Description
Tender chicken breasts baked with a tangy balsamic glaze, melted mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil in a one-pan, easy-to-prepare Italian-American dish. A popular weeknight recipe with restaurant-quality flavor.
Ingredients
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (4, about 1.5 lbs)
Balsamic vinegar (1/2 cup, aged preferred)
Olive oil (2 tablespoons, extra virgin preferred)
Garlic cloves, minced (3)
Dried oregano (1 teaspoon, or 1 tablespoon fresh)
Salt (1 teaspoon, kosher)
Black pepper (1/2 teaspoon, freshly ground)
Fresh mozzarella cheese (8 ounces, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds)
Fresh basil leaves (1/4 cup, for garnish)
Cherry tomatoes (optional, 1 cup halved)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Place chicken breasts between plastic wrap and pound to 1/2-inch thickness.
In a bowl, whisk balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper.
Coat chicken with the marinade and let sit 15 minutes.
Transfer chicken and marinade to a baking dish.
Top each piece with mozzarella slices.
Bake for 25 minutes until chicken is cooked through and golden.
Garnish with basil and serve.
Notes
Use aged balsamic vinegar for deeper flavor.
Pound chicken uniformly for even cooking.
One-pan preparation simplifies cleanup.
Optional cherry tomatoes add color and freshness.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 25
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 150mg