Margherita Chicken
Sometimes the simple things in life are the best! Delicious chicken breast cooked in a tomato and basil sauce, and topped with gooey mozzarella cheese.
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NutritionPer Serving
- Calories241
- Carbs6.1g
- Protein39g
- Fat5.8g
- Saturates3g
- Sugars5.3g
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For the full list of ingredients and comprehensive instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post. Before you scroll, there’s important stuff to know in the blurb!
Sometimes the simple things in life are the best! This Margherita Chicken is the perfect flavour combo of basil and tomato and is topped with delicious, melty mozzarella cheese.
We’ve taken all of the flavours of a classic Margherita pizza, but used a few clever swaps like reduced fat mozzarella cheese to keep the calories lower without compromising on flavour. Perfect for those days when you’re craving the pizza flavour but fancy something a little lighter!
Serve with a crisp mixed salad for a light dinner, or our Homemade Oven Chips or Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad for a more filling meal. If you’ve got a busy week coming up, then you can even prepare this dish in advance as it stores and freezes really well!
What diets is this Margherita Chicken suitable for?
This Margherita Chicken can be made suitable for gluten free diets by swapping the following ingredients for gluten free alternatives:
- Chicken stock cube
It can also be made suitable for dairy free diets as long as you use a dairy free substitute in place of the following:
- Reduced fat mozzarella
Please make sure to double or triple check all of your ingredients if you’re cooking for people with allergies.
Do you need any special ingredients to make this Margherita Chicken?
This recipe really couldn’t be simpler to make and doesn’t require any special ingredients!
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‘So tasty yet quick and easy to do. Versatile too, lovely with pasta or plenty of veg and new potatoes.’
How many calories are in this Margherita Chicken?
There are 241 calories per portion in this Margherita Chicken which means it falls into our Everyday Light category.
This Margherita Chicken is perfect if you’re following a calorie controlled diet and fits well with any one of the major diet plans such as Weight Watchers.
As a guide, an average man needs around 2,500kcal (10,500kJ) a day to maintain a healthy body weight. For an average woman, that figure is around 2,000kcal (8,400kJ) a day. Obviously, if your goal is to lose weight then you might want to adjust these slightly! You can read more about these recommendations on the NHS website.
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 180ºC.
Step 2
Spray a saucepan with low calorie cooking spray, and sauté the onions over a medium to high heat for 5-6 minutes until golden brown.
Step 3
Add the tomatoes, garlic powder and stock, stir and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for 15 minutes.
Step 4
While the Margherita sauce simmers, spray a non-stick frying pan with low calorie cooking spray and place on a medium to high heat.
Step 5
Place the chicken breasts in a hot pan and seal for about 2 minutes each side, until golden, then arrange them in an ovenproof dish.
Step 6
After 15 minutes simmering, stir the chopped basil into the sauce and season with black pepper. Spoon over the chicken breasts.
Step 7
Tear the mozzarella into pieces and scatter over the top.
Step 8
Place into the oven and bake for 25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted and golden.
Step 9
Scatter a few basil leaves on top and serve with your choice of accompaniment.
What could I serve with this Margherita Chicken?
This Margherita Chicken works really well when served with a crisp, mixed salad or any of the following accompaniments:
How do you know when this Margherita Chicken is cooked?
The sauce needs to be cooked until thickened and piping hot, for around 20 minutes.
Your chicken breasts will need to be piping hot and cooked through which should take around 25 minutes.
Standard advice here in the UK is to cook food until it has reached 70°C and stayed at that temperature for 2 minutes. This is to keep your family safe.
How long can you keep this Margherita Chicken in the fridge?
Once you’ve put it out, ideally you should eat it within 4 hours.
If you allow any leftovers to cool, make sure to refrigerate in a container with a lid and chill. You can keep leftovers of Margherita Chicken in the fridge for approximately 3 days or so.
Can I freeze this Margherita Chicken?
Yes you can! This recipe can be frozen, but please remember to do the following;
- Freeze it as soon as it is cold enough.
- Use a container or bag that is suitable for freezing.
Don’t forget to add a label with what it is, and on what date you put it in the freezer!
How do I reheat this Margherita Chicken?
From chilled: Reheat in the oven or microwave until piping hot throughout.
From frozen: Defrost thoroughly and then as above.
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Margherita Chicken
Sometimes the simple things in life are the best! Delicious chicken breast cooked in a tomato and basil sauce, and topped with gooey mozzarella cheese.
-
Prep Time
5 MINS
-
Cook Time
45 MINS
- KCals 241
- Carbs 6.1G
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180ºC.
- Spray a saucepan with low calorie cooking spray and sauté the onions over a medium to high heat for 5-6 minutes until golden brown.
- Add the tomatoes, garlic powder and stock, stir and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for 15 minutes.
- While the Margherita sauce simmers, spray a non-stick frying pan with low calorie cooking spray and place on a medium to high heat.
- Place the chicken breasts in a hot pan and seal for about 2 minutes each side, until golden, then arrange them in an ovenproof dish.
- After 15 minutes simmering, stir the chopped basil into the sauce and season with black pepper. Spoon over the chicken breasts.
- Tear the mozzarella into pieces and scatter over the top.
- Place into the oven and bake for 25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted and golden.
- Scatter a few basil leaves on top and serve with your choice of accompaniment.
Looking for Slimming World Syns or Weight Watchers (WW) Points?
With ever-changing plans and point calculations, we have made the decision to remove WW Points from the website - referring to your individual plan or advice from your consultant is always going to give the most accurate results.
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35 comments
See what others have to say
Cheryle FoxWednesday 19th January 2022
This recipe is delicious. My sauce was watery though, what did I do wrong?
HollyThursday 20th January 2022
Hey Cheryle, If the sauce still seems a little watery it may not have been reduced enough so it just needs to be simmered for longer. THIS article on the website has some good advice, hope that helps!
ClaireMonday 5th February 2024
Hi I used to find I had this problem but i swapped to grated mozzarella and it worked perfectly for me.
JessicaMonday 7th June 2021
Is the calories count 265 per serving?x
HollyWednesday 9th June 2021
Hey Jessica, yes all of our nutritional information displayed on each page is for a portion of that recipe. Hope that helps!
HelenSunday 21st March 2021
How should I reheat this in the oven? (Approx. Time & temperature?)
HollyWednesday 31st March 2021
Hey Helen, from chilled reheat in the oven at 180ºC covered with a little foil so it doesn’t dry out until piping hot throughout, hope that helps!
PaulaWednesday 3rd March 2021
This was amazing really enjoyed it and really easy to follow I served it with the little diced potatoes like suggested!
HollyThursday 4th March 2021
Hey Paula, thanks so much for your message so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
ShannonWednesday 3rd March 2021
Tastes amazing, one of my go to meals when I fancy a easy but nice meal!
HollyThursday 4th March 2021
Hi Shannon, thanks so much for letting us know how much you enjoy this recipe!
CarlyFriday 5th February 2021
What would you serve this with? Thanks.
LisaFriday 5th February 2021
Hi Carly
If you scroll down the recipe page you’ll find a few serving suggestions. I like it with salad and a few of our homemade oven chips, but you can serve with pasta, veg, or even a crusty bread roll. Anything you fancy really, that fits in with your chosen plan.
Robyn LindoeTuesday 2nd February 2021
Very tasty and an easy to follow recipe 😊
HollyTuesday 2nd February 2021
Hi Robyn, this is one of my favourites, glad you enjoyed it too!
Ingrid HeitkampFriday 15th January 2021
This is SOOOO good! So easy to make and the fresh basil makes it smell amazing! The OH said the taste reminded him of having real Margherita pizzas in Italy 🙂 Great job PON!
HollyMonday 18th January 2021
Hi Ingrid, so glad you enjoyed the Margherita Chicken!
SharlotteWednesday 13th January 2021
I made this meal last night although I didn’t have any basil, it was really yummy! I had lots of veg on the side too! Easy, family meal to do mid week! Thanks PON!!!x
HollyWednesday 13th January 2021
Hi Sharlotte, so glad you enjoyed the Margherita Chicken!
LauraSunday 3rd January 2021
Would it be okay to use dried basil?
SharonMonday 4th January 2021
Hi Laura,
it would be fine to use dried basil, you could try using 1 – 2 tsp, adjusting to suit you own taste. Hope you enjoy this recipe!
Myra HutchisonSaturday 2nd January 2021
Looking forward to trying recipes from new book they look yummy.👍🏼
HollySaturday 2nd January 2021
Hi Myra, hope you are enjoying the new book!
Carolyn GriffithsWednesday 30th December 2020
Love your book
LisaThursday 31st December 2020
Thanks Carolyn! Hope you enjoy the recipes!
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