Best 5 Zesty Chicken Marinara Recipes

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Get ready to embark on a culinary journey where flavors dance on your palate! In this article, we will guide you through the tantalizing world of "zesty chicken marinara," a dish that brings together the vibrant zest of tangy marinara sauce with the succulent tenderness of tender chicken. Whether you're an experienced chef or just starting to explore the wonders of cooking, we'll provide you with all the essential information and step-by-step instructions to create a mouthwatering dish that will delight your taste buds and leave you craving more.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

ZESTY CHICKEN MARINARA



Zesty Chicken Marinara image

A friend served this delicious slow-cooker chicken pasta before a church social, and I fell in love with it. My husband says it's restaurant quality. -Linda Baumann, Richfield, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 4h15m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 8

4 bone-in chicken breast halves (12 to 14 ounces each), skin removed
2 cups marinara sauce
1 medium tomato, chopped
1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
1-1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 pound uncooked angel hair pasta
1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Steps:

  • Place chicken in a 4-qt. slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine the marinara sauce, tomato, salad dressing, Italian seasoning and garlic; pour over chicken. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until chicken is tender., Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Serve chicken and sauce with pasta; sprinkle with cheese. Freeze option: Do not cook pasta. Freeze cooled chicken mixture in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Cook pasta according to package directions. Place chicken mixture in a large skillet. Heat until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 165°, stirring occasionally; add a little water if necessary. Serve as directed.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 730 calories, Fat 21g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 160mg cholesterol, Sodium 929mg sodium, Carbohydrate 61g carbohydrate (14g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 69g protein.

ZESTY CHICKEN MARINADE



Zesty Chicken Marinade image

This marinade makes a great tasting Italian chicken dinner, either grilled or baked. Recipe from McCormick.

Provided by Marie

Categories     Chicken Breast

Time 30m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 1/2 lbs boneless chicken breasts or 3 1/2 lbs bone-in chicken pieces
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 -2 tablespoon mccormick grill mates Montreal chicken seasoning
1/2 teaspoon italian seasoning

Steps:

  • Lightly pound chicken to an even thickness. Place chicken in large resealable plastic bag or glass dish.
  • Mix remaining ingredients in small bowl.
  • Add to chicken, turn to coat well.
  • Refrigerate 30 minutes or longer for extra flavor.
  • Remove from marinade, discard remaining marinade.
  • Grill over medium high heat 6 to 7 minutes per side or until cooked through.
  • If using bone-in chicken, double marinade. Let marinade thicken up for approximately 1/2 hour, then brush mixture onto both sides of chicken and marinate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
  • Bake chicken on top of a rack in baking pan at 350° approximately 60 minutes, or until juices run clear.
  • If grilling bone-in chicken, cook 15 to 20 mins per side.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 412.2, Fat 29.2, SaturatedFat 6.4, Cholesterol 109, Sodium 107.5, Protein 35.5

CHICKEN MARINARA



Chicken Marinara image

I am posting this because an Italian patient of mine didn't have any family recipes passed on to him (due to adoption). Now I can just print it out if need ever arises again! lol This is the recipe my Sicilian mother and grandmother taught me. It is simple, delicious and one of my favorite comfort foods. It is much quicker than marinara with beef or pork (i.e. sausage or meatballs)--ENJOY! And please don't tell my grandmother I posted this family recipe online.

Provided by Doxie lover in the

Categories     Low Cholesterol

Time 1h15m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
14 ounces water
5 garlic cloves
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper
1 large yellow onion, sliced (optional)
1 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
parmesan cheese (optional)
1/4 cup red wine (optional)
16 ounces pasta (spaghetti, angel hair, penne, etc)

Steps:

  • Sauté garlic in 1 Tbsp olive oil until lightly brown and set aside. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces.
  • Cook chicken, mushrooms and onion in same skillet with remaining olive oil until chicken is white throughout, seasoning with salt and pepper as preferred.
  • Add tomato paste, cooked garlic and mix well.
  • Add crushed tomatoes, basil, and water and mix well. Bring to boil, then lower to a simmer and covering sauce with a lid for an hour. Stir occasionally and season with salt and pepper as desired.
  • Midway, add wine and stir well and resume covered simmering.
  • During last fifteen minutes or so, cook pasta according to directions on package.
  • In large bowl, pour sauce over cooked pasta and mix well.
  • Sprinkle cheese on top and serve!

CHICKEN MARINARA RECIPE BY TASTY



Chicken Marinara Recipe by Tasty image

Here's what you need: rotini pasta, rotisserie chicken, marinara pasta sauce, bell pepper, apple, juice box

Provided by Claire Nolan

Categories     Lunch

Yield 1 serving

Number Of Ingredients 6

½ cup rotini pasta, cooked
¼ cup rotisserie chicken, shredded
¼ cup marinara pasta sauce
1 bell pepper, sliced
1 apple
1 juice box, frozen

Steps:

  • Heat up rotisserie chicken and marinara sauce.
  • Place cooked pasta in a thermos followed by hot chicken and marinara sauce.
  • Shake to mix and place in lunch box along with sliced bell peppers.
  • Slice an apple and reassemble slices around the core. Wrap with a rubber band to prevent browning.
  • Pack bento box in the lunchbox with a frozen juice box and a fork.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 629 calories, Carbohydrate 126 grams, Fat 5 grams, Fiber 12 grams, Protein 24 grams, Sugar 49 grams

MARINATED ZESTY CHICKEN



Marinated Zesty Chicken image

Add great, bold flavor to zesty chicken with mushrooms and basil. The melted cheese on top of our Marinated Zesty Chicken doesn't hurt either!

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories     Home

Time 1h45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 6

1/2 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
4 small boneless skinless chicken breasts (1 lb.)
1/4 cup KRAFT Reduced Fat Parmesan Style Grated Topping
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Colby & Monterey Jack Cheeses

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350°F.
  • Pour dressing over chicken in shallow glass dish; turn to evenly coat chicken. Refrigerate 1 hour to marinate.
  • Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade. Place grated topping in shallow dish. Add chicken; turn to evenly coat both sides of each breast. Place in single layer in shallow pan sprayed with cooking spray.
  • Bake 30 min. Meanwhile, cook mushrooms in skillet sprayed with cooking spray on high heat 3 min. or until tender, stirring frequently. Stir in basil.
  • Top chicken with mushrooms and shredded cheese; bake 5 min. or until cheese is melted.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 240, Fat 10 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 80 mg, Sodium 540 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 0 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 28 g

Tips:

  • Selecting the Right Chicken: Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs for a tender and juicy result.
  • Marinating the Chicken: Allow the chicken to marinate in the flavorful mixture of Italian dressing, olive oil, garlic, and herbs for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight, to infuse it with flavor.
  • Searing the Chicken: Sear the chicken in a skillet over medium heat to create a golden-brown crust and lock in the juices.
  • Simmering in the Sauce: Transfer the seared chicken to a slow cooker or Dutch oven and cover it with the homemade marinara sauce. Cook on low heat for 4-6 hours, or until the chicken is fall-off-the-bone tender.
  • Adding Vegetables: Enhance the dish by adding sautéed vegetables like bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms to the sauce during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
  • Serving Suggestions: Serve the Zesty Chicken Marinara over cooked pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley or basil for an extra pop of flavor.

Conclusion:

This Zesty Chicken Marinara recipe offers a tantalizing blend of flavors and textures, making it a delectable main course for any occasion. The succulent chicken, infused with the tangy marinade and slow-cooked in a rich marinara sauce, creates a delightful culinary experience. With its ease of preparation and customizable options, this recipe is a keeper for busy weeknight dinners or special gatherings. Enjoy the burst of flavors and aromas as you indulge in this satisfying dish that is sure to become a family favorite.

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