Caprese Chicken features juicy chicken breasts, sweet cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella pearls, and fresh basil. Drizzle with balsamic reduction and a spoonful of basil pesto for an incredible dinner that’s simple, tasty, and perfect for your next weeknight meal!
Caprese Chicken
Our Caprese Chicken recipe starts with beautifully seasoned chicken that is pan-seared to perfection. The goal here is to create a beautifully golden crust on the outside while keeping the inside tender and juicy.
And next, the magic happens. We sauté diced red onion in the same pan, incorporating all those flavorful browned bits from the chicken. Cherry tomatoes join the party, with a touch of balsamic vinegar and honey to enhance their natural sweetness and add some acidity. Minced garlic and more Italian seasoning are added, creating a sauce that’s robust and ridiculously flavorful.
Once the tomatoes have softened, we bring back our beautifully cooked chicken and sprinkle the pan with mozzarella pearls. We cover the pan, allowing the residual heat to slightly melt the cheese. To finish off, we scatter fresh ribboned basil and dollops of basil pesto throughout the skillet, lending the dish its signature Caprese touch. A drizzle of balsamic reduction ties everything together, balancing the richness of the dish with its sweet acidity. This dish is one for the books–I hope you love it as much as we all have!
Caprese Chicken Ingredients
A few ingredients to delve into:
- Balsamic vinegar: Choose a good quality balsamic vinegar for its balanced sweetness and acidity. It can significantly influence the taste of your dish.
- Honey: Honey is essential to counteract the acidity in this dish. If you prefer, you can replace it with white sugar.
- Extra virgin olive oil: We’ll use this for sautéing, so ensure it’s of high quality. The flavor of extra virgin olive oil can have a big impact on flavor!
- Garlic (minced): Freshly minced garlic promises the best flavor. For convenience, you can use jarred minced garlic, noting that the flavor will be slightly muted.
- Cherry tomatoes: Pick cherry tomatoes that are ripe yet firm, having smooth skin without any blemishes.
- Mozzarella pearls: These small, bite-sized mozzarella chunks are perfect for this dish. If unavailable, feel free to use a block of fresh mozzarella cut into small pieces.
- Basil pesto: Either use store-bought pesto (we recommend Rana’s) or make your own with our favorite Pesto Recipe.
- Parmesan cheese: Buy a block of Parmesan cheese that you can freshly grate over your dish. Using a microplane will yield super-fine cheese texture that melts beautifully into the dish.
- Balsamic ceduction: Pre-made balsamic reduction is available in stores, or you can make your own by simmering balsamic vinegar (with a touch of honey) until it forms a thicker syrup. This adds a concentrated, sweet flavor to the dish, enhancing the overall “Caprese” flavor profile.
How To Make Caprese Chicken (Tips)
Here are some tips to make your Caprese Chicken even more delicious:
- Cooking the chicken: To ensure your chicken breasts are cooked evenly, slice each breast in half creating 2 filets. Lightly pound them to a uniform thickness before cooking. We aren’t trying to flatten the chicken just getting them even throughout.
- Avoid overcooking the chicken: Keep a close eye on the chicken as it cooks, as overcooked chicken can become tough and dry. Using a meat thermometer can help – chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Use a cast iron skillet: If available, use a cast iron skillet for cooking the chicken. It provides excellent heat retention and gives a great sear to the chicken.
- Fresh basil: Top the dish with fresh basil leaves just before serving to add a burst of fresh flavor. Don’t cook the basil as it can turn bitter and lose its vibrant color.
- Season at each step: Remember to season a bit at each step of the cooking process — the chicken and the tomato sauce. This builds layers of flavor, making the final dish even more delicious.
What To Serve with Caprese Chicken
Caprese Chicken is a versatile dish that can be paired with many different sides; here are some ideas:
- Pasta: Serve your Caprese Chicken with a side of spaghetti, penne, or fusilli. To enhance the pasta’s flavor, toss it with some reserved pasta water, olive oil, garlic, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. This subtle flavor combination complements the chicken well.
- Farro: This grain, with its unique nutty taste, makes an excellent base for the succulent Caprese Chicken.
- Rice: Brown rice or quinoa could serve as a wholesome, nutritious base for this dish.
- Salad: A fresh green garden salad or a Caesar salad would make a great, light companion to this dish. You could also try a cucumber salad, avocado salad, or a mixed bean salad.
- Vegetables: Roasted, steamed, or sautéed vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, zucchini, bell peppers, or green beans would pair well with this dish
- Bread: A crusty Italian bread or garlic bread can be used to mop up the flavorful sauce left on your plate.
- Couscous: Steamed couscous, with its light and fluffy texture, serves as a delicious base for the saucy Caprese Chicken.
- Soup: A light soup like a minestrone or a tomato basil soup would make a great start to the meal.
Storage
Best Enjoyed Fresh!
Caprese Chicken, like many dishes, is best enjoyed fresh, right after it’s been cooked. The combination of tender chicken, melty mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, and vibrant basil is most delicious when served immediately, allowing all the flavors to meld together perfectly.
However, if you do find yourself with leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-four days. To reheat, it’s best to use the oven or a stovetop. Heat gently to prevent the chicken from drying out and the mozzarella from becoming too rubbery. You might also add a splash of chicken broth or water to keep the dish moist during reheating.
More Chicken Dinners:
- Baked Chicken Breast our all-purpose chicken breast recipe
- Honey-Garlic Chicken Thighs made in the pressure cooker (Instant Pot)
- Chicken Alfredo Recipe with a quick homemade Alfredo
- Baked Ziti With Chicken with a cheesy topping
- Chicken Noodle Casserole with a crunchy, cheesy topping
Caprese Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning divided
- Salt
- Pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1/2 large red onion finely diced
- 3 cups halved cherry tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 cup mozzarella pearls see note 1
- 1/3 cup fresh ribboned basil
- Toppings as desired see note 2
Instructions
- Slice the chicken breasts in half widthwise to create two thinner pieces per breast. If necessary, pound the breasts lightly to ensure they're evenly thick throughout. Combine 1 teaspoon of the Italian seasoning with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and season one side of the chicken with half this mix.
- Heat a large pan over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of oil. Once hot, place the chicken in the pan, seasoned side down, and season the other side with the remaining mix. Cook undisturbed for 4 minutes, then flip. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and cook for another 3–4 minutes until the chicken is golden brown and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove from the pan and cover with foil to keep warm.
- Without cleaning the pan, reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and the diced onion. Sauté until the onion is golden, about 3–4 minutes. Make sure to scrape up any browned bits from the pan.
- Add the halved cherry tomatoes, remaining 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, minced garlic, balsamic vinegar, and honey. Season the sauce with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Increase the heat back to medium-high and cook until the tomatoes begin to soften, around 2–4 minutes.
- Remove the pan from heat and return the cooked chicken to the pan, along with any accumulated juices. Nestle the chicken among the tomatoes and sprinkle the mozzarella pearls around the pan. Cover and let sit for a minute to soften the mozzarella. Remove the lid and add scoops of basil pesto to taste, then sprinkle fresh basil on top. Drizzle with balsamic reduction and serve immediately. If desired, grate Parmesan cheese over individual servings.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is amazing! We loved it the first night so much that we made it again the next night!
Thanks so much! I am so thrilled to hear this! 🙂
I love Caprese salad, and I think your addition of chicken is fantastic! This sounds like the perfect meal to kick off the Spring weather. Thanks for sharing!
I love that this is cooked up in the skillet to perfection. Oh my gosh, I cant wait to get my hands on this chicken. So many layers of goodness. And that fresh basil!!
Isn’t fresh basil the best?! Thank you so much Aimee!!
The perfect weeknight meal. And stunning as well!