Baked Caprese Chicken is an easy family dinner with fresh tomatoes, basil leaves, mozzarella, and fruity balsamic glaze. Try it today!
Caprese Chicken is a delicious and colorful meal. This delicious Chicken Dinner takes the Mediterranean ingredients of a Classic Caprese Salad and adds them to baked chicken. It’s a simple and fresh take on the traditional dish.
Table of contents
Sabrina’s Caprese Chicken Recipe
This Caprese Chicken is super easy to make and will be ready to eat in under a half-hour! Plus, the Caprese salad topping gives it a whole new flavor that completely changes the basic meal. The combination of fresh summer tomatoes, melty cheese, and balsamic gives the chicken a refreshing Mediterranean flavor that you’re sure to love.
Caprese salad is a classic Italian dish that uses the color of the Italian flag by arranging red tomatoes, green basil, and mozzarella cheese on a plate. The bright tomato and basil look absolutely beautiful over the balsamic Caprese chicken for a delicious dish that looks as good as it tastes.
Ingredients
- 4 Chicken breasts: Cooking skinless chicken breasts gives this recipe protein to make it filling enough for a main dish. It’s an easy and delicious way to enjoy the flavors of Caprese salad into a complete meal. You can substitute with chicken thighs if preferred.
- 2 tablespoons Vegetable Oil: This is used for brushing the chicken and adds moisture and flavor. We are using olive oil in this recipe
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt: It is used to season the chicken and enhance its flavor. You can use regular table salt if needed.
- ½ teaspoon Coarse Ground Black Pepper: This adds a peppery flavor and a bit of heat to the chicken.
- 2 Plum tomatoes: Sliced plum tomatoes provide a fresh and juicy element to the dish, adding a burst of flavor.
- 6 Fresh Basil Leaves: These are thinly sliced and give an aromatic and fresh flavor to the dish. You can use one teaspoon of dried basil or two teaspoons of Italian seasoning as a substitute.
- 4 slices of Mozzarella Cheese: Fresh mozzarella cheese adds a creamy and cheesy layer to the chicken, making it gooey and delicious.
- ½ cup Balsamic Glaze: This is drizzled over the chicken just before serving, adding a sweet and tangy flavor that complements the other ingredients.
Kitchen Tools and Equipment
- Oven: An oven is essential for baking the chicken to perfection at 400 degrees. Make sure your oven is preheated before placing the chicken inside.
- Baking Pan (9×13): A 9×13 baking pan is used to place the chicken in the oven. Ensure it is ungreased to prevent sticking.
- Basting Brush: A basting brush is required to evenly brush the chicken with vegetable oil. It helps in distributing the oil for flavor and moisture.
- Slicing Knife: A slicing knife is necessary for slicing the plum tomatoes and thinly slicing the fresh basil leaves. A quality sharp knife will make this task easier and safer
How to Make Caprese Chicken
Time needed: 25 minutes.
- Preheat Oven
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F, or 200 degrees C.
- Prepare Chicken
Place each piece of chicken in an ungreased 9×13 baking pan. Brush them with vegetable oil and sprinkle with salt and black pepper.
- Add Tomatoes and Basil
Top the chicken with sliced plum tomatoes and thinly sliced fresh basil leaves.
- Bake Chicken
Bake the chicken, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until it’s cooked through.
- Add Cheese
After the chicken is cooked, place a slice of Mozzarella cheese on top of each chicken breast.
- Melt Cheese
Put the pan back in the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Drizzle with Balsamic Glaze
Just before serving, drizzle the chicken with balsamic glaze. Serve with crusty bread and a side salad!
Can I Make This in Advance?
Caprese Chicken is best enjoyed fresh. However, you can prepare the ingredients a day in advance and assemble them just before baking to save time without compromising taste and texture. Don’t drizzle the balsamic glaze until serving.
Nutritional Facts
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Preventing Dry Chicken: To keep the chicken moist, avoid overcooking. Use a meat thermometer and remove the chicken from the oven when it reaches 165 degrees F.
- Slicing Basil: To thinly slice fresh basil leaves, stack them on top of each other, roll them tightly, and then slice. This technique makes it easier to get those fine ribbons of basil. You’ll want a high-quality Knife to do the job.
- Serve with Salad: Caprese Chicken pairs wonderfully with a simple salad of mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and a balsamic vinaigrette for a complete meal.
What to Pair with Caprese Chicken
When you’re serving the Caprese Chicken there are plenty of filling side dishes, you can use to round out the meal. Serving the baked chicken over pasta would taste great. But, you could also enjoy it with Brown Rice or cauliflower rice. For more Italian dishes, you can also serve warm Garlic Bread or Pesto Cheesy Bread.
How to Store Caprese Chicken
Storing
Don’t leave Baked Caprese Chicken at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If you have any leftovers, you can seal and store the chicken dinner in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Reheating Tips
- Regular Oven: Preheat to 300 degrees, cover with foil, and bake for about 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
- Air Fryer: Use the air fryer at a low temperature (around 300 degrees) and reheat for about 5-8 minutes, checking frequently.
- Toaster Oven: Preheat the toaster oven to a low temperature, cover with foil, and reheat for approximately 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave: Use low power settings and reheat in 30-second intervals, checking until it’s heated to your liking (usually 2-3 minutes). Be cautious not to overheat to prevent rubbery texture.
Freezing
It is recommended to store the baked chicken by itself without the toppings and then add them only when ready to serve. If you have a lot of leftovers, let the chicken cool before sealing it in an airtight container to store in the freezer. Baked Caprese Chicken stays good frozen for up to 4 months.
Alternative Cooking Methods
Grilled Caprese Chicken
Grilling adds a smoky and charred flavor to your Caprese Chicken, making it perfect for outdoor gatherings or when you want that distinct grilled taste.
- Instructions: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Grill the chicken breasts for about 6-8 minutes per side or until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees. During the last few minutes, add the Mozzarella cheese slices and cover the grill until the cheese melts. Drizzle with balsamic glaze just before serving.
Pan-Seared Caprese Chicken
Pan-searing is a quick stovetop method that creates a delicious sear on the chicken.
- Instructions: Heat a skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat with a bit of oil. Add the seasoned chicken breasts and cook for about 6-7 minutes per side until they reach 165 degrees internally. During the last minute, place a lid or foil over the pan and add the Mozzarella cheese to melt. Finish with balsamic glaze.
Frequent Questions
If you don’t have a balsamic glaze, you can make a simple substitute by easily making your own! Check out the Variations section below for a brilliantly sweet Balsamic Honey Reduction. Alternatively, you can use a store-bought balsamic reduction.
Yes, you can use dried basil, but fresh basil leaves provide a more vibrant flavor and aroma. If using dried basil, reduce the quantity to about ⅓ of the fresh amount, as dried herbs have a stronger flavor.
To prevent the chicken from drying out, make sure not to overbake it. Follow the recommended baking time and temperature, and if in doubt, use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Caprese (pronounced kuh-PREY-zay) refers to a classic Italian salad or dish that traditionally consists of fresh mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar or glaze. It’s known for its vibrant colors representing the Italian flag (red, white, and green).
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breast , halveed, boneless, skinless
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 2 plum tomatoes , sliced
- 6 fresh basil leaves , thinly sliced
- 4 slices Mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Place chicken in an ungreased 9×13 baking pan.
- Brush chicken with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Top with tomatoes and basil.
- Bake, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
- Add cheese on top and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until melted.
- Drizzle with balsamic glaze just before serving.
Notes
- Click on the “yield” amount to slide and change the number of servings and the recipe will automatically update!
- Click on times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer while cooking.
- To convert measurements to grams, click on the “Metric” option next to “Ingredients” in the recipe card.
Nutrition
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Variations Caprese Chicken
- Pesto Caprese Chicken: To add some rich, herb flavors to the dish you can top the chicken off with pesto. Use half a cup of pesto sauce, then add the tomatoes on top before baking the Pesto Caprese Chicken.
- Tomatoes: You can also change the type of tomato you use in this recipe. Instead of plum tomato slices, try cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, or grape tomatoes.
- Balsamic Honey Reduction: For a slightly sweet flavor, you can make a honey balsamic reduction and drizzle that on top of the Baked Caprese Chicken instead of plain balsamic dressing. To make the honey balsamic reduction, mix ½ cup balsamic vinegar and 3 tablespoons of honey and bring them to a boil in a saucepan. Then reduce the heat and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. The honey adds a delicious sweet undertone to the entire dish.
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