Caprese Chicken Recipe
Sep 04, 2016, Updated Jul 23, 2025
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Let’s have a drumroll for one of my favorite weeknight dinners: fresh and flavorful Chicken Caprese! This 20-minute one-pan recipe has juicy, pan-seared chicken breasts topped with fresh mozzarella, garden tomatoes, sweet basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. It’s delicious over pasta or served in a Caprese chicken sandwich!
One-Pan Chicken Caprese
This is my delicious and EASY Chicken Caprese inspired by a classic Italian Caprese salad. You know the one, that refreshing combo of tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. This chicken recipe takes it a step further, melting the cheese and layering it with the same bold, fresh ingredients.
If you love the Italian flavors in this Caprese chicken, I think you’re also going to love my chicken cannelloni, this one-pot Caprese pasta, and creamy Marry Me Chicken!
What Makes Caprese Chicken Perfect for Weeknights
- 20 minutes. Ready in just 20 minutes with very simple ingredients. Half of them are in my vegetable garden!
- One skillet. Less cleanup, more time to enjoy and chill.
- More ways than one. Serve caprese chicken sliced over pasta, zucchini noodles, or as a chicken caprese sandwich.
- Fresh and flavorful. With bright flavors from basil, tomatoes, and creamy mozzarella, Caprese-anything is perfect for spring and summer.
Recipe Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make Caprese chicken. Scroll to the recipe card for the printable recipe with amounts.
- Chicken breasts – I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but you can also make this with chicken cutlets or stovetop chicken thighs.
- Salt & black pepper – Keep it classic, and season to taste.
- Olive oil – For searing. Avocado oil or any other high-smoke-point oil will also work here.
- Fresh mozzarella – Melty, creamy, and key to that classic caprese flavor.
- Tomatoes – I use vine tomatoes or Roma tomatoes, but even cherry tomatoes are fine to use. Smaller tomatoes will have more sweetness.
- Fresh basil – Don’t skip it! You can’t have caprese without it. It ties everything together.
- Balsamic glaze or vinegar – Adds a sweet-tangy finish.
Tips for Delicious Chicken Caprese
- Pound your chicken. Pound the chicken to an even thickness for faster, more even cooking.
- Make it low-carb. Skip the glaze or use sugar-free balsamic.
- Bake, air fry, or grill. Make baked caprese chicken, grilled Caprese chicken, or cook it in the air fryer if you prefer not to use the stove.
- Add pesto. Drizzle basil pesto on top for a rich, herby twist. Try my homemade spinach pesto or parsley pesto.
Serving Suggestions
My favorite way to serve Caprese chicken is with a side of garlic breadsticks, focaccia, or toasted baguette slices. These are other easy ideas:
- Pasta: Serve chicken Caprese with my garlic butter pasta, angel hair tossed with olive oil, or try it over fettuccine alfredo.
- Veggies: Grilled or roasted vegetables, such as grilled zucchini or asparagus.
- Salad: Add a side salad, like this green Mediterranean salad or fresh zucchini salad.
- Mash: Mashed potatoes or cauliflower mash for a heartier, comfort food meal.
- Turn it into a sandwich: Add this chicken Caprese between slices of toasted ciabatta or a brioche bun for a Caprese chicken sandwich.
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Caprese Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, (about 4 chicken breasts)
- ¾ teaspoons kosher salt, plus a pinch for finishing
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus a pinch for finishing
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 6 ounces fresh mozzarella
- 2 medium-size tomatoes, sliced
- 8 large fresh basil leaves, cut into thin shreds
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken. Pound the chicken breasts to 1/2-inch thickness and season with salt, pepper, and dried basil.
- Prepare the cheese and tomatoes. Slice the mozzarella cheese into 1/4-inch slices and set aside. Slice the tomatoes into 1/4-inch thick slices and set aside.
- Cook the chicken. Warm a large stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat; add the oil and heat it up until shimmering. Add the chicken in a single layer across the skillet and cook without touching it for 90 seconds.
- Add the cheese and tomatoes. Reduce the heat to medium. Flip the chicken over, and top each breast with cheese slices and tomato slices. Cover with a lid and continue to cook for 3 minutes. The cheese should be just beginning to melt over the chicken.
- Finish and serve. Remove from heat, uncover, and test the chicken for doneness. It should be white throughout with barely a hint of pink. Sprinkle the tomatoes with a pinch of salt and pepper and top with fresh basil. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and serve..
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
How To Cook Chicken Caprese
- Season and sear. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken with dried basil, salt, and pepper, then sear on both sides until golden and cooked through.
- Add mozzarella. Top each piece of chicken with fresh mozzarella slices. Cover the skillet until the cheese melts.
- Layer it up. Add sliced tomatoes and sprinkle with fresh basil.
- Finish. Drizzle with balsamic glaze, and that’s it! Your chicken Caprese is ready to eat.
Proper Storage
- Refrigerate. Leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a covered skillet over low heat.
- Don’t freeze it. Avoid freezing if using fresh mozzarella and tomatoes because they don’t thaw well.
Very straightforward recipe. I followed the recipe as written and the results were great. Everyone loved it and it’s been requested often
Hi, I usually order this dish at a local restaurant. Now I’m able to make this myself. One question. This is 9 WW Smart Points. What is the WW Freestyle points. Can’t wait to make this. Thank you, Diane
HI!
This comes out to 7 Freestyle Points. The cheese is to blame for almost all of the points…but it’s so good! 😊
Love, love, love your site and recipes, but it’s been a bit disappointing to see the growing proliferation of ads on your site. It’s a bit overwhelming. I get that advertising is an important income stream, but it’s become a bit much here (pop-up, floating, attached to pictures, interspersed throughout…). I mean no offense – just my two cents.
You had me at Caprese & 20 minutes with this dinner recipe! I definitely need to get my hands on a copy of this cookbook asap. 🙂
Oh my goodness! Best Caprese Recipe of the Summer!
I’m thrilled that you’re enjoying the cookbook, Katerina and that you liked the chicken! My boys love this dinner. Your photos are beautiful and now I’m craving this meal!! Thank you so much!
That recipe looks incredible, and so does the book!
Mary’s book is filled with so many delicious recipes – it’s hard to decide what to make first! I totally want to make this caprese chicken now! Gorgeous photos, Kate!
Every recipe I’ve seen from Mary’s cookbook is better than the last…and that’s saying a whole lot! This caprese skillet chicken looks incredible!!!
I’m making my way through Mary’s cookbook right now (and loving it). This is one of my bookmarked recipes…and now I want to make it even more. Looks amazing!