And while ricotta and pasta go together like peanut butter and jelly, it’s nice to use the rich, creamy cheese in something else every now and then.
Originally I was going to get super fancy and make it a stuffed chicken since I love my Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken with Tomato and Basil but when it comes to cooking, adding another step to the game is a turnoff.
This chicken ricotta is a breeze because all you have to do is spread the ricotta mixture and bake. Busy weeknights are a less is more in the kitchen kind of thing. But that doesn’t mean you have to forfeit a tasty meal. Have a delicious and simple meal!
What you will need:
- chicken: For best results, try to get 3-4 chicken breasts that are similar size so they will cook the same length of time. Boneless skinless chicken breasts are ideal for this recipe.
- spinach: I prefer fresh baby spinach in this ricotta chicken, but you can use frozen. If you opt for frozen, thaw the spinach and wring out any excess water for best results.
- ricotta cheese: we use whole milk ricotta and enjoy that variation the most. However, you can use a lower fat ricotta cheese and still have great results.
- parmesan: freshly shredded will have the most success as it melts into the recipe much better. Pre-grated or shredded cheese is coated in cellulose that can make it tougher to melt. But if that is all you have, don’t sweat it, it will still be tasty!
- garlic: freshly minced for best results. Garlic powder can be substituted if necessary. Start with about 1/2 teaspoon and adjust as desired.
- seasoning: a combination of Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper. You can easily make your own Italian seasoning with dried basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and parsley–just combine equal parts of each and you are set.
- marinara: We love to try new marinara sauces all the time. Using a different marinara can vary this chicken a lot. I love Newman’s Own Sockarooni and Rao’s Marinara.
Step-By-Step Instructions:
- Combine the ricotta, parmesan, spinach, red pepper, one garlic clove and Italian seasoning in a bowl and stir well. Check your Italian seasoning. If it includes garlic powder, you may want to adjust the garlic in this step.
- Line the chicken breasts in a baking pan lightly sprayed with oil. Evenly spread garlic cloves, salt and pepper on the chicken. Salt the meat to your liking. I typically use about 1/2 tsp but adjust to your own taste. Spread the ricotta and spinach mixture over the chicken and spread evenly.
- Cover the spinach ricotta chicken with marinara and bake. Baking time will vary based on the thickness of your chicken. Make sure your chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Cook time will be about 20-25 minutes but may vary. This can vary based on the thickness of your chicken breasts. Thick breasts, over an inch and a half can take much longer.
- In the last several minutes of baking, add some freshly shredded parmesan cheese. Allow the chicken to rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
Recipe Notes:
- If there are major differences in the thickness of the chicken breasts, you can pound the thicker pieces down slightly.
- Any kind of ricotta should work for this recipe. I prefer whole milk ricotta.
- No spinach? No problem! While it won’t technically be “Spinach Ricotta Chicken” anymore, it will still be amazing. I have made this without spinach when I have pulled out some not so fresh spinach from the fridge and no one seemed to complain that evening.
What to serve with this Spinach Ricotta Chicken:
- If you have the oven space, these Roasted Parmesan Green Beans are a fan fave!
- This simple Everyday Italian Salad would be great.
- This may not be the kind of meal you serve with pasta salad, but I LOVE this Tomato Basil Rotini Pasta Salad with any and all chicken dishes.
- Another great salad recipe you may enjoy with this Spinach Ricotta Baked chicken is this Caprese Farro Salad Recipe
- And there is NEVER anything wrong with good old pasta with the chicken!
Check out these other chicken recipes:
- Strawberry Poppy Seed Rotisserie Chicken Salad
- Baked Breaded Chicken Tenders
- Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken with Tomato and Basil
- Honey Lime Baked Chicken Fajitas
- Baked Orange Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner
- Baked Orange Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner
- Simple Chicken and Biscuit Skillet
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Spinach Ricotta Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb chicken breast
- ½ tsp cracked pepper
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 3 garlic cloves, minced (separated)
- 1 c ricotta cheese
- 1 c fresh chopped spinach
- ½ c parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper
- 1 ½ c marinara sauce
- extra parmesan for topping, about 1/4 – 1/3 cup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- In a bowl, mix together the ricotta, parmesan, spinach, one garlic clove, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper until fully combined.
- Spray the bottom of a 9×13 pan, or large baking dish with oil. Line the chicken breasts in the pan and evenly season with salt, pepper and 2 of the garlic cloves. Spread the ricotta and spinach mixture over the top of the chicken breasts evenly. Cover the chicken completely with the marinara.
- Bake for about 20-25* minutes or until the thickest section of the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. (For thicker chicken breasts, this could take much longer.) In the last several minutes, add shredded parmesan on top of the chicken and continue baking to melt. If the chicken is thick, it may take longer. Just keep an eye on it.
- Allow chicken to rest about 5 minutes before serving. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Leftovers of this chicken are even better!
Video
Notes
- If there are major differences in the thickness of the chicken breasts, you can pound the thicker pieces down slightly.
- Any kind of ricotta should work for this recipe. I prefer whole milk ricotta.
- No spinach? No problem! While it won’t technically be “Spinach Ricotta Chicken” anymore, it will still be amazing. I have made this without spinach when I have pulled out some not so fresh spinach from the fridge and no one seemed to complain that evening.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Has anyone tried this with Truff spicy marinara?
Could I use chicken tenders?
If so. How long would I bake it at?
Hi! Chicken tenderloins should work as well. The cook time will be less. Likely 15-20 minutes, but check them at 12 minutes and then every 2-3 minutes thereafter to make sure you don’t overcook them.
Do you think this recipe would be fine with cheddar cheese? I have less Parmesan than I thought!
Hi! You can probably just keep the amount of Parmesan you have and just add that. Even use a touch more ricotta if you’d like. I’d skip cheddar though. If you have mozzarella that would work! Hope that helps!
Do you bake this dish covered with foil or uncovered? I always bake my chicken covered.
Hi! I do not cover it. You could cook it covered but just allow for extra time to cook! Hope you enjoy!
This recipe was easy to follow and tasted great! This is a keeper!
That’s what I love to hear! Thanks so much!!
I buterfly cut breasts and stuffed with ricotta and spinach. I held together with toothpick. Cooking time was about an hour. It was delicious.
Delicious and easy. Actual bake time was 60 minutes, thus the reason for the 4 star rating – it just isn’t a 30 minute dinner. I will make this again and just factor in the longer bake time because it’s a great recipe. Important to use the meat thermometer as suggested!
Yes–chicken thickness can very much shift the cook time.
This was delicious and so easy to make. My husband and I
Will make
It again for
Sure
So happy to hear this!! One of our favorites!
Delicious. Took a little longer to bake but turned out great. It’s a great low carb dinner.
Time can certainly vary but glad you still loved it!!