Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut or pounded to thin cutlets)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Sauce
- 4 cloves garlic (pressed)
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes (1 can)
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning (dried)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup fresh basil (chopped)
Topping
- 4 oz buffalo mozzarella (sliced)
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Mix the garlic powder, salt, and pepper together and evenly season both sides of each chicken breast cutlet with the mixture.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, place the chicken breasts in a single layer, cooking in batches if necessary to avoid crowding. Cook 3-4 minutes per side to brown the chicken, then remove from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic and Simmer Sauce: Add pressed garlic to the empty skillet and cook for 30 seconds to release flavor. Pour in crushed tomatoes and sprinkle in Italian seasoning. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally and scraping the pan to loosen browned bits.
- Add Cream and Cheese: Stir in parmesan cheese and heavy cream until fully combined. Then fold in the chopped fresh basil.
- Return Chicken to Sauce: Place the chicken breasts back into the skillet, coating them well with the sauce. Simmer gently for 3-5 minutes until everything is heated through.
- Broil with Mozzarella: Top each chicken breast with a slice of buffalo mozzarella. Place the skillet under the oven broiler for 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese melts and starts to bubble and brown slightly.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with extra fresh basil and serve hot, ideally over pasta or with a side of roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
Notes
- For even cooking, pound chicken breasts to a uniform thickness before seasoning.
- If you don’t have buffalo mozzarella, fresh mozzarella can be used as a substitute.
- Broil with care to avoid burning the cheese; watch closely during the broiling step.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with spaghetti, penne, or sautéed greens.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
