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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:
- 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.
- For best results, try to get 3-4 chicken breasts that are similar size so they will cook the same length of time.
- 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 a TON.
How to make this spinach ricotta chicken recipe:
- 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. (steps 1 and 2)
- 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 ½ teaspoon but adjust to your own taste. Spread the ricotta and spinach mixture over the chicken and spread evenly. (steps 3 and 4)
- 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 18-22 minutes. (step 5)
- In the last several minutes of baking, add some freshly shredded parmesan cheese. Allow the chicken to rest for about 5 minutes before serving. (step 6)
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
- 1 c ricotta cheese
- 1 c fresh chopped spinach
- ½ c parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 ½ c marinara sauce
- 3 garlic cloves, minced (separated)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ½ teaspoon cracked pepper
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- extra parmesan for topping
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 9x13 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 18-22* minutes or until the thickest section of the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. (For thicker chicken breasts, this could take about 5 minutes longer if not more.) 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!
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.
Melissa says
Do you cover it with foil when baking?
Lorie says
Hi! I do not!
Molly says
This was super delicious and extremely easy to make. I made it as a Sunday night dinner, but I would most definitely make it as a weeknight dinner! We had a garlic bread as a side, but next time I might do a bed of pasta. My husband, our son and I all loved the flavors. We will definitely make this again!
Lorie says
Yay! This is a family favorite for us, so happy your family could enjoy it as well!
Penny says
Could I use a white sauce? Any recommendations?
Lorie says
Ohh I am sure that you could! Bertolli has a great Alfredo sauce that we like! Should work just fine!
Paula C. says
Delicious!! I made this recipe exactly as written for dinner. The chicken is so moist and the spinach ricotta is really flavorful with just enough zing from the crushed red pepper. We love marinara so I used only 2 chicken breasts (1 pound) but made the full recipe of spinach ricotta and the full measure (1.5 C) of marinara sauce. I had a little more spinach ricotta than needed, but the marinara amount was perfect. We had fettucine on the side. So yummy! Thank you for the recipe. It will be in our rotation for sure!
Lorie says
Yay! Amazing to hear!! And I am a sucker for marinara as well--I get it!
Deirdre says
This recipe is easy and delicious! I served with a side of pasta and enjoyed a hearty comforting meal.
Lorie says
Happy to hear this! Thanks so much for sharing!
Melissa says
Considering making this tomorrow. Do you think it would work with thighs? My partner does not eat white meat.
Lorie says
Hi! Yes, chicken thighs should still work. The cook time will be longer by likely 10-20 minutes depending on the size of the thighs as well as bone in versus boneless. Since it’s dark meat, it’s often recommended cooked to 175 degrees instead of 165. Hope this helps!
Becky says
Really good! My family loved it. Served it over spaghetti.
Lorie says
So happy to hear this Becky! Thanks for sharing!
Suzy Turner says
I made this last night and it was so easy and delicious.
Lorie says
Happy to hear it! We LOVE this recipe!!!
Jean says
Hi can you serve this dish with rice
Lorie says
Hi! You certainly can if that is your preference or what you have on hand!