Chicken Pizzaiola Recipe

5 from 75 votes

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Chicken pizzaiola consists of tender chicken breast which is simmered in a fragrant tomato sauce and topped with gooey cheese. It's an ideal midweek meal for the family but also impressive enough to serve guests and for special occasions

Prep Time15

Cook Time20

Total Time35

Servings: people

Author: Marcellina

Equipment

1 large skillet with a lid or frying pan

Ingredients

2 large boneless and skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1 pound 5 ounces/600 grams )
4 tablespoons all purpose flour ( for dusting chicken)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic (or two small cloves of garlic)
2 cups tomato puree
1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 basil leaves (or as much as you like)
Salt and pepper (to taste)
7 ounces (200 grams) mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Cut each chicken breast horizontally to make 4 or 5 cutlets in total. Pound lightly with a meat mallet to thin and tenderize. Peel and chop the garlic finely. Thinly slice or chop the mozzarella. Set aside.
Place the flour on a dinner plate and season with a big pinch of salt and a good grinding of black pepper. Coat the chicken breast with flour dusting off excess.
Heat 1/2 of the extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat.
Add the chicken breasts to the heated oil and fry on each side until just a little browned. It’ll be about 2 minutes on each side.
Remove the chicken to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
Reduce the heat and add the remaining extra virgin olive oil and chopped garlic to the same skillet or pan that the chicken was cooked in. Cook until the garlic is becoming lightly golden and fragrant. Don’t let it brown.
Add the tomato puree, oregano, torn basil leaves, salt and pepper. Stir well. If the tomato puree is thick add 1/4 cup water to thin.
Bring the pizzaiola sauce to a simmer. Stir well, scraping the bottom of the skillet to remove any caramelized bits.
Reduce the heat to low and add the chicken breasts to the sauce. Let the sauce cover the chicken. Cover with a lid and simmer gently for 5 minutes.
Remove the lid. Turn the chicken over in the sauce and arrange some sliced or chopped mozzarella over each piece of chicken.
Put the lid back on and continue to simmer gently for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Serve hot.

Notes

Tips for Success

Remove any sinew or other tough membranes from the chicken breast.
Cut the chicken in lengthwise into thin cutlets.
Pound to thin and tenderize but be gentle so as not to tear the meat.
Slice or grate the mozzarella cheese so that it melts easily.
Taste and adjust the seasoning in the pizzaiola sauce to your liking.

Nutrition