Delicious Mediterranean Chicken Breast Recipe

Simply Delicious Mediterranean Chicken Breast Recipe with lots of fresh herbs and mozzarella! It’s a second-helping kind of dish!

Mediterranean Chicken Recipe with Homemade Marinara Sauce, Fresh Herbs, and Mozzarella.

This recipe blends two types of Italian Tomatoes, pureed and crushed. By making your sauce, you can control all the ingredients and increase the nutritional value by adding lots of vegetables. Also, homemade sauce, in my opinion, puts jarred sauce to shame. Your friends and family will be oohing and ahhing over this sauce. This baked cheesy recipe is incredibly versatile and is even better the next day! Also, this is perfect for a Mediterranean Diet with a side salad and several vegetables. You can also learn more about the Mediterranean Diet at Oldways.com. 

Homemade Marinara Sauce – I made a simple marinara sauce with tomatoes, chopped carrots, celery, leeks, garlic, and many fresh herbs. While the tomato sauce was simmering away, I started cooking the chicken.

Leeks – I substituted leeks instead of onions. They add a uniquely delicious flavor.

Flavorful Fresh Herbs – Basil, Rosemary, and Italian Leaf Parsley.

Make Ahead – This is a perfect dish to make once and eat twice! The first night we ate this with pasta—second-night broccoli. It’s also great with rice.

Swoon-Worthy – This marinara sauce is flavorful and will be one of your staple meals. We eat this sauce over pasta, veggies, and homemade turkey meatballs.

 Easy – This is an uncomplicated recipe that takes the pressure off!

Italian food is all about ingredients and it’s not fussy and it’s not fancy – Wolfgang Puck

Always Seek Out the Best Tomatoes

When they are on sale, I stock up! None of these brands below has preservatives or citric acid.

Ingredients for the Mediterranean Chicken Breast Recipe

Chicken Breasts 4 skinless, boneless pounded

Basil – 1/2 cup fresh

Oregano – 1 teaspoon dried

Rosemary – 2 tablespoons fresh chopped

Italian Parsley – 1 cup chopped

Italian crushed tomatoes – 2- 28 oz. can

Pureed tomatoes – 28 oz.

Garlic – 2 cloves minced

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Leeks – 2 medium dice

Carrots – 2 large medium dice

Celery – 3 stalks medium dice

Olive Oil – 2 tablespoons

Pepper and salt to taste

Mozzarella Cheese – Buffalo or regular

How to Make This Easy, Delicious Marinara Sauce

1. In a large pot, saute garlic in two tablespoons of olive oil for one minute.
2. Add carrots, leeks, carrots, and celery and saute for five minutes, stirring often.
3. Add oregano and rosemary.
4. Add all tomatoes and the tomato puree.
5. Lower heat to a low simmer and cook until veggies are tender. Turn the flame off and add chopped fresh basil and parsley.
6. Salt and pepper to taste.

This delicious marinara sauce is fantastic in a variety of Italian Recipes. Serve this over your favorite pasta, and you are good to go!

How to Make Mediterranean Style Chicken Breasts

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly pound the chicken with a wooden mallet to tenderize the chicken so each piece is the same thickness.

Heat 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat.

Season chicken with garlic powder and pepper.

Saute the chicken for 3 minutes on each side until lightly golden. Turn off the heat.

Spoon 2 cups of marinara sauce into a large baking pan.

Lay the chicken in the sauce. Generously pour additional marinara sauce over the chicken.

Lay a basil leaf over each piece of chicken.

Reserve the remaining sauce to use with pasta or at the table.

Place 1-2 slices of Mozzarella over each piece of chicken.

Cover the baking pan with foil and bake in a 350-degree oven for approximately 30 minutes. (Temperature Test Chicken to 165 degrees)

Uncover the pan and keep cooking until the Mozzarella cheese is melted.

Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle the chicken with fresh chopped Basil and Parsley.

Eat and Enjoy!

Mediterranean Diet Chicken Casserole Variations

• Add some Olives to the Marinara Sauce
• Use Onions instead of Leeks in the Sauce
• Sprinkle some grated Parmesan Cheese on top
• Serve this with Eggplant instead of Chicken for a Vegetarian Option

Here are some other Delicious Mediterranean Chicken Recipes for your next Party!

Chicken with Herbs de Provance Recipe

Best Honey Chicken Turmeric Thighs Recipe 

Print