Roasted Chicken Caprese Recipes

ROASTED CAPRESE CHICKEN RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees
• Season the chicken generously with olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper
• Place the chicken in a cast iron skillet or in a baking dish (a baking sheet won't allow proper simmering and sauce making)
• Top the chicken with fresh tomatoes and chopped garlic
• Drizzle with balsamic vinegar
• Bake for approximately 20-22 minutes or until thermometer reads at least 160 degrees**you're going to broil this a little longer towards the end so we want to make sure it's not going to overcook
• When almost done, remove from the oven (if using a cast iron skillet, remember NOT to grab the handle without a mitt!)
• Set oven to broil
• Top chicken with cheese and USING THE OVEN MITT (I feel I need to remind you because I may or may not have forgotten this myself...)
• Broil for about 5 minutes or until cheese is brown and bubbly
• Remove and spoon the tomato balsamic sauce onto the chicken
• Top with fresh basil
• Serve with your favorite side dish!

BAKED CHICKEN CAPRESE

Steps:

• Lightly grease a 9×13" casserole dish and turn the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Place chicken breasts on a cutting board and cover with a piece of plastic wrap. Use a rolling pin, smooth meat mallet or small frying pan to pound the thick end of the chicken breasts so that they are close to uniform in size (this will ensure all the chicken is cooked at the same time).
• Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the baking dish.
• Whisk together balsamic vinegar, oil, pesto, honey, corn starch, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper.
• Place tomatoes in the baking dish around the chicken.
• Drizzle balsamic mixture over chicken and tomatoes.
• Bake at 425 degrees F for 15-23 minutes (the exact time will depend on the exact thickness of your chicken breasts), until chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F.
• Top each chicken breast with a slice of cheese. Return to the oven and broil for 1-2 minutes, just until melted.
• Sprinkle with fresh chopped basil and serve.

SHEET PAN CAPRESE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of oil onto a rimmed baking sheet and use your fingers to evenly spread it out and coat the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with the Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Scatter the cherry tomatoes on the baking sheet and shake it back and forth so they become evenly coated in the oil and seasoning. Arrange the chicken in the center of the baking sheet, pushing the tomatoes out to the perimeter, and drizzle the chicken with the remaining tablespoon of oil.
• Bake until the tomatoes are soft, blistered and begin to burst, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the vinegar to a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to medium and simmer until the vinegar has reduced by half and is thick enough to coat back of the spoon, 7 to 8 minutes.
• Remove the baking sheet from the oven and drape a slice of mozzarella over each chicken breast. Bake until the cheese melts and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast has reached 160 degrees F, 5 to 7 minutes (the chicken will carryover cook to 165 F).
• Sprinkle the chicken and tomatoes with the basil and drizzle with the balsamic reduction. Spoon the collected pan juices over the tomatoes and chicken. Serve on a bed of arugula and with crusty bread to mop up the pan juices.

ROASTED CHICKEN CAPRESE

Steps:

• Place chicken in a 1-gallon zip-top bag. Add Lemon Vinaigrette, seal and marinate in refrigerator at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cut each tomato into quarters lengthwise. Place in a medium bowl and toss gently with sugar, salt and olive oil. Spoon tomato mixture onto a rimmed cookie sheet so that tomato pieces don't touch. Roast for 30 minutes. Spoon tomatoes and all accumulated juices into a small bowl. Add cheese, basil leaves and pepper, tossing gently. Let sit at room temperature while chicken cooks.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
• Remove chicken and discard marinade. Place chicken on same cookie sheet used to roast tomatoes. Roast for about 30 minutes, turning once, or until fully cooked through.
• To serve, place 1 chicken breast half on each heated dinner plate. Spoon 1/4 of tomato mixture over top.
• Whisk all ingredients, except oil, together in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in oil to emulsify.

ROASTED CHICKEN CAPRESE

Steps:

• Place chicken in 1-gallon zip bag. Add Lemon Vinaigrette, seal and marinate in refrigerator at least 30 minutes.
• Cut each tomato into quarters, lengthwise. Place in medium bowl and toss gently with sugar, salt and olive oil. Spoon tomato mixture onto rimmed cookie sheet so that tomato pieces don't touch. Place in 375 degree oven and roast for 30 minutes.
• Spoon tomatoes and all accumulated juices into small bowl. Add cheese, basil leaves and pepper, tossing gently. Let sit at room temperature while chicken cooks.
• Remove chicken and discard marinade. Place chicken on same cookie sheet used to roast tomatoes. Roast at 350 degree for about 30 minutes, turning once.
• To serve, place each chicken breast half on warmed dinner plate. Spoon 1/4 of tomato mixture over top.
• Lemon Vinaigrette: In small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, kosher salt and pepper.

CHICKEN CAPRESE

Steps:

• Pat chicken dry. Cut a lengthwise pocket into the thick side of each breast without cutting all the way through to the other side. Season breasts inside and out using 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Stuff each breast with a quarter of the mozzarella, 2 to 3 tomato slices (depending on size) and 4 to 5 basil leaves. Enclose the filling as much as possible by pulling the chicken over the filling. (The chicken can be prepared to this point, covered and refrigerated up to 24 hours.)
• Heat olive oil in a large 12-inch nonstick pan over medium heat. Sauté garlic, stirring, until golden, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, scoop out garlic and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the oil in the pan.
• Increase heat to medium-high and sauté chicken until golden on the bottom, about 6 minutes. If the breasts darken too quickly, lower heat. Flip and cook for 5 minutes, then cover and cook 2 to 3 minutes more, or until chicken is cooked through and filling is hot.
• Using a spatula, carefully transfer chicken to a platter or four plates. Pour pan juices over the chicken. Garnish with pesto, reserved garlic and remaining basil leaves.