Easy Balsamic Chicken Caprese Recipe - Ready in 30 Minutes! (2024)

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This easy Chicken Caprese recipe is bound to become one of your family’s favorite dinner idea! Chicken breasts are topped with garlic cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and balsamic vinegar. Ready in 30-minutes!

Easy Balsamic Chicken Caprese Recipe - Ready in 30 Minutes! (1)

Table of Contents

  • Juicy Homemade Chicken Caprese
  • What is Chicken Caprese?
  • What You’ll Need
  • How to Make Chicken Caprese
  • Tips for Success
  • Serving Suggestions
  • How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
  • Get the Recipe

    Juicy Homemade Chicken Caprese

    If you’ve run out of ideas on how to spice up this week’s chicken dinner, don’t sweat it for another minute. I am in major big-time-whoa love with this Chicken Caprese, and I guarantee you will be too. Just wait until you taste it!! Sautéed chicken breasts topped with melted mozzarella cheese and garlicky tomatoes? Um, yes please!

    In addition to being incredibly tasty, this recipe is also a breeze to put together, and easily divided in two for a smaller serving. Plus, as long as you watch your cheese and olive oil, it’s pretty healthy!

    Easy Balsamic Chicken Caprese Recipe - Ready in 30 Minutes! (2)

    What is Chicken Caprese?

    Chicken Caprese is a dinnertime twist on the slightly simpler caprese salad. A typical Italian caprese salad is made up of thick slices of ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, strips of basil, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. To make the salad a little more filling, you can add in chicken breast, and it becomes a hearty, colorful meal!

    Easy Balsamic Chicken Caprese Recipe - Ready in 30 Minutes! (3)

    What You’ll Need

    Chicken Caprese can be made any time of year, but it’s an especially wonderful summertime meal if you have a garden growing with tomatoes and basil!

    Wondering what else you’ll need? Gather up the following 9 ingredients:

    • Chicken: I like to use 4 skinless chicken breasts, but you could do skinless and boneless if you want – just adjust the cooking time.
    • Seasoning: Add a little kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
    • Olive Oil: For sautéing the chicken and garlic.
    • Garlic: 3 large cloves, minced.
    • Tomatoes: I generally use 2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved.
    • Basil: I recommend using 10 large basil leaves, finely chopped. If you don’t have fresh basil you could season the chicken with dried basil.
    • Cheese: 8 oz fresh buffalo mozzarella is my go-to, sliced in 1/2 inch thick slices.
    • Garnish: Balsamic vinegar, to taste.

    How to Make Chicken Caprese

    This easy chicken dinner is cooked and plated in 5 steps. First, you’ll season and sauté the chicken, then you’ll add in the tomatoes and mozzarella. The end result is a fragrant pan of chicken just waiting to be devoured!

    Season the Chicken: Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken breasts and set aside.

    Easy Balsamic Chicken Caprese Recipe - Ready in 30 Minutes! (4)

    Cook the Chicken: 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 cooked thoroughly (or has reached an internal temp of 165°F).

    Sauté the Garlic: Remove chicken and place on a plate and cover with foil. Add remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to sauté pan. Add garlic and cook for about 1 minute, or until fragrant, scraping up all the little bits of chicken left in the pan.

    Sauté the Tomatoes: Add tomatoes and continue sautéing until tomatoes skin starts to soften/wrinkle, about 5 minutes. Stir in basil and quickly place chicken back in pan. Top each chicken breast with 2 slices of mozzarella.

    • Easy Balsamic Chicken Caprese Recipe - Ready in 30 Minutes! (5)
    • Easy Balsamic Chicken Caprese Recipe - Ready in 30 Minutes! (6)

    Briefly Melt the Cheese: Cover pan with lid and let the mozzarella melt, about 1-2 minutes. Drizzle with a splash of balsamic vinegar and serve immediately!

    • Easy Balsamic Chicken Caprese Recipe - Ready in 30 Minutes! (7)
    • Easy Balsamic Chicken Caprese Recipe - Ready in 30 Minutes! (8)

    Tips for Success

    Who knew such a pretty dish could be so easy to put together? Here are some extra tips to ensure that things go smoothly for you:

    • Don’t Undercook the Chicken: Rubbery, underdone chicken is definitely not the goal here. I recommend using a meat thermometer to make sure that the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees before you remove it from the pan.
    • Cheese Substitution: If you don’t have mozzarella, use another melty cheese like provolone.
    • Tomato Tip: If cherry tomatoes are not in season or you don’t like the options at your local store, try making this dish with sun dried tomatoes instead – the flavors will still be amazing!
    Easy Balsamic Chicken Caprese Recipe - Ready in 30 Minutes! (9)

    Serving Suggestions

    Let’s talk side dishes! There are a number of sides that you can serve with this chicken:

    • Noodles: I like to make a quick serving of buttery pasta (with a squeeze of lemon) to go alongside this chicken.
    • Garlic Bread: For if we are feeling extra carby!
    • Salad and Vegetables: Mashed cauliflower or a side arugula salad are the healthier options that we usually serve with this meal.

    How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

    To store Chicken Caprese, refrigerate it in an airtight container for 2-3 days. When you want to reheat it, pour a little olive oil into a pan on medium heat, and add some extra cheese on top of the chicken. Cook until the chicken and tomatoes reach the desired temperature.

    Easy Balsamic Chicken Caprese Recipe - Ready in 30 Minutes! (10)

    Easy Balsamic Chicken Caprese Recipe - Ready in 30 Minutes! (11)

    4.5 from 66 votes

    Print Pin Recipe

    Yield: 4 servings

    Chicken Caprese

    Chicken Caprese is made with garlicky cherry tomatoes, gooey mozzarella, fresh basil, and balsamic vinegar. This easy 30 minute dinner will wow your tastebuds and satisfy your cheesy cravings!

    Prep Time10 minutes minutes

    Cook Time20 minutes minutes

    Total Time30 minutes minutes

    Ingredients

    • 4 skinless chicken breasts
    • kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
    • 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, to taste

    Instructions

    • 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 cooked thoroughly (or has reached an internal temp of 165°F).

    • Remove chicken and place on a plate and cover with foil. Add remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil tosauté pan. Add garlic and cook for about 1 minute, or until fragrant, scraping up all the little bits of chicken left in the pan.

    • Add tomatoes and continue sautéing until tomatoes skin starts to soften/wrinkle, about 5 minutes.Stir in basil and quickly place chicken back in pan. Top each chicken breast with 2 slices of mozzarella.

    • Cover pan with lid and let the mozzarella melt, about 1-2 minutes.Drizzle with a splash of balsamic vinegar and serve immediately!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1, Calories: 462kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 51g, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 147mg, Sodium: 527mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 5g

    © Jessica – The Novice Chef

    Cuisine: Italian

    Category: Chicken

    Categories:

    • 30 Min or Less
    • Chicken
    • Diet
    • Dinner Ideas
    • Gluten Free
    • Low Carb
    • Recipes
    • Videos

    More easy chicken dinner ideas

    If you’re a fan of easy chicken recipes, take a look at these!

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    • Easy BBQ Oven Pulled Chicken
    • Crispy Brown Sugar Air Fryer Chicken Legs

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    Easy Balsamic Chicken Caprese Recipe - Ready in 30 Minutes! (2024)

    FAQs

    What is caprese chicken made of? ›

    Caprese Chicken is a one-pot chicken dinner that tastes like the height of summer no matter when you make it. With juicy tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, creamy mozzarella cheese, and punchy balsamic vinegar, this is an easy chicken recipe you'll return to again and again.

    How long can caprese sit out? ›

    Since tomatoes are best at room temperature, do not refrigerate the salad after it's been put together. The salad can sit at room temperature, loosely covered with a clean dish towel for a few hours.

    What wine goes with chicken caprese? ›

    Another great recipe to pair with Sauvignon Blanc is Caprese Stuffed Chicken. The wine's bright acidity complements the fresh flavors of tomatoes and mozzarella in this classic Italian dish.

    How long does caprese salad last in the fridge? ›

    To Make Ahead: This easy Caprese salad is definitely best served fresh but it can stay in the fridge for 2-3 days. If you need to make it ahead of time, slice the mozzarella and tomatoes and store them separately in the refrigerator.

    What does caprese mean in Italian? ›

    As it's called in Italian, Insalata caprese, Caprese salad literally means “Salad of Capri.” Although nobody knows whether or not the salad was actually first made on the Italian island, it likely originated from a dish made in Capri from a different type of cheese, cacio, served with tomatoes.

    How healthy is caprese? ›

    You'll also be getting a good dose of potassium, vitamin K, and vitamin A. Tomatoes get their signature red color from something called lycopene. Lycopene is linked to better heart and eye health. Basil – Basil is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and natural essential oils.

    Is mozzarella OK if left out overnight? ›

    The U.S. Department of Health doesn't recommend keeping any perishable food sitting out of the fridge for more than two hours — and that's certainly the case for soft cheeses, like cottage or cream cheese, brie, or fresh mozzarella.

    How to tell if mozzarella is off? ›

    Smell Cheese should typically have a characteristic smell related to its type, but if it smells sour, rancid, or like ammonia, it's a sign of spoilage. Mould Visible mould on cheese is a sign that it has spoiled. For blue cheeses, the presence of blue mould is intentional and safe to eat.

    Does mozzarella have to be refrigerated? ›

    If your kitchen is cool, and you bought your mozzarella in a tub of brine, you can probably leave it out overnight without a problem, as long as the cheese is well submerged. For longer storage, you'll need the fridge—mozzarella has too much water and not enough salt or acid to stay fresh for long.

    Which tomatoes are good for caprese? ›

    When selecting tomatoes, choose fragrant ones that smell earthy at the stem end and feel heavy for their size. Avoid any with wrinkled skins. You can also make a caprese with smaller tomato varieties, such as plum, roma, cherry, grape, or sungold.

    Why is Caprese so good? ›

    Caprese is truly a magical and perfect combination of flavors, textures, and freshness: ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, basil, and some kind of drizzle of either olive oil or balsamic… or both. For this Caprese, I used a simple balsamic reduction, which results in a pretty presentation and gorgeous flavor.

    What is balsamic glaze made of? ›

    Balsamic glaze is also called a “balsamic reduction.” It is essentially a reduction of balsamic vinegar. Additional sweeteners like honey or sugar can be added. The balsamic vinegar is simmered in a saucepan until it has reduced down and thickened to a maple-syrup consistency.

    How to make balsamic vinegar? ›

    Traditional balsamic vinegar is made only with one ingredient — "grape must" (in Italian, "mosto"), the sweet juice of freshly pressed grapes — that is boiled to a concentrate, fermented and acidified, and aged for 12 to 25 years or longer in wood barrels.

    What to eat caprese salad with? ›

    Here is a quick and simple answer! Our absolute favorite pairings for Caprese are Bolognese, Pasta alla Norma, potato casserole with sausage, honey-roasted chicken, panini sandwiches, garlic bread, polenta, focaccia, and steak.

    What does caprese mean in food? ›

    Meaning of caprese in English

    a salad made from slices of tomato and mozzarella (= a soft white Italian cheese), often with basil, and olive oil: The salads are pretty good — I normally get the Caprese. To start, we ordered the caprese salad.

    Why is caprese so good? ›

    Caprese is truly a magical and perfect combination of flavors, textures, and freshness: ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, basil, and some kind of drizzle of either olive oil or balsamic… or both. For this Caprese, I used a simple balsamic reduction, which results in a pretty presentation and gorgeous flavor.

    Is caprese actually Italian? ›

    The first origin story for Caprese salad dates back to post-World War I Italy. A patriotic mason wanted to make a dish that was a true tribute to Italy and that visually incorporated the tricolor into the presentation. The first printed mention of the Caprese salad was on a menu at the Hotel Quisisana.

    Is caprese and mozzarella the same? ›

    An Italian term, the word caprese refers to the combination of fresh Mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, sweet basil, salt, and olive oil. Most commonly it applies to the ever-popular caprese salad which originated in Capri, Italy.

    References

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