Description
This Stuffed Caprese Chicken Breast recipe offers a delightful blend of juicy chicken breasts filled with fresh mozzarella, ripe cherry tomatoes, and fragrant basil leaves. Finished with a flavorful garlic and Italian seasoning brush and drizzled with a tangy balsamic glaze, this dish embodies the classic Italian Caprese salad flavors, making it a perfect, easy-to-make dinner option.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Stuffing
- 4 chicken breasts
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
- Toothpicks (to secure pockets)
Seasoning and Glaze
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (plus extra for searing)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the stuffed chicken later.
- Prepare Chicken Pockets: Carefully slice each chicken breast horizontally to create a pocket, ensuring you do not cut all the way through.
- Stuff Chicken: Fill each pocket with slices of fresh mozzarella, halved cherry tomatoes, and a few fresh basil leaves.
- Secure Stuffing: Use toothpicks to close and secure the chicken halves to keep the filling inside during cooking.
- Make Garlic Seasoning Mixture: In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic, olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper to create a flavorful brush-on sauce.
- Brush Chicken: Generously brush the garlic seasoning mixture on each stuffed chicken breast to infuse flavor.
- Sear Chicken: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat with a little olive oil and sear the chicken breasts for about 4 minutes per side until they develop a golden-brown crust.
- Bake Chicken: Transfer the seared chicken breasts to a baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and juicy.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and drizzle with balsamic glaze before serving to add a sweet and tangy finishing touch.
Notes
- Ensure the chicken breasts are not cut all the way through to avoid losing the stuffing during cooking.
- Using fresh mozzarella is key for the creamy texture inside the chicken pockets.
- Cherry tomatoes can be substituted with sun-dried tomatoes for a more intense flavor.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and pepper, before cooking.
- To keep the chicken juicy, don’t overbake; use a meat thermometer to check for an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
