Baked Italian Chicken Thighs

4.8
(104)

These juicy Italian chicken thighs are topped with a flavorful blend of 3 cheeses and your favorite marinara sauce. Serve over pasta or rice or alongside roasted potatoes for a tasty weeknight meal. I like to shred my own cheese, as I find it melts better, but feel free to use pre-shredded to save time.

close up view of Baked Italian Chicken Thighs garnished with fresh herbs in a cast iron skillet
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Prep Time:
5 mins
Cook Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
35 mins
Servings:
4
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

  • ½ cup low-fat ricotta cheese

  • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning

  • teaspoon salt

  • 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • salt to taste

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 ½ cups marinara sauce

  • ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (Optional)

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.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

378 Calories
23g Fat
14g Carbs
28g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 378
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 23g 29%
Saturated Fat 7g 37%
Cholesterol 91mg 30%
Sodium 769mg 33%
Total Carbohydrate 14g 5%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 28g 56%
Vitamin C 5mg 5%
Calcium 257mg 20%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 510mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.