Description
Chicken Caprese is a delicious and fresh dish featuring pan-cooked chicken breasts topped with melted mozzarella, sautéed cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. This Italian-inspired recipe is perfect for a quick and flavorful main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 3 large garlic cloves, minced
Topping
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
- 10 large basil leaves, finely chopped
- 8 oz fresh buffalo mozzarella, sliced into 1/2 inch thick slices
- balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze, to taste
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken breasts and set aside.
- Cook the chicken: In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, warm 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add chicken, cover the pan, and cook for about 10 minutes. Flip chicken breasts and continue cooking until the chicken is cooked thoroughly or has reached an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Rest the chicken: Remove chicken from pan, place on a plate, and cover with foil to keep warm.
- Sauté garlic and tomatoes: Add remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the sauté pan. Add minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, scraping up any bits left from the chicken. Add the halved cherry tomatoes and continue sautéing until the tomato skins start to soften and wrinkle, about 5 minutes.
- Add basil and return chicken: Stir in the finely chopped basil, then quickly place the chicken back into the pan. Top each chicken breast with 2 slices of mozzarella cheese.
- Melt the cheese: Cover the pan with a lid and let the mozzarella melt for about 1-2 minutes.
- Finish and serve: Drizzle with a splash of balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze and serve immediately.
Notes
- Store any cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350°F until heated through for best results to keep chicken juicy and cheese from becoming rubbery.
- Alternatively, microwave in short bursts if pressed for time, but texture may be less ideal.
- Use fresh buffalo mozzarella for authentic creaminess; substitute with fresh mozzarella if unavailable.
- Adjust balsamic vinegar amount to your taste preference for acidity and sweetness balance.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
