Chicken Milano

When it comes to cooking, I would have to say I cook more Italian food than anything else. Italian food, like American cuisine, is very diverse. Fresh salads, light pastas, creamy risottos, and beautiful tomato sauces are all part of the Italian experience, but this dish would have to fall under Italian comfort food. I mean, chicken breasts, topped with smoky ham, smothered in Alfredo sauce, and baked until lightly browned and bubbly. What else would you call it?

This recipe starts with my homemade garlic Alfredo sauce. Once the sauce is finished, I keep it warm while preparing the other ingredients. The chicken is simply boneless chicken breasts, sliced in half lengthwise to make two pieces, then lightly browned in preparation for its trip to the oven. No need to thoroughly cook the chicken at this point, it will finish during the baking.

Once the chicken is browned, the assembly is very easy. Just layer the chicken, ham, basil, and Alfredo sauce into a baking dish and bake for 25 minutes. The Alfredo sauce guarantees the chicken will come out moist and tender. Just make sure to let this dish rest for a few minutes when it comes out of the oven before serving. The extra sauce from this dish goes great over fettuccine.

Chicken Milano

2 Tbsp olive oil

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

8 slices smoked deli ham

1 recipe Alfredo sauce

12 basil leaves, torn into large pieces

4 oz mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cut chicken breasts in half lengthwise. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chicken breasts on both sides, working in batches if necessary. Remove from pan and set aside.

Spread 1/2 cup Alfredo sauce in bottom of 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Place four pieces of chicken in pan and top with 4 slices of ham. Sprinkle with half the basil leaves. Top with half of remaining Alfredo sauce.

Repeat layers with remaining chicken, ham, basil, and Alfredo sauce.  Top with mozzarella cheese. 

Bake in 375 degree F oven for 25 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and top is lightly browned. Remove from oven and let cool five minutes before serving.