This Caprese chicken is everything you love about the classic Italian salad — sweet cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and fragrant basil — turned into a satisfying weeknight dinner. Juicy chicken slices are seared until golden, blanketed with melty mozzarella, and finished with a fresh tomato-basil mix and a drizzle of balsamic. If you enjoy Italian-inspired meals, try our Baked Tomatoes with Mozzarella and Thyme and our Caprese Omelet with Mozzarella and Pesto.
Ingredients
- 200 g (7 oz) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 onion, thinly sliced
- 30 g (1 oz) basil, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 chicken breast, cut into 4 thin slices
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 slices mozzarella
Instructions
- Toss the tomatoes, onion, basil, 2 tbsp olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper; set aside.
- Rub the chicken slices with 1 tbsp olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic.
- Sear the chicken over high heat for 4 minutes on one side. Flip, top each piece with mozzarella, cover, and cook on low heat for 1-2 more minutes until done. Allrecipes has a handy guide to searing chicken to golden perfection.
- Top the chicken with the tomato-basil mixture and drizzle with a little extra balsamic.
Tips
- Pound the chicken slices to an even thickness so they cook through at the same rate.
- Keep the pan hot and resist moving the chicken while it sears — that’s what builds the golden crust.
- Leftover tomato-basil mix keeps well in the fridge for a day and is delicious over pasta. Serious Eats shares great tips on keeping fresh ingredients at their best.
Nutrition: per 100 g: 144 kcal, protein 21.4 g, fat 5.4 g, carbs 2 g.