Craving a delicious, Italian-inspired dinner that doesn’t require hours in the kitchen? Look no further! This Instant Pot Mozzarella and Tomato Chicken is your new weeknight hero. In just 35 minutes, you can have tender, juicy chicken breasts simmered in a rich, garlicky tomato sauce and blanketed under a glorious layer of melted mozzarella. It’s a satisfying, low-carb meal for four that delivers big on flavor with minimal effort. Let’s get cooking!
Ingredients
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs / 680g)
• 1 tbsp olive oil (15 ml)
• 1 (14-ounce) can crushed tomatoes (400g)
• 1 tsp minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (about 4 oz / 113g)
• 1 cup water (240 ml)
• ¼ tsp salt, or to taste
• ¼ tsp black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
1. Directions
2. Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
3. Set your Instant Pot to the SAUTE function. Once hot, add the olive oil.
4. Carefully place the chicken in the pot and sear for 2-3 minutes per side, until golden-brown. Work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
5. Transfer the seared chicken to a plate and set aside.
6. Add the minced garlic to the pot and cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
7. Pour in the water to deglaze, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Stir in the crushed tomatoes.
8. Return the chicken to the pot, nestling it into the sauce.
9. Secure the lid, set the valve to ‘Sealing’, and cook on HIGH pressure for 5 minutes.
10. When the timer finishes, perform a quick pressure release by carefully turning the valve to ‘Venting’.
11. Once the pin drops, open the lid and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese evenly over the chicken.
12. Set the Instant Pot back to SAUTE for 1-2 minutes, or simply place the lid back on for a minute, to melt the cheese until bubbly.
13. Serve immediately, spooning extra sauce over the top. Enjoy!
Nutritional Information
• Per Serving: Calories 415 | Total Fat 26g | Net Carbs 5.6g | Protein 42g | Fiber 3.2g
Pro Tips
• For an extra layer of flavor, add 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning or dried oregano along with the crushed tomatoes.
• Serve this chicken over zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice for a low-carb meal, or with pasta or crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
• Ensure the pot is fully deglazed (all browned bits scraped up) before pressure cooking to prevent a ‘Burn’ notice.
• For a richer sauce, substitute half of the water with chicken broth.
FAQ
Q: What should I serve with this mozzarella chicken
A: For a complete low-carb meal, serve this chicken over zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice. It also pairs perfectly with traditional pasta or a side of crusty bread to soak up the rich tomato sauce.
Q: How do I prevent the Instant Pot burn notice
A: To avoid the ‘Burn’ notice, it is crucial to deglaze the pot properly. After searing the chicken, add the water and use a wooden spoon to scrape all the browned bits from the bottom of the pot before you add the tomatoes and return the chicken.
Q: Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe
A: While this recipe is best with fresh chicken to allow for searing, you can use frozen. Skip the searing step and increase the pressure cooking time to 10-12 minutes on HIGH, depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts.
Q: Can I add other seasonings for more flavor
A: Absolutely. For an extra layer of Italian flavor, the recipe suggests adding 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning or dried oregano when you stir in the crushed tomatoes. You could also use chicken broth instead of water for a richer sauce.
