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Baked Caprese Chicken Recipe

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4 from 11 reviews

Baked Caprese Chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make Italian-inspired dish featuring tender chicken breasts baked with cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and aromatic herbs. This recipe combines classic Caprese flavors enhanced with garlic and oregano, finished with a balsamic glaze and fresh basil for a perfect weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Chicken and Seasoning

  • 1 ½ lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (3–4 breasts)
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt (divided)
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper (divided)
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder or 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon oregano

Vegetables and Toppings

  • 16 oz cherry tomatoes
  • 8 oz ball fresh mozzarella (sliced into 8 slices)
  • Fresh ripe roma tomato (sliced, for topping)
  • Fresh basil leaves (for serving)

Finishing

  • Balsamic glaze (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) to ensure it’s at the perfect temperature for baking the chicken and tomatoes.
  2. Season Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels to help the seasoning stick. Season both sides evenly with ½ teaspoon of sea salt and ½ teaspoon of black pepper.
  3. Prepare Tomatoes: In a 9×13 inch baking dish, add olive oil, cherry tomatoes, garlic powder or minced garlic, oregano, and the remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Toss everything together so the tomatoes and seasoning are well coated.
  4. Arrange Chicken: Nestle the seasoned chicken breasts into the tomato mixture in the baking dish, ensuring they are surrounded by the juicy tomatoes for maximum flavor.
  5. First Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes to start cooking the chicken and soften the tomatoes.
  6. Add Cheese and Tomatoes: Remove the dish from the oven and evenly top each chicken breast with slices of fresh mozzarella and fresh roma tomato slices if using.
  7. Bake Again: Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the mozzarella has melted beautifully.
  8. Optional Broil: For a bubbly, slightly browned cheese topping, broil the chicken for 2-3 minutes at the end of baking, watching carefully to prevent burning.
  9. Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and drizzle with balsamic glaze. Garnish with fresh basil leaves. Serve hot, complemented with sautéed spinach, rice, pasta, or sourdough bread.

Notes

  • Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked through to 165°F for food safety.
  • Fresh mozzarella melts best if at room temperature before adding.
  • Balsamic glaze adds a sweet tangy finish—store-bought or homemade both work well.
  • Substitute cherry tomatoes with grape tomatoes if preferred.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 3 days and reheated gently in the oven.

Find it online: https://bitezly.com/baked-caprese-chicken-recipe/