Description
Chicken Caprese is a flavorful Italian-inspired dish featuring juicy sautéed chicken breasts topped with fresh mozzarella, sweet cherry tomatoes, and aromatic basil, finished with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar for a perfect balance of savory and tangy flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Tomato and Basil Topping
- 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 and Cook Chicken: Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken breasts and set aside. In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add chicken, cover pan, and cook for about 10 minutes. Flip chicken breasts and continue cooking until the chicken is thoroughly cooked or has reached an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Rest the Chicken: Remove chicken from the 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 or until fragrant, scraping up any browned bits left from the chicken. Add halved cherry tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomato skins start to soften and wrinkle, about 5 minutes.
- Add Basil and Mozzarella: Stir in finely chopped basil, then quickly place the chicken breasts back in the pan. Top each chicken breast with 2 slices of fresh buffalo mozzarella.
- Melt Cheese and Finish: Cover the pan with a lid and let the mozzarella melt, about 1-2 minutes. 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, keeping the chicken juicy and cheese from becoming rubbery. Microwaving is an option but can toughen the cheese.
- Use fresh buffalo mozzarella for the best creamy texture and flavor.
- To make it gluten-free, ensure balsamic glaze is free from additives containing gluten.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with toppings
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
