Caprese Chicken

Here at Delish, we can’t get enough of caprese salad in all forms. Whether it’s topping asparagus, stuffed into lasagna, or incorporated into a refreshing salad, it’s one of our favorite ways to add fresh flavors to classic recipes. But, when we’re looking for a classic summer dinner, this caprese chicken wins out as one of our all-time favorite versions. This one-pan meal reinvents the classic salad, complete with cheesy-smothered chicken, balsamic-glazed tomatoes, and fresh basil. Ready in 30 minutes, this quick and easy dinner is a summertime must. Here’s everything you need to know:

What is caprese?
A caprese salad is a simple Italian salad composed of sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil, sprinkled with salt and drizzled with olive oil. Some like to add in pesto or balsamic vinegar, but those are additions, not essential to a caprese salad at its core. As with a lot of Italian cooking, the ingredients are so simple that the quality is very important to the finished dish, so whatever form your caprese takes, try to get the nicest tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil possible.

Variations.
— Swap out the balsamic vinegar. We love the tart-sweet flavor profile that the balsamic create together, but if you’re not a fan, you can leave it out. Just add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan instead of the balsamic to cook the garlic and tomatoes, and taste the softened tomatoes before you add the chicken–they might need a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten them up. Your finished dish will not look as glazed as the original recipe, but it will still be delicious!
— Add-ins. If you want to amp up this dish, feel free to add in what you have on hand, like spinach, mushrooms, or even sun-dried tomatoes along with your cherry tomatoes. 

Serving ideas for caprese chicken.
You can’t go wrong with a veggie + starch side dish combo. Our smashed broccoli, grilled green beans, garlic mashed potatoes, or crusty bread (to sop up all of the delicious sauce) would all be perfect pairings. Feeling a salad? Whip up our kale Cobb salad or sheet-pan panzanella to add some more greens into your life. 

Storage.
If you have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in your fridge for around 4 days. 

Made this? Let us know what you think in the comments below.