I love easy chicken recipes, and in the summer I rotate between Greek lemon chicken, bruschetta chicken and this fresh and delicious caprese chicken. One of my favorite parts of summer is fresh tomatoes to make caprese salad and other summer time recipes. We’ve had zero luck with growing tomatoes at my house, so I buy the best I can find at the farmer’s market and savor them. This chicken caprese just screams summer – grilled chicken, fresh mozzarella, summer’s finest tomatoes, basil and balsamic – what’s not to love?
Chicken Caprese Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need boneless skinless chicken breasts, olive oil, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, balsamic glaze and fresh basil.
How do you make chicken caprese?
Heat an outdoor grill or grill pan over medium high heat. Next, season the chicken breasts with olive oil, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Place the chicken on the grill, and sear on both sides until the chicken is cooked through. Add a slice of cheese on top of each chicken breast, and cook for one more minute. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter. Add the tomatoes, basil, and more salt and pepper. Drizzle a little balsamic glaze over the top of the chicken, then serve and enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Chicken
This caprese chicken recipe contains balsamic glaze, which is very different than regular old balsamic vinegar. Balsamic glaze is the vinegar that simmers to create a thick, syrupy liquid that’s more mellow than standard balsamic vinegar. I buy mine in the vinegar/salad dressing aisle. If you can’t find it at your store, it’s pretty easy to make it yourself. Use chicken breasts that are all the same size and thickness so that they cook at the same rate. I often buy the thin cut chicken breasts because they cook so much faster. Tomatoes not in season? Try making this dish with a topping of oil packed whole sun dried tomatoes instead of fresh tomatoes. I like to finish off my caprese chicken with a sprinkling of flaky sea salt, it really accentuates the flavor of the tomatoes.
Flavor Variations
Chicken caprese is great as-is, but you can easily customize some of the ingredients to your taste.
Protein: This recipe also works will with chicken thighs, pork chops, flank steak or even salmon fillets. Cheese: No fresh mozzarella on hand? Use regular part skim mozzarella, or try a provolone cheese, shaved parmesan or a slab of feta cheese. Toppings: Feel free to add sliced avocado, a drizzle of chili oil for spice, or some fresh lemon zest. You can also substitute fresh green onions, parsley or dill for the basil.
This chicken recipe is destined to become your favorite summertime dinner. I’ve made it countless times this month, it’s such a fun twist on the classic caprese salad. And besides, we’ve got to use up all the ripe tomatoes while they’re still in season!
Chicken Caprese Video
