Looking for a delicious chicken breast recipe? This Chicken Bocconcini is an easy and delicious one-pan meal, with skillet browned bone-in chicken breasts, tomatoes, pancetta and melted bocconcini. Delicious with just a side salad, or serve with a bit of pasta.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Chicken – I’ve used bone-in/skin-on chicken breasts here, but you could use bone-in/skin-on chicken thighs or even boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Be sure to adjust the cooking time as needed, to be sure the chicken cooks thoroughly. (Boneless chicken will take less time).
Bocconcini – I used cherry-sized bocconcini, but generous chunks of mozzarella would also work nicely (either fresh mozzarella or pizza-style).
Pancetta – pancetta is lovely in this dish, but you could substitute regular bacon cut up into strips or cubes.
Recipe Tips
This chicken bocconcini is lovely served on top of or alongside pasta or simple serve with a side salad.
This dish re-heats really well. I made mine ahead and re-heated in a 350° F. oven just until warm. The sauce thickened a bit, but the chicken didn’t dry out at all. For boneless/skinless chicken, I would consider covering with foil for some or all of the re-heating to keep the moisture in the chicken.
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Ingredients
- 3 lbs bone-in/skin-on chicken breasts, or thighs, legs or drumsticks or combination
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 5 oz pancetta, diced (or bacon diced)
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 28 oz canned whole plum tomatoes
- 1 large sprig of basil, plus more chopped basil for serving
- 8 oz bocconcini, halved (or use mozzarella cut into 3/4-inch pieces)
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400° F. (regular bake setting/not fan assisted) Pat chicken dry and season generously with salt and pepper.
- In a large oven-proof skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring frequently, until browned. Remove pancetta to a paper-towel-lined plate.
- Add chicken to skillet. Sear, turning only occasionally, until well browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a large plate. Pour off all but 1 Tbsp. of the oil.
- Add garlic, anchovy (if using) and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes and basil. Cook, breaking up tomatoes with a spoon, until sauce thickens somewhat, about 10 minutes.
- Return chicken to skillet. Transfer skillet to oven and cook, uncovered, until chicken is no longer pink, about 30 minutes for thighs/drumsticks and up to 45 minutes for large breasts/legs.
- (*Note: if using large chicken breasts, you may want to remove them from the pan before broiling. As they sit quite high up in the pan, they are likely to burn on top before the bocconcini are browned/melted.)
- Scatter bocconcini (or mozzarella) and pancetta pieces over skillet. Adjust oven to broil. Return skillet to oven and broil until cheese is melted and bubbling, 2 to 3 minutes (watch carefully to see that it does not burn). Garnish with chopped basil before serving.
Notes
More Chicken Recipes to Love!
Hi! I’m Jennifer, a home cook schooled by trial and error and almost 40 years of getting dinner on the table! I love to share my favourite recipes, both old and new, together with lots of tips and tricks to hopefully help make your home cooking enjoyable, stress free, rewarding and of course, delicious!
Jennifer,
I made this meal today for dinner as I had everything on hand except I had mozzarella, used mutti plum tomatoes. I used for a twist gnocchi and I used anchovy paste from the tube if that is ok with you. I followed all the instructions and my wife just loved it. You make me look so good. Everything I try from your catalogue is a winner. Will are this many more times I’m sure.
So glad to hear, Pat :) Sounds perfect to me! Thanks so much.
My mouth is watering Jennifer, this sounds just perfect for a cold night! I love the idea of the melting cheese in the tomato sauce — what a luxurious meal.
Thanks so much Sue. The tomato sauce was so delicious, too – slow roasted and the pancetta for a nice bit of texture and flavour!
I love a good skillet meal, especially on a weeknight. This looks like a winner!
Thanks Laura :)
This is such a beautiful way to present chicken and I bet the flavors are amazing!
Thanks Jennifer. Was a nice change from the usual chicken dish!
Thanks for sharing this Jennifer. Looks so tasty. Would love to try that dish!
Thanks Jeff :)
Jennifer – this looks amazing. The rich sauce looks perfect. I’ve seen a few recipes lately with anchovies – sounds wonderful! Something about that floating cheese that is really calling my name. Bravo!
Thanks Tricia! It called my name, too and didn’t disappoint :)
Absolutely gorgeous photos!
Thanks so much, Jennifer :)
This sounds so flavorful Jennifer! Your photos are just gorgeous today! (as usual!) Makes me want that dish right now!
Thanks so much, Mary Ann and it is full of flavour, for sure!
Oh wow, this skillet chicken looks DEEEE-LISH, Jennifer! I love that you went with bone-in and skin on chicken breast! I’m all about that flava! Plus that sauce and melty mozzarella is just calling my name! Pinned! Cheers, my dear!
Thanks Cheyanne. I knew I would love the flavours when I saw it and it definitely lived up to expectations :)