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Creamy Ricotta Chicken with Fresh Herbs

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A quick and easy dinner recipe featuring tender chicken breasts wrapped in a creamy ricotta and fresh herb sauce, perfect for cozy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 pounds / 680 g)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 1/4 cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) chicken broth
  • Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper. Let sit for 5 minutes at room temperature.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, parsley, basil, thyme, Parmesan, garlic, and lemon zest. Stir until smooth and fragrant.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook undisturbed for 5 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook for another 4 minutes until nearly cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
  4. Reduce heat to medium and pour chicken broth into the skillet, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
  5. Lower heat to medium-low and spoon ricotta herb mixture over each chicken breast in the skillet. Cover and cook gently for 6-8 minutes until ricotta warms and chicken finishes cooking.
  6. Remove lid, sprinkle red pepper flakes if using, and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Let sauce thicken for 1-2 minutes if needed.
  7. Transfer chicken to plates and spoon creamy ricotta herb sauce over the top. Garnish with extra fresh herbs and a drizzle of olive oil if desired.

Notes

Use fresh herbs for best flavor; dried herbs can be substituted by halving the quantity and adding earlier in cooking. Keep heat low after adding ricotta to prevent curdling. Let chicken rest before serving to keep juices locked in. For gluten-free, ensure broth is gluten-free. For dairy-free, use plant-based ricotta and coconut milk instead of broth.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy ricotta chicken, fresh herbs, easy dinner, quick chicken recipe, ricotta sauce, weeknight meal, healthy chicken

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