Description
This Caprese Chicken brings all the fresh, bright flavors of a classic Caprese salad to juicy, golden-seared chicken breasts. Ribbons of basil, sweet cherry tomatoes, and creamy fresh mozzarella are finished with a glossy drizzle of balsamic glaze for an easy Italian-inspired dinner that feels restaurant-worthy but comes together on a weeknight.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
- 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze (plus more for serving, if desired)
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn or thinly sliced (chiffonade)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and black pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat.
- Add the chicken breasts to the hot skillet. Sear for 5–6 minutes per side, or until golden brown. The chicken will finish cooking in the oven.
- Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about 1 minute, stirring around the chicken, until fragrant but not browned.
- Top each chicken breast with slices of fresh mozzarella, dividing the cheese evenly.
- Scatter the halved cherry tomatoes around and over the chicken in the skillet.
- Drizzle the balsamic glaze evenly over the chicken and tomatoes.
- Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F / 74°C) and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Carefully remove the skillet from the oven. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with fresh basil leaves on top.
- Drizzle with a little extra balsamic glaze if desired, and serve warm.
Notes
- If your chicken breasts are very thick, consider butterflying or pounding them to an even thickness so they cook more evenly.
- Use a good-quality balsamic glaze for the best flavor; it should be thick, glossy, and slightly sweet.
- Fresh mozzarella releases some moisture as it melts, which mingles with the tomatoes and glaze to create a tasty pan sauce—spoon it over the chicken when serving.
- Let the chicken rest briefly after baking to keep it juicy and allow the cheese and juices to settle.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Chicken
- Method: Stovetop + Oven-Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with toppings
- Calories: 350 kcal (approximate)
- Sugar: 6 g (approximate; varies with balsamic glaze)
- Sodium: 550 mg (approximate; varies with salt and cheese)
- Fat: 18 g (approximate)
- Saturated Fat: 7 g (approximate)
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g (approximate)
- Trans Fat: 0 g (approximate)
- Carbohydrates: 8 g (approximate)
- Fiber: 1 g (approximate)
- Protein: 38 g (approximate)
- Cholesterol: 120 mg (approximate)
Keywords: caprese chicken, mozzarella chicken bake, Italian chicken skillet, balsamic chicken, tomato basil chicken, weeknight chicken dinner