Baked Pesto Caprese Chicken (Printable Version)

Juicy chicken topped with pesto, tomatoes, and melted mozzarella. An Italian-inspired main dish ready in under an hour.

# What You Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

→ Dairy

02 - 7 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
03 - 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

→ Vegetables

04 - 2 medium ripe tomatoes, sliced
05 - Fresh basil leaves for garnish

→ Sauces and Condiments

06 - 4 tbsp pesto

→ Seasonings

07 - 1 tbsp olive oil
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil.
02 - Arrange chicken breasts in the prepared dish. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
03 - Spread 1 tablespoon of pesto evenly over the top of each chicken breast.
04 - Layer tomato slices over the pesto-coated chicken, distributing evenly.
05 - Place mozzarella slices over the tomatoes. Sprinkle grated Parmesan on top if using.
06 - Drizzle remaining olive oil over the entire dish.
07 - Bake for 25-30 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and cheese is melted and golden brown.
08 - Remove from oven. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The pesto keeps the chicken incredibly juicy while infusing every bite with fresh herb flavor
  • Its one of those meals that looks impressive but requires zero special cooking skills
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully for tomorrow's lunch, if there are any
02 -
  • Dont skip the step of pounding your chicken to even thickness, or you'll end up with dry, overcooked thin pieces and undercooked thick ones
  • The tomatoes will release water as they cook, so don't worry if your dish looks a little soupy, that liquid creates incredible flavor
  • If your cheese starts browning too quickly, loosely tent the dish with foil for the last few minutes of cooking
03 -
  • Let the chicken rest at room temperature for 15 minutes before cooking to ensure even cooking
  • Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness, 165°F at the thickest point guarantees perfectly cooked chicken
  • Homemade pesto makes a huge difference if you have the time and a food processor

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