Balsamic Baked Chicken with Mozzarella (Printable version)

Juicy chicken baked in balsamic glaze with melted mozzarella, tomatoes, and fresh basil. An easy Italian-inspired dinner ready in 45 minutes.

# What you'll need:

→ Poultry

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz each)

→ Marinade & Glaze

02 - 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 2 tablespoons honey
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (or mixed oregano/basil/thyme)
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Toppings

09 - 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
10 - 2 medium tomatoes, sliced
11 - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
12 - 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze (optional, for drizzling)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to fit the chicken breasts in a single layer.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, garlic, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper until well combined.
03 - Place the chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish. Pour the balsamic marinade over the chicken, turning to coat evenly.
04 - Bake uncovered for 20 minutes to begin cooking the chicken and setting the flavors.
05 - Remove the baking dish from the oven. Top each chicken breast with tomato slices and mozzarella cheese.
06 - Return to the oven and bake for an additional 8–10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature 165°F) and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
07 - If desired, broil for 2–3 minutes for a golden, lightly browned top on the cheese.
08 - Let rest for 3 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and drizzle with extra balsamic glaze if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The balsamic glaze creates this incredible sticky coating that makes every bite feel like a restaurant meal
  • Its one of those rare dishes that looks impressive but comes together with almost zero effort
02 -
  • If you have even an extra 30 minutes marinate the chicken in the fridge first because it really does amp up the flavor
  • A meat thermometer is your friend here because overcooked chicken with all this amazing topping would be such a waste
03 -
  • Pounding the chicken to even thickness means every piece finishes cooking at the exact same time
  • Room temperature chicken will cook more evenly so try to take it out of the fridge about 20 minutes before you start

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