Easy One Pan Caprese Chicken Recipe

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One Pan Caprese Chicken is an Italian-inspired dish that is made with tender chicken breast, fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese and fresh basil leaves. It’s a healthy meal that looks impressive yet effortless to make. It’s a great main dish for guests or one that the whole family will love.

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This delicious chicken dish is a twist on the classic carprese salad. It brings together the fresh flavors of summer in one pan. As the ingredients blend together in one pan, the flavors intensify.

🤍Why you will love this recipe

Simple and flavorful! This recipe is so easy to make with just a handful of fresh ingredients and it’s packed with flavor!
This dish is cooked in a single pan, which makes cleanup a breeze.

For more chicken recipes, check out these recipes for Chicken Murphy or Chicken Giambotta.

a picture of the ingredients for chicken caprese

Here is What You Will Need

This is an overview of the ingredients and steps to make this French onion chicken soup recipe, scroll down to see ingredient notes and substitutions as well as a printable recipe card with exact measurements and complete cooking instructions.

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🛒Ingredients

3/4 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
Cherry tomatoes
Mozzarella cheese
Fresh basil
Lemon juice
Balsamic Vinegar
Olive oil
Garlic Powder

🥄Equipment

Large skillet

How to make this chicken caprese recipe

Prepare the Ingredients: Slice the cherry tomatoes in half, cut the basil into strips.

Make the marinade: Mix the balsamic vinegar, olive oil and garlic powder together.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees f.

a picture of marinade pouring onto chicken

STEP 1: Place the chicken breasts into a ceramic or glass dish, and pour the marinade over the chicken breasts. Marinate the chicken for at least one hour.

STEP 2: Heat olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the chicken breasts with a paper towel to remove some of the moisture. Once the skillet is hot, place chicken breasts. Cook until they are golden brown on each side (2-3 minutes on each side).

STEP 3: Add the tomatoes, cover the pan and place it in the oven for 10 minutes.

STEP 4: Remove the pan from the oven top each chicken breast with a slice of mozzarella cheese and place the pan back into the oven for 5 to 10 minutes longer or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees and the cheese has melted. Remove from the oven and add the fresh basil

caprese chicken out of the oven with fresh basil on top

Tip! Try an Instant Read Thermometer from Thermoworks for perfectly cooked meat!

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Chicken – For this recipe, it’s best to use boneless skinless chicken breast or chicken cutlets. They are tender and cook quickly, making them the ideal choice.

If you prefer chicken thighs, you can substitute chicken breasts for boneless chicken thighs.

Tomatoes – I like to use fresh tomatoes such as cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes when I make this caprese chicken recipe.

Smaller tomatoes can be substituted with slices or chunks Roma tomatoes if small tomatoes aren’t available.

Basil – Fresh basil is a key component in Caprese dishes and enhances the overall flavor.

If fresh basil is unavailable, you can substitute with 1/2 teaspoon or more of dried basil or Italian seasoning.

Add it with the tomatoes rather than at the end of cooking the chicken, and keep in mind the taste will not be as vibrant as it would be with fresh basil.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this caprese chicken dinner with a salad, sauteed cauliflower, roasted vegetables, and baby potatoes or pasta,, spaghetti squash and some garlic bread for a complete meal.

How to store leftovers

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to four days. They can be reheated in either the oven or microwave.

Leftover suggestions

This is a recipe that makes for great leftovers. You can slice it up and mix it with your preferred pasta, use it as a sandwich filling or quesadilla stuffing, or even add it to a salad.

Recipe Variations

Balsamic Glazed Chicken Caprese – Elevate the flavors by drizzling a balsamic reduction (baldsmic glaze) to your Caprese chicken just before serving.

Pesto Caprese Chicken – Instead of marinating the chicken, try spreading a layer of basil pesto over each seared chicken breast before placing it in the oven.

Sheet Pan Chicken Caprese – Instead of using a skillet, try making this recipe on a sheet pan. After browning the chicken, transfer it along with the tomatoes onto the sheet pan. This is especially useful for larger portioned recipes.

Vegetarian Caprese Chicken – Follow the recipe, but use a plant-based protein such as roasted portobello mushrooms, eggplant slices or tofu in place of chicken breasts.

💡Tips

To sear the chicken properly, pat the chicken dry with a paper towel, make sure the pan is hot and let it cook undisturbed for 2 minutes.
Add the fresh basil at the end of the cooking cycle for the freshest basil flavor.

Can I use canned tomatoes instead of fresh tomatoes to make chicken Caprese?

When in a pinch, using canned tomatoes is an option. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the flavor may not be as fresh as it would be with fresh tomatoes.

What is chicken Caprese?

Chicken Caprese is inspired by the classic 2Caprese salad, consisting of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil leaves. The chicken breasts are marinated and cooked to perfection, resulting in a delightful blend of flavors of a caprese salad with chicken.

Are you too tired to cook dinner?

If you’re feeling uninspired when it’s time to cook dinner, this free guide will help you make a quick and healthy dinner with ingredients you have in your kitchen.