Description
Next time you’re craving Italian flavors without a lot of fuss, try making my baked Chicken Caprese Skillet recipe! Juicy chicken breasts are topped with melty mozzarella, sweet cherry tomatoes, herbaceous pesto, fresh basil, and a drizzle of balsamic reduction for a sunny, fresh-tasting meal that’ll make you swoon.
Ingredients
Scale
For the balsamic glaze:
- ½ Cup Balsamic Vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
- 1 ½ pound Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 pint Cherry Tomatoes
- 1 Tablespoon Jarred Pesto, plus more for serving
- 4-6 slices of Fresh Mozzarella
- Fresh Basil for serving
Instructions
- Combine the balsamic vinegar and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and allow to cook for about 20 minutes until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- Either slice the chicken in half (butterfly cut) or pound it to an even thickness of no more than ½ inch. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Add the olive oil and butter to an oven safe skillet over medium high heat.
- Place the chicken in the hot oil and cook until browned on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the pan and tent with aluminum foil.
- Reduce the temperature to medium. Deglaze the pan with ½ cup of water or chicken broth to prevent burning.
- Then add in the garlic and cook while stirring for 1 minute.
- Add the tomatoes to the pan and continue to cook until the skins start to wrinkle slightly.
- Nestle the chicken breasts into the tomatoes.
- Spread about ¾ teaspoon of pesto on each chicken breast and cover with slices of mozzarella.
- Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165F and the cheese is melted.
- Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Cover with the cooked tomatoes, fresh basil and a drizzle of the balsamic glaze and serve with rice, pasta or bread.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 Recipe
- Calories: 595 Calories
- Fat: 36g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 57g