Baked Italian Chicken Thighs
Description
These Italian chicken thighs are baked with ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, and marinara sauce for a tasty weeknight meal perfect served with pasta.
Ingredients
•
1/2 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
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1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
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1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
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1/8 teaspoon salt
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1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs
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1 teaspoon garlic powder
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salt to taste
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
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3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
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2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Directions
1
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2
Combine ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and salt in a small bowl; set aside.
3
Season chicken thighs on both sides with garlic powder and salt.
4
Heat olive oil in an oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken thighs, smooth-side down, in hot oil until the bottoms are browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip thighs over and remove the skillet from heat. Top each thigh with an equal amount of ricotta cheese mixture. Spoon marinara sauce on top and around chicken thighs.
5
Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the centers of thighs should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
6
Top each thigh with mozzarella cheese and continue baking until cheese is melted, 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with parsley to serve.