Dinner in the summer calls for easy recipes that can be done on the grill and take minimal effort. Cue this mouthwatering and easy grilled chicken caprese recipe. Thin grilled chicken breasts topped with the classic caprese ingredients: pesto, mozzarella, and vine ripe tomatoes. With a little drizzle of balsamic, and maybe a fresh side salad, this chicken dinner is definitely a winner!
Grilled chicken is a staple in my household, as it's incredible versatile and easy to prep ahead of time for just about any meal. From adding chicken to pasta recipes like a pesto orzo or a rigatoni with spinach, it's a go to! This grilled chicken caprese is another one to add to the menu rotation.
Jump to:
- Why you'll love this caprese chicken
- Origin of the "Caprese"
- What ingredients do I need for grilled chicken caprese?
- Swaps and Substitutions
- How do I make this chicken recipe?
- Pairing Suggestions
- Tips for making the best chicken caprese
- Storage Information
- Hungry for more?
- Did you like this recipe? Share it!
- Easy Grilled Chicken Caprese Recipe
Why you'll love this caprese chicken
- You don't need a ton of time or ingredients for this meal to come together.
- This dish can easily be prepped ahead and reheated when you want to serve it.
- Make a large batch for a family dinner or for a meal prep for the week.
- Pair this chicken with virtually ANY sides!
Origin of the "Caprese"
The birthplace of the Caprese salad is in Capri, Italy. Caprese means "salad of Capri" and it includes fresh mozzarella with tomato, basil, salt, and olive oil. It's a naturally lower carb dish and when paired with grilled chicken, you've got a higher protein meal!
What ingredients do I need for grilled chicken caprese?
- Grilled Chicken Breasts - thinly sliced chicken breast is going to work the best in this recipe.
- Pesto - you can make your own and use my homemade pesto recipe, or use storebought
- Beefsteak Tomato - beefsteak tomatoes are big enough to only need one large slice per chicken breast.
- Mozzarella - I prefer fresh mozzarella for chicken caprese.
See the ingredients and recipe card below for more information about quantities.
Swaps and Substitutions
- Chicken - This recipe is built off of using chicken, but if you don't want it grilled, you can pan sear or use a breaded chicken cutlet.
- Cheese - swap the mozzarella for any other cheese you desire! Some cheeses I'd recommend include burrata or provolone.
- Pesto - You do not need to use pesto if you don't want to or if you don't like it.
How do I make this chicken recipe?
Step 1: On a grill or in a grill plan, cook the chicken on each side for 5-6 minutes.
Step 2: Add a piece of beefsteak tomato on top of each of the pieces of grilled chicken.
Step 3: Top the tomato with a little pesto.
Step 4: On top of the pesto, add a slice of mozzarella cheese, then bake until the cheese melts, or if you're still using the grill, turn the heat down to medium and cook until the cheese melts. Top with a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
PRO TIP: Add the chicken caprese to a large cast iron skillet and broil until the cheese gets bubbly and melted.
Pairing Suggestions
Serve this grilled chicken caprese with:
- A deliciously light and fresh salad.
- Pair this with a side of garlic mashed potatoes.
- Whip up a side of green beans or a pasta like buttered noodles with veggies.
Tips for making the best chicken caprese
- Choose larger tomatoes like heirloom, beefsteak, or celebrity tomatoes for slicing. They're large enough to cover the chicken, and taste great when bitten into as part of the caprese.
- Use thinly sliced chicken breast rather than a thicker cut. You can opt to buy thin cut already or filet them yourself.
- Season the chicken! You can use an Italian seasoning blend, or just a simple salt and pepper (I love using salt and pepper and keeping it super simple when I grill chicken).
Storage Information
Store the chicken separate from the salad ingredients. Place any chicken in an airtight container. It will stay in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Hungry for more?
Check out these other delicious dinner recipes
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Easy Grilled Chicken Caprese Recipe
Equipment
- 1 grill or grill pan
- tongs
Ingredients
- 3 grilled chicken breasts boneless, skinless, thinly sliced
- 1 large beefsteak tomato sliced
- 3 slices fresh mozzarella
- 1 tablespoon pesto optional
- 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Pat dry the chicken and season with salt and pepper.
- On a grill or in a grill plan, cook the chicken on each side for 5-6 minutes.
- Add a piece of beefsteak tomato on top of each of the pieces of grilled chicken.
- Top the tomato with a little pesto.
- On top of the pesto, add a slice of mozzarella cheese, then bake until the cheese melts, or if you're still using the grill, turn the heat down to medium and cook until the cheese melts.
- Add a drizzle of balsamic and serve.
Notes
- Use thinly sliced chicken breast rather than a thicker cut. You can opt to buy thin cut already or filet them yourself.
- Season the chicken! You can use an Italian seasoning blend, or just a simple salt and pepper (I love using salt and pepper and keeping it super simple when I grill chicken)
Kellie
I loved making this recipe this past weekend. I didn't use any pesto, but the grilled chicken with the tomato and mozzarella was just so perfect. I always order this at restaurants but never make it at home. Glad I found this!