Dinner in 30 Minutes or Less: Chicken Mozzarella

Need a fast and nutritious recipe for dinner tonight? This recipe is ready in 30 minutes or less! Try chicken mozzarella with grilled boneless chicken breasts smothered in Italian-style tomatoes and topped with mozzarella cheese. Pair this hearty main dish with salad and fresh bread from the grocery bakery. Save time by buying deboned and halved chicken breasts, bagged salad, and already-shredded mozzarella. Choose fresh salad dressing from the fruit and vegetable aisle to make this dinner special. When choosing fresh dressing, always check the expiration or freshness date. These must be refrigerated immediately at home; read the label carefully for food safety. Need a homemade dinner in 30 minutes or less? Try chicken mozzarella!

Ingredients:

4 boneless (and skinless) chicken breast halves

cooking spray

½ cup chopped onion

1 teaspoon minced garlic (available in the fruit and vegetable aisle)

1 can (14-16 ounces) Italian-style stewed tomatoes

1 cups (4 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese (more or less to taste)

Rinse chicken breast halves and remove any remaining fat. Place in a zip lock bag and use your rolling pin or meat mallet to flatten. Flattening or pounding the chicken halves make them thinner and so they cook quicker. Spray ovenproof skillet with cooking spray. Make sure it is ovenproof because we are going to put it in the oven to broil the chicken. Using olive oil flavor cooking spray gives this dish a little more Italian flavor. Carefully place chicken breasts in the ovenproof skillet. Cook chicken about 4 or 5 minutes, then turn and cook the other side another 4 or 5 minutes. Once the chicken is no longer pink in the center, it is done. Do not overcook - overcooking dries out the meat. Remove chicken from skillet and add onions and garlic. Sauté about 4 minutes on low heat, just until onion and garlic are soft. Carefully add the Italian-style stewed tomatoes and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. Tomato/onion/garlic mixture should be smelling oh-so-yummy!

Turn on oven broiler because we are going to toast the mozzarella cheese. Return cooked chicken to skillet and spoon the sauce over the meat. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the chicken. It's OK to spill some in the sauce but try to get most of the cheese on the chicken. Place ovenproof skillet under the broiler for about 2 minutes until the mozzarella cheese begins to bubble. Watch carefully - the time under the element depends upon your broiler. Remove skillet from oven. Spoon a chicken breast topped with cheese onto your plate, add salad and fresh dressing on the side, along with a slice of buttered bakery bread. This dish looks great and tastes fantastic!