Caprese Chicken For An Easy Weeknight Dinner

Caprese chicken is one of my favorite easy weeknight dinners when I want something that feels fresh, simple, and a little more exciting than plain grilled chicken.

This caprese chicken starts with seasoned chicken sautéed until golden, then gets hit with balsamic vinegar, my little secret ingredient, juicy cherry tomatoes, and garlic, of course. Everything gets topped with melty mozzarella and fresh basil for that classic caprese flavor.

You can literally serve it with just about anything. Over pasta, rice, creamy polenta, or keep things simple with my crisp Italian chopped salad on the side. If you want a whole spread, it would be so good served with my lemon ricotta pasta, or parmesan polenta fries.

Around here, I always laugh when this gets requested because my boys act like it is some big production. “Can you make caprese chicken tonight, or is that a lot of work?” Meanwhile, it is so fast and simple, but let your peeps think it is some big ordeal.

Caprese Chicken Ingredients

• Chicken breasts – Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work best here.
• Salt and pepper – Used to season the chicken.
• Dried basil and dried oregano – Give the chicken that classic Italian flavor.
• Olive oil and butter – I like using both for sautéing. The olive oil keeps the butter from burning, and the butter adds great flavor to the chicken.
• Balsamic vinegar – Adds a rich, tangy flavor.
• Brown sugar – Just a little bit helps balance out the sharpness of the balsamic vinegar and gives the sauce a smoother, slightly sweeter flavor.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic adds so much flavor to the sauce.
• Cherry tomatoes – They soften, burst, and make the most delicious little sauce in the pan.
• Fresh mozzarella – Stay away from the pre-shredded stuff for this one. Slice up a fresh ball of mozzarella so it melts beautifully over the chicken.
• Fresh basil – Brings that classic caprese flavor and freshness right at the end.

How to Make Caprese Chicken

Step 1

Season both sides of the chicken with salt, pepper, dried oregano, and dried basil. Let’s really rub that seasoning into the chicken breasts.

Step 2

Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and let it cook for about 4 to 5 minutes per side, depending on how thick your chicken breasts are. You want them nice and golden on the outside and cooked through in the middle. (The chicken should reach 165 degrees internally.) Set them aside on a plate for a minute.

Step 3

In the same pan, add balsamic vinegar and brown sugar. Give it a stir with a wooden spoon, and scrape up any browned bits sticking to the pan. Then toss in the cherry tomatoes and then the chopped garlic. Let everything cook for a few minutes until the tomatoes start to soften and burst a little.

Step 4

Put the chicken back into the skillet. Add slices of fresh mozzarella right over each piece of chicken. Cover the pan for 2-3 minutes until the mozzarella gets nice and melty.

Step 5

Finish everything with fresh chopped basil and, if you want, a drizzle of balsamic glaze right before serving.

Variations

• Use sliced provolone instead of mozzarella if you like a slightly sharper flavor
• Add spinach for a little extra green
• Stir in a splash of cream for a creamy caprese chicken sauce
• Add red pepper flakes if you like a little heat

Your Caprese Chicken Questions

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If easy dinners with big flavor are your thing, this caprese chicken deserves a spot in your weeknight rotation. Oh, and try my other easy chicken recipes, like my baked chicken thighs and spatchcock chicken with sausage. You should join the cozy crew if you’re looking for more easy dinners, signature sips, cozy recipes, and entertaining tips.

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Caprese Chicken For An Easy Weeknight Dinner

This caprese chicken recipe is an easy one-pan dinner with chicken, tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and balsamic, ready in under 30 minutes.

Prep 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 18 minutes mins

Total Time 28 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Lorraine Saeger

Equipment

• 1 large skillet

Ingredients

• 1.5 pounds boneless chicken breasts
• 1 tsp salt and pepper for seasoning chicken
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp basil
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• ½ tbsp brown sugar
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
• 4-5 cloves garlic minced
• 4-5 slices fresh mozzarella
• 2 tbsp fresh basil chopped

Instructions

• Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, dried basil, and dried oregano.
• Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and let it cook for about 4 to 5 minutes per side, depending on how thick your chicken breasts are. You want them nice and golden on the outside and cooked through in the middle. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
• In the same skillet, add balsamic vinegar and brown sugar. Stir and scrape up any browned bits left on the pan.
• Add the cherry tomatoes and the minced garlic. Let the tomatoes cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, until they start to soften and burst.
• Add the chicken back into the skillet and spoon some of the sauce over the top. Lay the slices of fresh mozzarella over each piece of chicken.
• Cover the skillet for about 2 to 3 minutes, just until the mozzarella is melted.
• Top with fresh chopped basil.

Notes

• If your chicken breasts are very thick, slice them in half lengthwise or pound them out a little so they cook more evenly.
• Stay away from pre-shredded mozzarella for this one. Fresh sliced mozzarella melts so much better.
• A drizzle of balsamic glaze at the end is optional