About
Doesn't Easy Chicken Caprese have a fun ring to it?! Well, just wait until you taste it! This simple take on a summertime Italian classic is just as fun to eat as it is to say. The iconic pairing of flavorful chicken, creamy mozzarella, bursting tomatoes, earthy basil, and tangy balsamic never ever misses. Coming to a summer table near you.... the Easy Chicken Caprese!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- kosher salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 (8-ounce) containers cherry tomatoes
- 6 (4-ounce) chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 (1-pound) ball fresh mozzarella, sliced into 6 rounds
- 10 fresh basil leaves, torn
- baby arugula, to taste, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2 -Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the oil onto a rimmed baking sheet and use your fingers or a brush to evenly spread it out and coat the bottom.
Step 3 -Evenly sprinkle the prepared baking sheet with the Italian seasoning, the salt, and the pepper.
Step 4 -Evenly scatter the tomatoes over the seasoning mixture, then gently shake the baking sheet back and forth until they are evenly coated in the oil and the seasoning.
Step 5 -Arrange the chicken breasts in the center of the baking sheet, pushing the coated tomatoes out to the perimeter, and evenly drizzle the meat with the remaining oil.
Step 6 -Bake the chicken breasts and the tomatoes until the tomatoes are soft, have started to blister, and begin to burst, about 20-25 minutes.
Step 7 -While the chicken breasts and the tomatoes are baking, in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add the balsamic vinegar and bring to a boil.
Step 8 -Reduce the heat to medium and simmer the balsamic vinegar until it has reduced by half and is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 7-8 minutes. Transfer the saucepan from the heat.
Step 9 -Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack and evenly drape 1 of the mozzarella rounds over each of the chicken breasts.
Step 10 -Bake the mozzarella-topped chicken breasts and the tomatoes until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F and the cheese melts, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 11 -Evenly sprinkle the mozzarella-coated chicken breasts and the tomatoes with the basil, then evenly drizzle them with the balsamic reduction.
Step 12 -Evenly spoon the collected pan juices over the mozzarella-coated chicken breasts and the tomatoes.
Step 13 -Serve the chicken caprese sprinkled with the arugula.
