One Dish Chicken Bake Recipe
Dec 07, 2015, Updated Aug 25, 2023
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This one-dish cheesy chicken tomato bake is prepared with flavorful chicken breasts baked on a bed of tomatoes, covered in melty cheese. It’s simple to make, yet super tasty and makes for a one-pan chicken dinner the whole family will enjoy.
Today’s chicken bake is like a cross between my baked chicken parmesan and chicken in tomato sauce recipes. A bed of savory tomato sauce keeps the chicken juicy, while the layer of melty Gruyère cheese on top locks in the flavor. My favorite part? How easy it is to make. This chicken tomato bake tastes like it’s been slow-cooked for hours, but it’s quick to prepare and bakes in under an hour.
As the chicken bakes, it absorbs all the flavors from the garlic and herbs. The result is an easy weeknight meal that’s packed with flavor!
Why This Tomato Chicken Bake Works
- All in one. This chicken tomato bake has everything I look for in a cozy dinner: juicy protein, veggies, and cheese! Just add a side of rice or garlic bread.
- Pantry staples. This recipe makes use of kitchen staples. No last-minute trips to the store!
- Make it yours. It’s easy to adjust the seasonings and ingredients based on personal preference and what you have in the fridge.
Ingredients Needed to Make This Recipe
This is the short list of ingredients you’ll need to round up for this chicken bake recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card for the printable recipe amounts.
- Chicken – I make this recipe with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. You can use thighs or even bone-in chicken, keeping in mind that the cooking times may vary a bit.
- Diced Tomatoes – Provide a juicy and tangy base for the dish.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Or your choice of cooking oil.
- Onion and Garlic – Yellow or white onion, and freshly minced garlic.
- Seasonings – You’ll need dried oregano, fresh parsley, and Italian seasoning in addition to freshly cracked pepper and salt.
- Gruyère Cheese – Adds a creamy and slightly nutty flavor. You could swap it with another melty cheese, like mozzarella, provolone, Gouda, or cheddar.
Tips For the Best Chicken Bake
- Get the chicken to an even thickness. If your chicken breasts are very thick, consider pounding them to an even thickness for even cooking.
- Fresh tomatoes. While canned tomatoes work great, you can swap in fresh diced tomatoes, too.
- Use fresh herbs. Fresh herbs can be a great substitute for dried ones if they’re available. For instance, fresh oregano or basil could be used instead of dried. You’ll need about three times the amount of fresh herbs as dried, since they aren’t as concentrated.
- Rest the chicken. After baking, allow the dish to rest for a few minutes. This lets the juices redistribute, ensuring that your chicken remains moist.
- Sear the chicken for more flavor. For an added layer of flavor, consider searing the chicken briefly in a hot skillet before placing it in the baking dish. This can add a golden crust to the chicken and elevate its flavor.
Serving Suggestions
- Bread: This dish pairs wonderfully with crusty bread or focaccia to soak up the delicious tomato sauce.
- Salad and veggies: Try a light tabbouleh salad or some sautéed bok choy to complete the meal.
- Rice: Pair this cheesy chicken tomato bake with a bed of fluffy white rice, lemon rice, or brown rice pilaf.
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One Dish Chicken Tomato Bake
Flavorful chicken baked with tomatoes and covered in cheese makes for a one-dish dinner the whole family loves! This cheesy chicken tomato bake is ready in under an hour with easy ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
- ¾ cup grated gruyere cheese
- chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare to bake. Preheat oven to 400ºF. Lightly grease a baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Make the tomato base. Combine tomatoes, olive oil, onions, garlic, oregano, Italian seasoning, and fresh parsley in a mixing bowl; toss to combine. Transfer the tomato mixture to the baking dish. (You can also combine the ingredients inside the baking dish).
- Add the chicken. Season the chicken breasts with salt and fresh ground pepper, and arrange the chicken on top of the tomatoes; make sure that the chicken is nestled down in the tomatoes so it simmers in the sauce while it cooks.
- Bake. Bake for 35 minutes, or until the tomato sauce bubbles and the chicken is cooked through. Chicken is done when its internal temperature reaches 165˚F degrees.
- Add cheese. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the cheese over the top of the chicken; bake for an additional 4 to 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Remove from oven, garnish with parsley, and serve.
Video
Notes
- Chicken Thickness: For even cooking, pound thicker chicken breasts to an even thickness. This promotes even cooking and ensures every bite is tender and flavorful.
- Chicken Varieties: While the recipe uses chicken breasts, chicken thighs are a good option; adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Tomatoes: Swap canned tomatoes for fresh diced ones if preferred.
- Cheese Choices: Gruyere is creamy and flavorful, but mozzarella, provolone, or feta are great alternatives.
- Herb Alternatives: Use fresh herbs, like oregano or basil, instead of using dried ones.
- Resting: After cooking, let the chicken rest to retain juiciness.
- Searing: Sear the chicken in a skillet before baking. This can add a browned crust to the chicken and elevate its flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 294kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 462mg | Potassium: 696mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 579IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 315mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
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How To Make This Chicken Tomato Bake
Whether I’m planning a casual family dinner or cooking for friends, this one-dish chicken bake comes together in 5 minutes and never disappoints. Here are the steps.
- Prepare to bake. While the oven preheats to 400ºF, grease your baking dish.
- Make the tomato base. Meanwhile, combine diced tomatoes, olive oil, chopped onions, minced garlic, seasonings, and fresh parsley to make the sauce.
- Assemble. Transfer the tomato mixture to the baking dish. Then, season the chicken and nestle it into the sauce.
- Bake. Bake the chicken until it’s thoroughly cooked and the tomato mixture bubbles. You can test that the chicken has reached 165ºF using an instant-read thermometer.
- Add the cheese. Lastly, sprinkle shredded cheese over the chicken and return it to the oven. Bake just long enough for the cheese to melt. Once the chicken rests for 5-10 minutes, you’re ready to serve!
Storing Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Place the leftovers in airtight containers. Store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
- Freeze. Transfer the cooled chicken tomato bake to freezer-safe containers, label it with the date and contents, and store it in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.
- Reheat. Warm leftovers in a preheated oven until hot throughout. If frozen, it’s best to thaw the chicken in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Made this last night and definitely not something I would make again. I cooked the onions in a little olive oil than put in tomatoes. Very bland even tried to add additional seasoning but still not tasty. Photo looked delicious & excited to try😫.
Hi!
Sorry this recipe didn’t work out for you. When I find that my food is a bit bland, I just add a little more salt and that almost always fixes it.
Bonnie, the blandness of the food is not the authors fault. They say to season with salt and pepper to taste. You should add more seasoning, not blame the author. Especially when you admit to doing at least one step differently: cooking the onions beforehand. Who knows how many other things you did differently 🤷♀️ why take time out of your day to bash someone’s work, I will never understand 🤦♀️
Love this recipe! Instead of all the ingredients I will use a jar of spaghetti sauce sometimes too. Works great!
That’s great! I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Seems like you made something completely different than the recipe. Why bother rating it?
This recipe is perfect. One-Dish-Chicken Bake is one of the best dinners I’ve made in months. It was so good that I didn’t let anyone in my family have leftovers the next day because I wanted them all for myself (which I never do!), lol! I am thrilled to have found a perfect recipe. No tweaks are necessary, and the instructions are crystal clear. Thank you!!!
That’s great to hear! I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Can we use chicken thighs instead? Thanks
I have done this recipe with chicken tights and it turns out great!
Happy to hear that! I am glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
If I were to do this in a slow cooker, how much tome do you think I would need?
What’s a good side you could pair this with?!
Hi! How about pasta, or a side of roasted veggies like Brussel sprouts or asparagus.
Here’s some links so you can grab the recipes, if you like:
https://diethood.com/15-minute-fettuccine-with-spinach-and-goat-cheese/
https://diethood.com/oven-roasted-brussels-sprouts/
https://diethood.com/oven-roasted-asparagus/
I hope this helps. 🙂
I would give this 2 stars. Followed the recipe exactly. I am a very experienced cook and was looking for a low carb dinner. This was just okay…edible. Would not make again. This is a recipe for beginners
Sandra, if you are a very experienced cook as you say you are, you should have known from the recipe ingredients that you wouldn’t enjoy it. You could have added spices and flavorings more to your liking.
And the comment about recipe for beginners is just unnecessary, everyone has to start learning some where and from someone who is willing to teach them, not down grade their efforts.
I tried this recipe this past weekend and it was delicious !!! I only had a can of Italian Tomatoes so I used this with some Parmesan Cheese. It turned out so good – tasted like lasagna!!!
Will definitely be using this recipe more often and will change it up some more. Maybe with Mexican flavor next time.
Any modifications if using frozen chicken breast?
Am I safe freezing left overs? Or am I better just making it for one?
Hi!
Yep, you can definitely freeze it. Just make sure it’s cooled down completely before putting it in a freezer bag. It should stay good for at least 2 to 3 months in the freezer.