Go Back

Ground Chicken Mozzarella Bake - Comforting, Cheesy, and Easy

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1.25–1.5 pounds ground chicken (dark meat preferred for juiciness)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3–4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced (optional, for sweetness and color)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil (or 1 tablespoon fresh, chopped)
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes or tomato passata
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth or water (as needed)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar or a splash of balsamic vinegar (to balance acidity)
  • 8 ounces low-moisture mozzarella, shredded (about 2 cups, loosely packed)
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • Fresh basil or parsley, chopped, for garnish
  • Optional add-ins: 2 cups baby spinach, 8 ounces sliced mushrooms, or 1 small zucchini diced

Method
 

  1. Preheat and prep: Set your oven to 425°F (220°C). If your skillet isn’t oven-safe, have a 9x13-inch baking dish ready.
  2. Sauté aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add onion (and bell pepper, if using). Cook 4–5 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds, until fragrant.
  3. Brown the chicken: Add ground chicken, salt, and black pepper. Break it up with a spoon and cook 5–7 minutes until no longer pink. Don’t worry about deep browning; just cook it through and keep it crumbly.
  4. Season and build flavor: Sprinkle in oregano, dried basil, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute to caramelize slightly.
  5. Add tomatoes and simmer: Pour in crushed tomatoes. If the sauce feels very thick, add up to 1/2 cup broth or water to loosen. Stir in sugar or balsamic to balance. Simmer 5–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, to marry the flavors.
  6. Adjust and add veggies: Taste and season with more salt or pepper if needed. If using spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini, fold them in now. Cook 2–3 minutes until just softened.
  7. Top with cheese: Remove from heat. Sprinkle mozzarella evenly over the surface, then dust with Parmesan for extra savory bite.
  8. Bake: Transfer the skillet to the oven. Bake 10–12 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling at the edges.
  9. Broil for golden top (optional): Switch to broil for 1–2 minutes to get beautiful browned spots. Watch closely—cheese goes from golden to burnt fast.
  10. Rest and serve: Let the bake rest 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley. Serve over pasta, with crusty bread, on top of rice, or alongside a green salad.