Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper Puree and Mozzarella

I am seriously ah-mazed here! Golden brown chicken, smoky roasted red peppers, fresh parsley, and creamy mozzarella. I can tell you this: the chicken is swooning under that canopy of flavor. And there are just 5 ingredients! Truth? I was scraping up the little browned bits of chicken, the pepper puree and the savory pan juices with a chunk of bread...

You will be thrilled with how much flavor you get with so few ingredients (and even less work). The bird is seared to perfection (that golden brown meat is exquisite), then, it's topped with a quick parsley-spiked roasted red pepper puree and buttery mozzarella. A few minutes on the cooktop, followed by a few minutes in the oven and dinner is served!

I made this dish because I wanted to use pantry staples - avoiding a trip to the store. But, holy cow! I was seriously blown away. I'm definitely making this winner again.

Note: If you don't have an oven-proof skillet, transfer the chicken to a shallow baking dish before topping with the roasted red pepper puree and cheese.

Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper Puree and Mozzarella

1 cup roasted red peppers, from a water-packed jar
1/2 cup packed fresh parsley leaves (I prefer Italian parsley)
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, about 4-5 ounces each
1 teaspoon dried parsley (basil and oregano work too)
Salt and ground black pepper
1 cup shredded mozzarella

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
In a food processor, combine the red peppers and fresh parsley. Process until smooth. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Season both sides of the chicken with the dried parsley, salt and pepper and add to the hot pan. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until golden brown. Transfer the pan to the oven (or transfer the chicken to a shallow baking dish first) and bake for 5 minutes. Top the chicken with the red pepper puree and then the cheese. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 5 to 10 more minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese melts.
Serves 4