This cheesy tomato basil chicken is one of my favorite one pot recipes with chicken. It is super simple and works so well for a quick dinner fix. Just imagine the juiciest of chicken cooked in a slow cooked, delicious and cheesy tomato-basil sauce.
This recipe can either be baked or made in a pan. Since a lot of you ask for no-oven meals, this version is a pan one. I have used chicken breast in this recipe and let me tell you with all my confidence that is the softest and juiciest piece of chicken you will ever make. We all know how unforgiving chicken breast pieces can be when overcooked. But when you slow cook them this way with this delicious sauce as the base, it becomes something else altogether, almost magical. Just one of those things I learnt in the kitchen.
Just imagine soft, juicy and unbelievably moist chicken pieces, slathered with a rich yet subtle tomato basil sauce. This with a generous topping of cheese is going to make you wonder how can something so simple be so darn good! This delicious and super simple tomato basil chicken with cheese as per taste is dinner goals. Turns out, slow cooked chicken breast in a lot of sauce makes it melt in the mouth soft. My mouth is watering just at the thought of it.
This cheesy tomato and basil chicken is a simple dish, with a very few ingredients. Something so easy and so delicious at the same time, this one has really been a savior for me on so many nights. It is a regular in my kitchen and I am really proud of this creation. And I am sure you will love it! Just make sure the tomato sauce and basil are fresh. Because that is what makes all the difference. A little bit of extra effort in terms of time, but every bit of it is worth it!
Since the base of this chicken is a tomato one, you will need a lot of tomatoes. I have used almost a kilo of fresh tomatoes here. If you do not want to make the extra effort, you can use canned tomatoes. But I am a believer in everything as fresh as I can make, so I always make mine at home. The tomatoes first are boiled in water and then de-skinned. They are then grinded into a sauce, which is then slow cooked till they turn into a thick, red, tangy sauce. I then add fresh Italian basil leaves to it as we all know tomato and basil is a match made in heaven.
The chicken is cooked prior to adding it to the tomato gravy. This recipe calls for layering the chicken breast pieces with egg wash and bread crumbs and then frying it in the pan till they turn crispy and golden brown from the outside. I prep the chicken by first washing it well and then patting it dry with a kitchen towel. After that it is dipped in egg wash and bread crumbs, after which I put it into the refrigerator for about 30 minutes so that it gets easier to fry.
The fried chicken pieces are added to the tomato base and then we let it slow cook till they come together beautifully. And the best part is grating the cheese on top. So easy, right? I cannot wait for you to try it and tell me how you liked it. Note the recipe below.
| Prep Time | 30 minutes |
| Cook Time | 60 minutes |
| Servings |
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- 950 grams tomatoes
- 100 grams breadcrumbs
- 45 ml extra virgin olive oil for frying the chicken pieces
- 15 ml extra virgin olive oil for the sauce
- 15 grams butter
- 15 grams minced garlic
- 140 grams onions finely chopped
- 4 grams black pepper powder
- 15-20 fresh Italian basil leaves
- 200 grams grated processed cheese
- 500 grams boneless chicken breast
Ingredients
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- Wash and pat dry the chicken breast pieces.
- Put salt in one egg and beat it. Now dip the chicken slice in it, coating it well with egg on all sides. Next, dip the chicken in bread crumbs so that it is layered well with it. Refrigerate these chicken pieces for 30 minutes before frying them.
- Heat oil in a pot and boil the fresh tomatoes for around 15 minutes. Once you see the skin tear off, take the tomatoes out of the pot and place them in ice cold water.
- Remove the skin from the tomatoes with your hands. Gather all the skinless tomatoes in a bowl and grind them to a sauce. Set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a pan. Once hot, fry the chicken pieces till they turn crispy and brown from both sides. Fry for about two minutes on each side and then set aside.
- Clean the pan and then heat extra virgin olive oil. Add the minced garlic and saute on medium heat for a few seconds. Do not burn.
- Next, add the onions and saute till they turn translucent and golden brown.
- Once the onions are cooked, add the fresh tomato sauce and mix well. Keep stirring till the sauce thickens up. This will take about ten minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper. Add some fresh basil leaves to the sauce and stir.
- Add the fried chicken pieces to the tomato gravy. Now cover and let it cook in low heat for atleast 30 minutes.
- Check if the chicken is done in 30 minutes and garnish with grated cheese. Cover for two more minutes.
- Garnish with some more fresh Italian basil leaves. Serve hot.
