Description
Chicken Caprese is a vibrant and flavorful dish featuring juicy boneless, skinless chicken breasts topped with melted fresh buffalo mozzarella, sautéed cherry tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil, finished with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar or glaze. This Italian-inspired recipe is perfect for a quick and elegant dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Topping & Sauce
- 3 large garlic cloves, minced
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
- 10 large basil leaves, finely chopped
- 8 oz fresh buffalo mozzarella, sliced in 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 evenly and set them aside to rest briefly while preparing other ingredients.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts, cover the pan with a lid, and cook for about 10 minutes.
- Flip and Finish Cooking: Flip the chicken breasts and continue cooking covered until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, approximately another 10 minutes.
- Rest the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the pan and place on a plate. Cover with foil to keep warm and juicy.
- Sauté Garlic and Tomatoes: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the same pan. Add minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, scraping up any browned bits left by the chicken.
- Cook Tomatoes: Add the halved cherry tomatoes to the pan and sauté until their skins begin to soften and wrinkle, about 5 minutes.
- Add Basil and Return Chicken: Stir in the chopped basil and quickly return the chicken breasts to the pan, placing them among the tomatoes.
- Add Mozzarella and Melt: Top each chicken breast with two slices of fresh buffalo mozzarella. Cover the pan with a lid and let the cheese melt for 1-2 minutes.
- Finish and Serve: Drizzle with a splash of balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze to taste, then serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Store leftover Chicken Caprese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350°F until warmed through to keep chicken juicy and cheese from becoming rubbery; microwave reheating is possible but may affect texture.
- Fresh buffalo mozzarella provides the best melt and flavor, but you can substitute with fresh mozzarella if needed.
- For a thicker balsamic glaze, gently reduce balsamic vinegar in a pan before drizzling.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with toppings
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
