This Caprese chicken recipe will be your favorite one-pan dish!
Chicken breasts are baked until tender and topped with pesto, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese, and then broiled until bubbly!
Chicken, low-carb mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil are the perfect combination of nutrition and fresh flavors!
What is Caprese Chicken?
- This chicken Caprese recipe is a tasty twist on a Caprese salad using fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil pesto topped on chicken breasts and drizzled with balsamic vinegar.
- This easy recipe for chicken caprese is perfect for light, midweek meals or weekend dining al fresco.
- It’s easy to make extra portions of this chicken caprese recipe and serve cold over a bed of healthy salad greens or make it into a hearty workday sandwich.
Simple Ingredients
Chicken – Choose chicken breasts of equal size so they cook evenly. Breasts can also be grilled outdoors instead of baked. Bone-in breasts, thighs, and chicken legs (dark meat portion including the thigh and drumstick) will work.
Tomatoes – Sliced tomatoes can be replaced with cherry tomatoes cut in half or rehydrated sun-dried tomatoes.
Mozzarella – Soft and creamy mozzarella cheese melts beautifully under the broiler! Other cheeses to try are provolone slices, crumbled feta, or blue cheese.
Basil – Fresh or jarred basil pesto brings bright garden flavor to this recipe. Use one or the other–or both if you like!
How To Make Caprese Chicken
- Season, sear, and bake chicken (as per the recipe below).
- Bake until the chicken reaches 165°F.
- Top each chicken breast with pesto, tomato slices, and mozzarella cheese.
- Broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and top with fresh basil.
What To Serve With Caprese Chicken?
Serve this delish dish with a side of grilled or roasted asparagus, and a tangy cucumber and onion salad. Don’t forget to make a sweet and creamy chocolate mousse for dessert.
Tips For Success!
- Pound chicken breasts to even thicknesses so they cook evenly, or butterfly them open and stuff the inside with pesto or fresh spinach leaves.
- While the chicken is baking, slice the tomatoes and cheese so they are ready to go before adding to the chicken.
- Chicken is easy to under or overcook, so use a meat thermometer at the 15-minute mark (it’s okay to be a little bit under since the chicken will go under the broiler for a few more minutes, just be sure it cooks to a safe cooking temperature of 165° F.
- Use small basil leaves or stack them up and roll them into a small tube and cut thin strips with a paring knife. This is called ‘chiffonade’ and will give your chicken caprese a bistro-worthy look!
Low Carb Sides for Chicken
Caprese Chicken Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 small boneless skinless chicken breasts (5-6 oz. each)
- ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon pepper or to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or as needed
- ½ cup prepared basil pesto
- 2 tomatoes sliced
- 5 ounces fresh mozzarella sliced
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons basil leaves chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Pound chicken breasts to ¾" thickness. Season with salt and pepper.
- In an oven-safe pan heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned, but not cooked all the way through.
- Place the skillet in the oven and bake until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, about 12-15 minutes. (If it is just under 165°F that is ok because it will go back in the oven for a bit longer)*
- Top each chicken breast with pesto, tomato slices, and mozzarella cheese. Broil for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve immediately drizzled with balsamic vinegar and topped with basil.
Notes
- Be sure chicken reaches a safe internal cooking temperature of 165º F.
- Opt for fresh tomatoes, high-quality mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and chicken breasts to enhance the flavors.
- Sear the chicken breasts in a hot skillet to seal in juices, then bake in the oven until cooked through for juicy and tender chicken.
- Add mozzarella cheese to the cooked chicken breasts, melt it in the oven, and garnish with fresh tomato slices and basil leaves just before serving to retain freshness and flavors.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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