Caprese chicken is a delicious and easy chicken dish that combines flavorful ingredients like tomato, basil, and mozzarella cheese. The name “caprese” comes from insalata caprese, the famous Italian salad made with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. By using these classic caprese ingredients, caprese chicken delivers big, bold Italian flavor in every bite!
Main Ingredients
The main ingredients that go into making caprese chicken are:
- Chicken breasts – Boneless, skinless chicken breasts provide a lean protein that takes on all the fresh flavors.
- Tomatoes – Sliced ripe tomatoes add juiciness and balance the richness of the cheese.
- Fresh mozzarella – Soft, creamy mozzarella cheese gives the dish its distinctive melted cheese appeal.
- Fresh basil – Chopped or torn fresh basil leaves infuse everything with aromatic flavor.
- Olive oil – Good quality extra virgin olive oil provides a touch of richness.
- Balsamic vinegar – A splash of balsamic vinegar adds tanginess.
- Garlic – Minced garlic provides savory background flavor.
- Salt and pepper – A pinch of salt and pepper seasons everything.
These simple yet impactful ingredients all work together to create the tasty caprese chicken flavor profile of savory cheese, bright tomatoes, and fragrant basil. By starting with high-quality fresh ingredients, you ensure delicious results!
How to Make Caprese Chicken
Making restaurant-worthy caprese chicken at home is easy to do. The basic process goes like this:
- Pound chicken breasts – Use a meat mallet to gently pound the chicken breasts to a uniform thickness. This helps them cook evenly.
- Make tomato topping – Slice tomatoes and tear basil leaves. Toss with olive oil, balsamic, garlic, S&P.
- Cook chicken – Pan fry the chicken breasts over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through.
- Add cheese – Top chicken with fresh mozzarella slices.
- Broil – Broil chicken and cheese briefly just until cheese melts.
- Finish with tomatoes – Remove from oven, top chicken with tomato-basil mixture.
With this easy technique, the chicken gets beautifully browned on the stove and finished off under the broiler. Melting cheese and fresh tomato topping come together for an incredible caprese chicken meal in 30 minutes or less!
Caprese Chicken Variations
Once you master the basic recipe, there are all kinds of ways to customize your caprese chicken creation. Get creative with these ideas:
- Use grape or cherry tomatoes instead of slicing large tomatoes.
- Add different herbs like parsley, oregano, or chives.
- Use bocconcini or fresh mozzarella balls instead of slices.
- Stir marinated artichokes into the tomato topping.
- Swap in pesto for the basil and olive oil.
- Serve over pasta, risotto, or zucchini noodles.
- Grill the chicken instead of pan frying.
The possibilities are endless! Play around with ingredients to put your own personal spin on classic caprese flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Caprese chicken is delicious on its own, but it also pairs beautifully with a variety of side dishes. Here are some serving suggestions:
- Garlic bread – Chewy, garlicky bread is the perfect accompaniment.
- Caesar salad – Crisp romaine and tangy Caesar dressing balance the rich chicken.
- Sauteed vegetables – Zucchini, yellow squash, bell peppers, etc.
- Pasta salad – Rotini, green beans, olives, tomatoes, feta cheese.
- Risotto – Creamy parmesan risotto is a savory base for the chicken.
- Polenta – Slices of soft, warm polenta round out the meal.
- Asparagus – Quick sautéed or grilled asparagus spears.
When planning your menu, think about complementary flavors and textures. For example, pairing caprese chicken with something green and crunchy like a salad or vegetable helps offset the richness of the cheese. Starchy sides like bread, pasta or polenta make the meal feel more complete.
Nutrition Information
One of the benefits of caprese chicken is that it provides a relatively healthy way to enjoy Italian flavors. Here is the nutrition information for a 6oz chicken breast with 2 slices of mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of tomato topping:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 385 |
| Fat | 16g |
| Carbohydrates | 6g |
| Protein | 52g |
The majority of calories and protein in this dish come from the lean chicken breast. Fresh mozzarella adds healthy fat and a creamy texture without too much additional saturated fat and calories. Tomatoes, basil and olive oil make up a good portion of the rest of the dish, providing fiber, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats.
Cost Breakdown
One of the great things about caprese chicken is that it uses basic ingredients that are relatively affordable. Buying store brands rather than name brands can help keep costs down. Here is an approximate breakdown of costs for a meal with 2 chicken breasts, enough topping for 4 servings, and a side salad for 2:
| Ingredient | Cost |
|---|---|
| 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 lb) | $3.49 |
| 4 oz fresh mozzarella | $2.49 |
| 2 tomatoes | $1.00 |
| Fresh basil leaves | $0.50 |
| Olive oil and balsamic vinegar | $0.50 |
| Bagged salad mix for 2 side salads | $2.99 |
| TOTAL | $10.97 |
At around $5 per serving, caprese chicken makes for a budget-friendly meal that feels upscale. Buy ingredients like chicken breasts and mozzarella in bulk when they are on sale and freeze extras to save even more money.
Tips for Making the Best Caprese Chicken
Use these helpful tips for making restaurant-quality caprese chicken at home:
- Dry chicken well and pound evenly – This helps the chicken cook fast and prevents soggy spots.
- Don’t overcook the chicken – Cook just until browned on the outside and opaque inside to keep it juicy.
- Use high-quality ingredients – Splurge on the freshest cheese, tomatoes and basil you can find.
- Make the tomato topping first – Let the flavors marinate while the chicken cooks.
- Broil watching carefully – 2-3 minutes under the broiler is usually enough to melt the cheese without burning.
- Let rest before serving – A 5 minute rest allows juices to redistribute for juicier chicken.
- Serve immediately – The hot chicken will wilt the fresh tomatoes and basil.
With fresh, high-quality ingredients and careful technique, it’s easy to turn out amazing restaurant-quality caprese chicken at home. The medley of flavors and textures makes this chicken dish truly unforgettable.
Conclusion
Caprese chicken brings together the irresistible flavors of Italy – savory chicken, creamy mozzarella, fresh basil, ripe tomatoes – in one easy yet impressive dish. Pound chicken breasts, pan fry, top with melted cheese and tomato-basil topping for a fast and delicious dinner. Serve with crispy garlic bread and a salad for a complete meal the whole family will love. Made with readily available ingredients, caprese chicken is budget-friendly and full of nutrition from lean protein, healthy fats, and fresh produce. Follow key tips like properly browning the chicken and using high-quality ingredients to achieve the best results. This sensational chicken caprese is sure to become a regular in your dinner rotation.