Cheesy Baked Chicken With Mushrooms (Print Version)
Juicy chicken topped with sautéed mushrooms and melted cheese for an easy satisfying dinner.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
→ Vegetables
02 - 8 oz cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Dairy
04 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
05 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
→ Liquids
07 - ⅓ cup chicken broth
→ Spices & Herbs
08 - 1 tsp dried thyme (or 1 tbsp fresh)
09 - 1 tsp paprika
10 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Oils
11 - 1 tbsp olive oil
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with olive oil or nonstick cooking spray.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season generously on both sides with salt, black pepper, paprika, and dried thyme, pressing the spices into the meat to adhere.
03 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter with the olive oil. Add sliced mushrooms and sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened and lightly browned. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute until fragrant. Remove from heat.
04 - Arrange seasoned chicken breasts in a single layer in the prepared baking dish. Spread the sautéed mushroom mixture evenly over the chicken pieces. Carefully pour chicken broth around the base of the chicken, not directly over the top.
05 - Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly across the chicken and mushrooms, followed by the grated Parmesan cheese.
06 - Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden brown on top.
07 - Remove from oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. This allows juices to redistribute throughout the meat. Garnish with fresh herbs such as parsley or thyme if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The cheese creates this incredible golden crust that makes it look like you spent way more effort than you actually did
- Mushrooms and chicken were practically made for each other, and the broth keeps everything juicy while it bakes
02 -
- Don't skip the step of sautéing the mushrooms first, raw mushrooms release too much water and make the dish soupy
- Pouring broth around rather than over the chicken ensures the seasoning stays put and the chicken stays flavorful
03 -
- Pat the chicken completely dry before seasoning or the spices won't stick properly
- Let the dish rest for the full 5 minutes before serving, it makes a huge difference in juiciness