This Italian Style Mozzarella Chicken is a true weeknight wonder – a bubbling skillet of tender chicken nestled in rich tomato sauce, topped with golden, melted mozzarella. The flavors of Italy come alive in this 30-minute marvel that pairs perfectly with linguine. It’s the kind of meal that makes your kitchen smell like an Italian grandmother’s home, without requiring her decades of cooking experience!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Restaurant-Quality at Home: This dish delivers the kind of flavor you’d expect from your favorite Italian restaurant, but you can make it in your pajamas.
One-Skillet Wonder: Everything comes together in a single pan (except the pasta), meaning less cleanup and more time to enjoy your evening.
Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Kids love it for the gooey cheese, adults appreciate the complex flavors, and everyone’s impressed by how professional it looks.
Comfort Food Upgrade: This isn’t just another chicken dinner – it’s chicken transformed into a crave-worthy meal that feels special enough for company but easy enough for Monday night.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Chicken breasts: The star protein that gets tender in the sauce. Cutting them into thin cutlets ensures quick, even cooking and maximum flavor absorption.
Olive oil: The Mediterranean kitchen’s best friend. It adds richness and helps create those beautiful brown bits when searing the chicken.
Onion: Creates the aromatic foundation of our sauce. The finer you dice it, the more it will melt into the final sauce.
Garlic: Absolutely non-negotiable in Italian cooking! It infuses the sauce with depth and warmth.
Diced tomatoes: The base of our sauce. Canned tomatoes actually work better than fresh here, as they provide consistent flavor and texture.
Water: Helps deglaze the pan, capturing all those wonderful browned bits from cooking the chicken.
Basil pesto: A brilliant shortcut that adds complex herb flavor, nutty depth, and a touch of richness all in one spoonful.
Italian seasoning: This herb blend brings authentic Italian flavor without requiring a dozen different herb jars.
Salt & pepper: The fundamental seasoning duo that brings all other flavors into focus.
Mozzarella cheese: Creates that irresistible golden, bubbly top that makes everyone excited when the skillet hits the table.
Linguine pasta: The perfect vehicle for soaking up that incredible sauce. Its flat, slightly wider shape holds the sauce beautifully.

Variations

Protein Swaps

Try using boneless chicken thighs for richer flavor, or go meatless with thick slices of eggplant or portobello mushrooms.

Cheese Adventures

While mozzarella is classic, try mixing in some provolone for sharper flavor, or adding a dusting of parmesan under the mozzarella layer.

Veggie Boosts

Add sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach to the sauce for extra nutrition and flavor complexity.

Pasta Alternatives

Serve over zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, or polenta instead of linguine for a lower-carb option or just to change things up.

How to Make Italian Style Mozzarella Chicken

Step 1: Prep and Cook the Chicken

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken cutlets with salt and pepper, then cook until beautifully browned and cooked through, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove chicken to a plate and keep warm.

Step 2: Create the Flavor Base

Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the same skillet. Add diced onions and cook until softened and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.

Step 3: Build the Sauce

Pour water into the skillet and use a wooden spoon to scrape up all those delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add diced tomatoes, basil pesto, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir until everything is well combined.

Step 4: Simmer and Develop Flavor

Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low. Allow it to cook for about 10 minutes, giving the flavors time to meld. This is the perfect time to cook your linguine according to package directions.

Step 5: Bring It All Together

Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings if needed. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, nestling the pieces into the sauce. Make sure they’re partially submerged so they can soak up the flavors.

Step 6: Cheese and Broil

Top everything with a generous layer of shredded mozzarella. Place the skillet under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and spotted with appetizing golden-brown patches.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

Serve the chicken and sauce over cooked linguine, making sure to scoop up plenty of that delicious sauce for each portion.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

Chicken Thickness Matters: If your chicken breasts are thick, butterfly them or pound them to even thickness for quicker, more even cooking.
Don’t Rush the Sauce: Those 10 minutes of simmering might seem skippable when you’re hungry, but they make a world of difference in developing flavor.
Broiler Watch: Keep a close eye on the cheese under the broiler – it can go from perfect to burnt in a matter of seconds.
Pasta Timing: Start your pasta water before you begin the sauce, so everything finishes at roughly the same time.
Reserve Some Pasta Water: Before draining your linguine, save a cup of the starchy cooking water – it’s perfect for thinning the sauce if needed.

How to Serve

Perfect Pairings

Serve this dish with a simple green salad dressed with lemon and olive oil, or some garlic bread to soak up every last bit of sauce.

Wine Suggestion

A medium-bodied Italian red like Chianti or Montepulciano d’Abruzzo complements this dish beautifully.

Presentation Tips

Bring the whole skillet to the table for a rustic, family-style presentation that always impresses. Garnish with fresh basil leaves or a light sprinkle of red pepper flakes for color and flavor.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store the chicken and sauce separately from the pasta in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors actually develop nicely overnight!

Freezing

The chicken and sauce freeze well for up to 3 months. Freeze in a freezer-safe container, but prepare fresh pasta when you’re ready to serve.

Reheating

For best results, thaw frozen sauce overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat the sauce in a skillet over medium-low heat until bubbling, then add the chicken to warm through. Fresh pasta is best, but leftover pasta can be refreshed with a quick dip in boiling water.

FAQs

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work beautifully in this recipe and often stay more tender. They might need an extra minute or two of cooking time, but follow the same process – cook until no longer pink in the center.

I don’t have an oven-proof skillet. Can I still make this?
No problem! Complete all the stovetop steps in your regular skillet, then transfer everything to a baking dish before adding the cheese and broiling. If you don’t have a broiler, simply cover the dish and let the residual heat melt the cheese.

Can I prepare components of this dish ahead of time?
Yes! The tomato sauce can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator. You can also cook and slice the chicken in advance. When ready to serve, warm the sauce, add the chicken, top with cheese and broil.

Is there a good substitute for basil pesto?
If you don’t have pesto, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil plus 2 tablespoons of fresh chopped basil (or 2 teaspoons dried). A teaspoon of minced garlic and a tablespoon of grated parmesan will help approximate pesto’s flavor profile.

Final Thoughts

This Italian Style Mozzarella Chicken brings restaurant-quality flavor to your dinner table with surprisingly little effort. The combination of tangy tomato sauce, aromatic herbs, tender chicken, and that irresistible blanket of melted mozzarella creates a meal that feels like a warm hug at the end of a long day. Whether you’re cooking for family or impressing friends, this dish delivers big on flavor while keeping your stress levels low – and isn’t that the perfect recipe?

Italian Style Mozzarella Chicken Recipe