This juicy, baked chicken caprese is drizzled with balsamic reduction for a savory meal you’ll love! Each bite is filled with fresh basil, melty mozzarella, and sweet roasted tomatoes for a mouthwatering chicken dinner you’ll never regret making
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Caprese Recipe
This hearty chicken caprese is so good, you’ll never want to go back to regular chicken dinners!
- Effortless. Most of the cooking takes place in the oven, so you don’t have to do that much.
- Italian flavors. There’s melty mozzarella, balsamic reduction, and juicy cherry tomatoes in every bite.
- Wholesome. Making the reduction at home saves you from excess sodium and sugars found in store-bought sauces.
- Little clean-up. Since you only need one skillet to throw this recipe together, there’s barely any clean-up involved.
What You’ll Need
Cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and creamy mozzarella give this chicken caprese its Italian flair. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact amounts.
For the Chicken
- Chicken – Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are easiest to work with.
- Salt and pepper – Kosher salt and freshly-cracked black pepper are best.
- Avocado oil – Feel free to use olive oil or coconut oil.
- Cherry tomatoes – Avoid regular tomatoes because they’re too meaty.
- Basil – Parsley works too.
- Mozzarella – It needs to be fresh mozzarella.
For the Reduction
- Balsamic vinegar – There is no swap for this.
- Dijon mustard – Stone-ground mustard is a good swap but avoid American yellow mustard.
- Honey – Agave nectar can be used instead.
- Olive oil – Feel free to use avocado oil.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic and garlic paste are best.
- Salt and pepper – Add them to taste.
How to Make Chicken Caprese with Balsamic Reduction
You’ll love that you can get other things done as this easy chicken dinner with tangy balsamic reduction bakes in the oven. Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe card.
- Make the balsamic sauce. Preheat the oven to 400F. Whisk the sauce ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Set aside 2 tablespoons for later.
- Cook the chicken. Season the chicken with salt and pepper on all sides. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the avocado oil and chicken. Sear it 3-4 minutes per side.
- Add the sauce. Stir 1 cup cherry tomatoes into the skillet. Pour the balsamic sauce on top (don’t add the reserved sauce yet).
- Bake it. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
- Make it melty. Remove the chicken from the oven. Top each piece with mozzarella. Return it to the oven until melty.
- Serve. Slice the remaining tomatoes in half. Remove the chicken from the heat. Garnish it with tomatoes, basil, and the reserved sauce. Serve and enjoy!
Tips for Success
From making it a stove-only dinner to adding a kick of heat, this simple chicken caprese will be your go-to dinner no matter what.
- Go for store-bought. If you’re in a rush, use store-bought balsamic reduction instead to save time.
- Add veggies. Stir 1 cup sliced mushrooms into the skillet with cherry tomatoes. Bake as usual. They’ll release moisture in the oven and help keep the chicken juicy.
- Use a meat thermometer. Stick a meat thermometer into the thickest part of each chicken breast after baking. Make sure it reads 165F, otherwise it’s uncooked.
- Make it spicy. Add a sprinkle red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to taste for a kick of heat. Chili oil works too.
- Flatten it. To ensure even cooking, wrap each chicken breast in between two sheets of plastic wrap or parchment. Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound the chicken until it’s an even thickness (between 3/4-1″ throughout).
- Use leftovers. You won’t use an oven for this. Reduce the sauce in a small pot over medium heat until thickened. Set it aside. Sautée the cherry tomatoes in a large skillet with avocado oil. Place a slice of my Garlic Herb Roasted Turkey in the skillet and add mozzarella on top. Cover the skillet and let it heat until warm and melty. Serve and drizzle with sauce to taste.
Serving Suggestions
This juicy chicken caprese is a great main dish for dinner. Pair it with veggie sides, soups, or pasta to complete the meal. I love it with my Arugula Salad or Classic Wedge Salad. My Asparagus with Lemon Zest are great too. For soup options, try my Tuscan White Bean Soup. Don’t forget a side of my Pesto Pasta with Grilled Vegetables.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
Melty mozzarella and sweet tomatoes prevent this from being a freezer-friendly recipe, but you can definitely make it in advance.
- Fridge: Place it in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Keep it away from direct heat and sunlight.
- To reheat it: Microwave it for up to a minute or until warm. You can also heat it in a pan over medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
- Grilled Chimichurri Chicken
- Baked Chicken Parmesan
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken Thighs
- Sheet Pan Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs and Vegetables
Chicken Caprese with Balsamic Reduction
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Stove & Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
This chicken caprese recipe with basil, mozzarella, and cherry tomatoes is an easy dinner with Italian vibes and a balsamic reduction.
Ingredients
Caprese Chicken:
- 4 boneless chicken breasts
- salt & pepper
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup fresh basil, chiffoned
- 4 oz. of fresh mozzarella, sliced into 1/4” slices
Balsamic Sauce:
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- salt & pepper to season
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Make the Balsamic Sauce: to a small bowl add balsamic vinegar, mustard, honey, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Whisk together until emulsified. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the mixture for later.
- Season both sides of boneless chicken breasts with salt & pepper.
- Heat one large skillet to medium-high heat.
- Add avocado oil to the pan along with chicken breast. Sear each side for 3-4 minutes.
- Next, add 1 cup whole cherry tomatoes to the skillet with chicken breast and pour the balsamic sauce over top. (leaving the reserved sauce for later)
- Place the skillet in the oven, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven. Top each chicken breast with a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese.
- Put back in the oven for an additional 5 minutes, or until internal temperature of chicken reaches 165°F.
- Cut remaining 1/2 cup of cherry tomatoes in half.
- Remove chicken from the oven, top with halved cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and finish with remaining balsamic sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken + tomato & sauce
- Calories: 411
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 259 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 44 g
- Cholesterol: 144 mg
39 comments on “Chicken Caprese with Balsamic Reduction”
So yummy! I added a splash of apple cider vinegar.
Yeah, so glad you liked it!
I LOVE this recipe, and it would be perfect for my new link party. This link party is called ‘Required Ingredient Recipe Link Party’ and I’ll be holding it every Sunday, starting right now.
The idea is to focus on a single ingredient each week and I’m starting off with cheese because everyone loves cheese!
I’m planning to do a ton of promotion to get this link party off the ground, so any recipes you post should get lots of attention.
Regardless of if you link up or not, I’m pinning this recipe! Yum!
Hope to see you at the link party…
http://futureexpat.com/2013/10/required-ingredient-cheese/
Thanks so much for the invite karen, sounds like a great party and I will try to stop by if I can. 🙂 Thank you very much for the pin and for stopping by!
I have been looking for a balsamic reduction recipe and here it is. i bought some wonderful fig balsamic last Christmas and I think it will be terrific! Your photography makes all the dishes look so delicious! I will be trying all your balsamic reduction recipes with the Baked chicken on veggies first!
Yeah! So glad you found one, this one is definitely my favorite. In fact, haven’t had it in a while so I might whip up another one next weekend! 🙂 The fig balsamic sounds delicious, I haven’t had that yet. Will have to give it a try! YUM! I hope you enjoy all those balsamic recipes as much as we do! Have a great rest of the week Rae!
You made that look so beautiful! Yummy. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friday
Awww. thanks so much Adelina. I appreciate all your sweet comments!
this looks soooo good!! stopping by from sits and saying hi 🙂
Thanks Christy! It is so yummy, the balsamic reduction makes the dish!! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
I hope you feel better when they are taken out. I’ve never experienced it. And, I hope I never do! Get better soon!
You always make such beautiful dishes! This one is very appetizing. Love how you used the balsamic reduction. My family would love this! Hope you’re enjoying your Sunday, pain free!
Thanks so much Gloria, your so sweet! {you and your momma heart :)} Definitely starting to feel on the up and up. I hope you and the fam love this dish, the balsamic reduction is a killer! 🙂 {and sweet so you will love it… hehe}
Yum! I think I’ll be making this for dinner this week! I’m a new follower on blog lovin and fb!
Ashley @ casa-de-castel.blogspot.com
Awesome! I hope you enjoy it Ashley, let me know how it goes. So glad to have you as a new follower! Welcome. 🙂
I mad this for dinner last night and it was delish! Such a pretty, easy meal! 🙂
made* lol
Awesome! So glad you liked it Ashley! Yeah, my favorite part about this dish is how easy it is. 🙂
My mouth hurts just thinking about wisdom teeth removed. I had dry sockets, I sooooo hope you do not get them 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing with us at Best of the Weekend. This chicken looks wonderful, but everything you make looks wonderful!!! Hope to see you again next week!
Yeah, me too! I had a friend who had them. I’m just following instructions to the tee. Thanks for stopping Lisa and for throwing your awesome par-tay!
Had me at balsamic 🙂 This looks really incredible Krista!
Thanks Trish! I seriously could just straight up lick this balsamic reduction off the plate… well actually I did. Shhh. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
This looks awesome, Krista! Pinned. I hope your surgery went smoothly and you recover super fast. I’ll be thinking about you!
You’re so sweet! Thank you Andi. So far, recovering well. Just feel like my cheeks are twice the size they normally are! Thanks for the pin love!
I can’t get enough Caprese recipes, and balsamic reduction is my favorite way to top it! Lovely dish. I hope your surgery went well! Sounds painful.
I know right! The absolute best way to top it, I might be a little obsessed with it now! 😉 Surgery went well and so far recovering well, I just can’t wait to start eating food again. I definitely have to stay away from the Food Network otherwise I start drooling! 🙂 hehe
You don’t need to apologize for posting another great caprese recipe!! Hope the surgery went dear.
Thanks so much! It went great, just in recovery mode now. 🙂
Krista, this looks absolutely delicious! Pinning! Good luck with your wisdom teeth – make sure to use the ice just like they say to prevent swelling. 🙂 Will be thinking of you!
Thanks Cindy, i have been icing like a mad woman. Thanks for the encouragement and care concern.. you can definitely tell you are a mommy! 🙂
I think your caprese recipes are just the thing, since my basil plant is going crazy right now 🙂
well perfect, then go make you some pesto too! 🙂
Sounds good to me- I was just wondering what we should do with our chicken on the menu tonight. I think this ought to do it.
Yeah! I love changing up chicken recipes, I hope you and that cute family of yours loves it! 🙂
Oh, yum, this looks so delicious and great for a weeknight meal for the family. Good luck with your surgery! Hope you have a smooth procedure and quick and easy recovery!
Your so sweet, thank you Kristin! So far, I can’t feel anything but thats probably still the drugs. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate it! 🙂
I hope you heal quickly! I had my wisdom teeth taken out in ’06. Do everything they say to prevent getting dry sockets. Those are not fun!
This chicken dish looks so good! Pinning and sharing on Facebook & Twitter!
Thanks Julie! I will, I do NOt want to get dry sockets. A friend of mine had them and she said it was very painful. Thanks for the share love my friend! 🙂 I hope you and your man have a great weekend!
Good luck with your wisdom teeth and thanks for sharing this perfect summer recipe!
Thanks! Basically freaking out right now.. but it will be over in a little bit. 🙂 Glad you liked the summer recipes and hope you get a chance to make a couple.