Caprese Chicken
Chicken Caprese is chicken cooked to tender and juicy perfection and topped with melty mozzarella, a succulent tomato sauce, peppery basil, and a sweet balsamic. This dish is easy to make, full of flavor, and perfect for a simple weeknight dinner.
Suitable for Keto, Low Carb, and Gluten Free diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.
Chicken Caprese is a simple weeknight meal that’s just right for serving your family and special enough for serving company. It tastes great all year long, but I love to make it in the summer when tomatoes and basil are fresh and ripe.
Like my Stuffed Chicken Breast, This Caprese chicken recipe is a great way to use what’s available in the farmer’s market. Seasonal produce is fresh tasting and so flavorful, and I’m always on the hunt for recipes that use what’s in season. No one wants to eat underripe, flavorless tomatoes, so the summer is the best time to make this recipe. Bonus points if you grow the tomatoes and basil yourself!
The grilled chicken and sauce is incredibly flavorful but still tastes light and refreshing, so it’s perfect for hot summer nights. It cooks quickly, so you’re not spending the whole evening in a hot kitchen. Serve it with a simple side salad or steamed veggie for a tasty meal your entire family is going to love.
Why You’ll ♡ This
- Quick Cooking – Get this Caprese Chicken on the table in under 30 minutes.
- Fresh and Flavorful – Seasonal tomatoes and basil give this simple meal BIG flavor.
- Perfect for Meal Prep – Make a big batch and pack the leftovers for lunch all week long.
- Healthy – This recipe is everything you love about Italian food without the heavy pasta.
- Easy Clean-up – This entire meal is cooked in one pan, so clean-up is a breeze.
Ready to make this Caprese Chicken Recipe? Gather your ingredients and I will show you…
How To Make Chicken Caprese
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper and cook in the skillet until golden and charred, about 5-6 minutes per side.
- Transfer the chicken to a plate and turn the skillet to low. Add balsamic vinegar and garlic and cook until fragrant or for 1 minute. Add tomatoes and simmer until soft.
- Return the chicken to the pan and top with mozzarella cheese slices. Cover the pan with a lid and allow the cheese to melt.
- Top with torn basil leaves and serve.
Pro Tips
- Check for doneness with a meat thermometer. Chicken should reach a temperature of 165F / 74C before consuming.
- Select similar-sized pieces of chicken for even cooking.
- When adding the balsamic vinegar, scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to incorporate the bits of flavor into the sauce.
- Slice some or all of the cherry tomatoes in half before adding them to the pan.
Delicious Variations
- Add Pesto – Stir a few tablespoons of pesto into the sauce or pour over the chicken for a burst of fresh flavor.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes – Add sundried tomatoes for a different flavor.
- Oregano – Swap the basil for oregano.
Make Ahead And Storage
Prep Ahead – You can cook the chicken in advance and reheat it in the pan briefly before proceeding with the rest of the recipe.
Store – Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to four days.
Freeze – Freeze the chicken and the sauce. Add fresh mozzarella when reheating.
- Place all of the chicken and sauce into a large freezer-safe bag or freeze in individual servings.
- Freeze for 2-3 months.
- Defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Reheat in the microwave or bake at 350F / 176C for 10-15 minutes.
FAQs
Yes. Chicken is low in fat and full of protein, and the tomato sauce is loaded with lycopene, folate, potassium, vitamin K, and vitamin C. Mozzarella does have a lot of fat, so you want to watch your portion size if that is a concern, but the cheese does have protein and several vitamins and minerals.
Serving Suggestions
More Recipes You May Like
- Buffalo Chicken Baked Feta Pasta.
- Coconut Lime Chicken Kabobs.
- Grilled Chicken Thighs.
- Stuffed Chicken Breast,
- Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo Pasta.
Weight Watchers Points
There are 4 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.
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Caprese Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 pound (453g) boneless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup (149g) cherry tomatoes
- 6-8 basil leaves torn
- 3 slices mozzarella cheese
- salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 3-4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Heat large heavy bottom pan over medium-high heat. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper and cook until golden and charred, about 5-6 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
- Lower the heat, add balsamic vinegar to the pan, then add garlic and cook until fragrant or for 1 minute. Add tomatoes and season with salt. Let it simmer until soft, don’t cook too much.
- Add th chicken back into the pan, top with mozzarella cheese slice; cover with a lid and allow it to melt.
- Once the cheese is melted, add the torn basil leaves on top, then serve.
Video
Notes
- Check for doneness with a meat thermometer. Chicken should reach a temperature of 165F / 74C before consuming.
- Select similar-sized pieces of chicken for even cooking.
- When adding the balsamic vinegar, scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to incorporate the bits of flavor into the sauce.
- Slice some or all of the cherry tomatoes in half before adding them to the pan.
- Storage – Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- There are 4 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.
Such a quick and easy summer recipe, love the flavours from the tomato and balsamic.
Such a fun recipe for summer! This chicken has all of my favorite flavors and I love how easily it comes together.
This was such a tasty and easy dinner to make the other night! This is one of our favorites and easy for a quick dinner! Can’t wait to make this again!
This chicken looks fantastic with all the fresh tomatoes and basil. Yum!
This is my idea of heaven for a summer dish. So fresh and healthy too.Thank you for the recipe.
This dish was so easy and my entire family loved it! I especially loved the fresh basil and the tangy balsamic. Soooo good!