A flavor combination that’s been an Italian favorite for over a hundred years! The term Margherita in cooking is different than the Margarita cocktail. Margherita was an Italian queen in the late 1800s, and a chef in Italy created a pizza for her that used the colors of the Italian Flag. Red with tomato sauce, white with mozzarella cheese, and green with basil leaves. These flavors are not only colorful but are also a tasty combination. My Margherita chicken is an easy-to-make and delicious dish. The chicken is pounded thin, breaded, fried (I use my air fryer), and then topped with sauce, cheese, and fresh basil. It can be served over pasta for a complete meal and is ready in about half an hour. It’s a flavor combination that’s been around for over a hundred years and is still a favorite today!
Belle’s Easy Margherita Chicken
4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 egg, beaten
¾ cup Italian bread crumbs
1 cup tomato, spaghetti, or pizza sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
Place each chicken thigh in a plastic bag and, using a mallet or heavy pan, pound until it is ½ thick. Dredge each thigh in the beaten egg and then in the bread crumbs and place them in a single layer in the basket of your air fryer sprayed with cooking spray. Spray the top of the chicken. Air fry at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. When finished, place it in a sprayed baking dish in a single layer. Top each thigh with the tomato (or spaghetti or pizza) sauce and cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the fresh basil and bake another 5 minutes. Serve over noodles if desired.
