This Chicken Caprese Skillet is a spin off of a classic Italian dish. Juicy chicken breasts topped with fresh tomato and a simple pesto balsamic glaze, then finished with melty mozzarella cheese.
Table of Contents
This Chicken Caprese Skillet is inspired by my Baked Chicken Caprese. It’s made with all of the fresh, delicious ingredients you’d find in a traditional Caprese salad, but cooked over chicken on the stove for a complete, healthy meal!
This recipe is loaded with delicious flavor, takes just 25 minutes to make, and makes the perfect easy weeknight dinner!
Serve it with Buttered Noodles or Instant Pot Jasmine Rice with Roasted Green Beans for a healthy, family friend meal.
Ingredients Needed:
- Oil: any neutral flavored oil works great for browning the chicken.
- Chicken Breast: you’ll need 2 whole boneless and skinless chicken breasts. We’re going to butterfly them so that they cook more evenly and quickly!
- Salt and Pepper: a simple pair used to lightly season the chicken before browning.
- Cherry Tomatoes: I recommend slicing the cherry tomatoes in half to make them into the perfect bite size.
- Water and Balsamic Vinegar: the base for our Chicken Caprese balsamic glaze. Balsamic vinegar creates the flavor base while water helps tone the acidity down just a touch.
- Basil Pesto: I like to use basil pesto to give the Chicken Caprese Skillet some extra basil flavor, but you can also swap it out for dried basil or additional fresh basil leaves if preferred.
- Honey: adds just the right amount of sweetness to the glaze.
- Garlic: you’ll need three cloves of freshly minced garlic. In a pinch, you can substitute with garlic powder or jarred, minced garlic.
- Cornstarch: whisked into the glaze to help thicken it.
- Salt and Black Pepper: added to taste.
- Basil: a few leaves of fresh basil is the perfect way to finish it off.
How to Make this Chicken Caprese Skillet
This delicious Caprese Chicken-inspired recipe comes together in just 25 minutes!
- Brown the chicken: Heat oil in a large skillet and “butterfly” the chicken, meaning split the it into two thinner pieces. You should end up with 4 pieces of chicken. Pat each piece dry, then add it to the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook until golden-brown.
- Add the tomatoes: Add the halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook until blistered and softened.
- Make the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together all of the sauce ingredients, then pour that into the skillet. Cook until thickened, adding water as needed to thin.
- Add the cheese: Top each chicken breast with ¼ cup mozzarella, then top with the lid and remove from heat to allow the cheese to melt.
- Garnish and serve: Top the skillet with fresh basil, then serve.
Chicken Caprese FAQs
It’s a meal inspired by the classic Italian dish, Caprese Salad. Caprese salad is a simple side dish made with fresh slices of mozzarella, fresh, sliced tomatoes, and fresh basil all topped with a balsamic glaze. Caprese Chicken is all of that, but with the addition of chicken to make it into a meal!
In this Caprese Chicken Skillet recipe, I swap add basil pesto as well as fresh basil for some extra flavor. You can also use a little bit of dried basil in place of the pesto if preferred.
Caprese Chicken is a delicious meal all on its own, but you can bulk it up even more and serve it with a side of crusty Garlic Bread, over a pile of pasta, or with a side of Roasted Potatoes or a simple green salad.
Leftover Chicken Caprese will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, warm in the oven or on low in a skillet until heated through.
Yes! To freeze, assemble and cook as directed. Cool completely and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to serve, thaw overnight in the fridge, then warm on the stove, adding additional water to thin the sauce as needed.
Tips and Notes
- Butterfly the chicken. Slicing the chicken breasts into thinner pieces allows it to cook more quickly!
- Pat it dry. I recommend patting the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel before cooking. This helps the chicken to brown instead of steam.
- Check the temp. Use a meat thermometer to double check that the chicken is done cooking before serving. It should be 165ºF.
- Brown the cheese. The cheese will melt without broiling, but if you want to give it that yummy golden color, stick it uncovered under the broil for a couple of minutes.
More Skillet Meals You’ll Love
Chicken Caprese Skillet
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb)
- salt and pepper
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon basil pesto*
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon freshly minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
- 1 teaspoon corn starch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Split chicken breasts (butterflying them) to make two thinner pieces (four pieces total). Simply place your chicken breasts on a cutting board and place one hand flat on top. Use a sharp knife to cut the chicken breast in the middle all the way through. Pat dry with paper towel.
- Season with salt and pepper and light golden brown on each side in the skillet, about 5-6 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes and cook until slightly blistered and softened, just a couple minutes.
- Whisk together the sauce: water, balsamic vinegar, pesto, honey, garlic, corn starch, salt and pepper. Pour into the skillet with the chicken and tomatoes and cook until thickened (just a couple minutes). Add additional water to thin the sauce if desired.
- Top each chicken breasts with ¼ cup mozzarella. Place the lid on the skillet, remove from the heat and allow to melt (if desired, you can place under the broiler for 1-2 minutes to brown.
- Top with sliced fresh basil leaves if desired and serve.
Notes
Nutrition Information
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Wendy says
Great flavor! Easy to make, sauce was delicious. I served with spaghetti and some balsamic glaze on the side!!!!
The Recipe Rebel says
Great to hear, thank you Wendy!
Alice says
LoVe this recipe!!!!! It’s my “go to”!!!! I had some beautiful grilled chicken breast leftover & used this instead of cooking in the sauce & it was also super good & easy!!! Thank you for sharing ALL your great recipes with all of us:)!!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Alice! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Rebecca Driscoll says
Can I put this over pasta?
The Recipe Rebel says
Sure! You can serve it however you’d like Rebecca. Enjoy!
Diane says
Delish!!! Super easy & packed with glavor!!!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Diane! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Heather says
Made this for dinner last week, and it was delicious! Will make again.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Heather! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for tis review!
thefotog@me.com says
Simply fabulous!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Andy says
I made this tonight. I have been forced into the chief cook and bottle washer role due to my wife of 61 years having Alzheimer’s. I am always looking for quick and easy recipes. This was very tasty and easy for an amateur like me. Wife loved it.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Andy! I’m so happy you both enjoyed it! Thank you!
Roberta Taghavi says
Great recipe my family loved it 😊
Roberta Taghavi says
I made this for lunch yesterday and it’s easy and delicious. I will for sure make again
Carolann says
Hi Ashley all your recipes sounds so good I’m going to try them all. Ha wish me luck. Carolann thank you.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Roberta! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this review!
Penny Lund says
I’ve never commented on a recipe, but this was so good, even making for just myself. I used my garden cherry tomatoes and bought pesto because I didn’t have any made. It went together so fast and the balsamic glaze was so good. I definitely will make this for company. I made fresh green beans with bacon and onion. And a cucumber from my garden. Love using all my garden produce for such a yummy meal. Thank you!! I have saved other recipes of yours: now I need to try another!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Penny! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this review!
amesschrank@gmail.com says
A fabulous recipe
I will make often
Thank you
The Recipe Rebel says
So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this review!