A Cozy Delight: Cheesy Baked Mushroom Chicken Bake
The allure of a home-cooked meal that's quick, easy, and filled with comfort is hard to resist, especially on a cozy night in. If you're on the lookout for a delightful change in your usual chicken dinner routine that's both wallet-friendly and bound to win over the entire family, then look no further. Allow me to introduce you to the Cheesy Baked Mushroom Chicken Bake – a dish that embodies simplicity, heartiness, and flavor, making it the perfect addition to your home-cooked meals.
Setting the Stage: A Cozy Night In
Imagine a crisp autumn evening, with a chill in the air and the promise of a relaxing night at home. It's the kind of night that calls for a dish that's both comforting and satisfying. The Cheesy Baked Mushroom Chicken Bake is precisely the kind of recipe you need for such an occasion.
The Essentials: What You'll Need
Before we dive into the recipe, let's gather our ingredients:
- ½ tablespoon of butter
- ½ tablespoon of olive oil
- Sliced mushrooms
- Sliced onions
- Salt and pepper
- Garlic
- Chicken breasts
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Italian seasoning
- Chicken broth
- Shredded cheese
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Simple Steps, Spectacular Results
1. Preheat Your Oven: To kick off the creation of this delightful dish, preheat your oven to a toasty 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Prep the Baking Dish: Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray, ensuring that your creation won't stick to the pan.
3. Mushroom Magic: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, let the culinary magic begin. Melt ½ tablespoon of butter and add an equal amount of olive oil. This dynamic duo will be the foundation of our flavors.
4. Mushrooms and Onions: Toss in the sliced mushrooms and onions to the skillet. Season them with a pinch of salt and pepper, and let them cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The aroma that fills your kitchen is simply magical.
5. Fragrant Garlic: After the mushrooms and onions have reached their savory zenith, it's time to add the garlic. Cook it for just about 20 seconds until it's fragrant and adds an extra layer of complexity to the dish.
6. Create the Base: Transfer half of this flavorful mushroom mixture to your prepared baking dish. Set aside the other half; it will play a crucial role in our dish's later stages.
7. Chicken's Turn: Return your skillet to the heat, and add the remaining butter and olive oil. It's the canvas on which we'll paint the flavors of our chicken.
8. Spice it Up: Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning. These spices will transform our chicken into a flavorful centerpiece.
9. Sizzle and Brown: Add the seasoned chicken breasts to the sizzling oil. If your skillet isn't quite large enough, don't worry; you can do this in batches. Cook the chicken for about 2 minutes per side or until it takes on a delightful golden hue.
10. Chicken Meets Mushrooms: With the chicken now perfectly browned, remove it from the skillet and gently arrange the chicken breasts over the mushrooms in the baking dish. It's the first step in bringing all the flavors together.
11. Liquid Elixir: Return the skillet to the stove, adding chicken broth to it. The goal is to scrape up all the browned bits that are sticking to the skillet. As you bring the mixture to a boil, the savory infusion of flavors begins.
12. Assemble the Layers: Back to the baking dish, we go. Top the chicken breasts with the remaining mushroom mixture. It's a layer of deliciousness that's hard to resist. Over this, sprinkle a generous amount of shredded cheese. To finish, pour in the prepared chicken broth, which will work its magic during baking.
13. Bake to Perfection: With everything artfully assembled, it's time to bake the dish uncovered for 15 minutes. This is the moment when all the flavors come together, and the chicken cooks to juicy perfection.
14. A Feast for the Eyes: When your Cheesy Baked Mushroom Chicken Bake is ready, remove it from the oven. The aroma that fills your kitchen is nothing short of irresistible.
15. The Final Touch: To add a touch of freshness and visual appeal, garnish your creation with fresh parsley. It's the finishing touch that elevates this dish from a hearty meal to a work of art.
16. Savor and Share: With your Cheesy Baked Mushroom Chicken Bake ready, it's time to savor every bite and share this culinary masterpiece with your loved ones. It's a dish that brings everyone together around the table, and the combination of flavors is sure to make it a family favorite.
In just a few simple steps, you've created a culinary masterpiece that's quick, easy, and perfect for a cozy night in. The Cheesy Baked Mushroom Chicken Bake is the ideal comfort food, and its budget-friendly nature ensures that it's a meal that everyone can enjoy. The melding of flavors, the cheesy goodness, and the tender chicken make it a delightful change from your regular chicken dinners. So, go ahead, whip up this masterpiece, and bask in the warmth and satisfaction of this culinary creation.
Cheesy Mushroom Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter divided
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- FOR THE MUSHROOMS
- 8 ounces sliced button mushrooms
- 1 large yellow onion thinly sliced
- salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 1 ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- FOR THE CHICKEN BREASTS
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded down to ¼-inch thickness
- salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 4 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup chicken broth
- chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and set it aside.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt ½ tablespoon of butter and add ½ tablespoon of olive oil.
- Add sliced mushrooms and onions to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the garlic and cook for about 20 seconds until fragrant.
- Transfer half of the mushroom mixture to the prepared baking dish and set the remainder aside.
- Return the skillet to the heat and add the remaining butter and olive oil.
- Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning.
- Add the chicken breasts to the hot oil. If the skillet isn’t large enough, you may need to do this in batches. Cook the chicken for 2 minutes per side or until lightly browned.
- Remove the chicken breasts from the skillet and arrange them over the mushrooms in the baking dish.
- Return the skillet to the stove, add chicken broth, and scrape up the browned bits. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until the liquid is reduced.
- Meanwhile, top the chicken breasts with the remaining mushroom mixture, add cheese over the chicken breasts, and finally, pour in the prepared chicken broth.
- Bake the dish uncovered for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Remove it from the oven.
- Garnish with fresh parsley.
- Serve and enjoy.
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