Cheesy Baked Chicken Breast Peppers (Print View)

Tender chicken baked with colorful peppers and melted cheese for a comforting gluten-free main dish ready in 45 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz each)

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 red bell peppers, cored and sliced into strips
03 - 1 yellow bell pepper, cored and sliced into strips
04 - 1 green bell pepper, cored and sliced into strips
05 - 1 medium red onion, halved and sliced into half-moons
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Dairy

07 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Pantry and Seasonings

09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herb blend
12 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
13 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil or nonstick spray.
02 - Scatter the sliced red, yellow, and green bell peppers along with the red onion across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the black pepper, and toss until evenly coated.
03 - Place the chicken breasts on top of the bed of vegetables. Brush the chicken with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then rub the minced garlic over each breast. Season generously with the smoked paprika, dried Italian herbs, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
04 - Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheeses evenly over the chicken breasts and the surrounding vegetables.
05 - Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbling.
06 - Remove from the oven and let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley or basil if desired.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The vegetables and protein cook together in one dish which means almost zero cleanup on a busy weeknight.
  • That golden bubbling cheese blanket makes everyone at the table forget they are eating something relatively healthy.
02 -
  • Do not skip the resting step because cutting into the chicken immediately causes all those delicious juices to run out onto the cutting board instead of staying inside the meat.
  • Tucking the chicken under the cheese rather than piling it on top prevents the cheese from burning before the chicken finishes cooking through.
03 -
  • Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness before seasoning because uneven pieces mean some are perfectly juicy while others are overcooked and dry.
  • Let the baked dish rest under a loose foil tent which keeps it warm without trapping steam that would make the cheese soggy.

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