Description
A juicy chicken breast stuffed with fresh mozzarella, roma tomatoes, and basil, finished with a homemade tangy balsamic glaze. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners or elegant dinner parties.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 ounces or 170 grams each), pounded to even thickness
- 8 ounces (225 grams) fresh mozzarella, sliced (bocconcini preferred)
- 2 medium roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
- 12 fresh basil leaves, whole
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (plus extra for drizzling)
- ½ cup (120 ml) balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Place each chicken breast between two sheets of plastic wrap and gently pound to about ½ inch (1.3 cm) thickness.
- Carefully slice horizontally into each chicken breast to create a pocket without cutting all the way through.
- Season the inside and outside of each chicken breast with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Stuff each pocket with 2 slices of fresh mozzarella, 3-4 slices of roma tomato, and 3 basil leaves. Press gently to close.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken breasts for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown but not fully cooked.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven (or move chicken to a baking sheet if skillet is not oven-safe) and bake for 15-18 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- While chicken bakes, combine balsamic vinegar and honey in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 6-8 minutes, stirring often, until thickened to a syrupy consistency.
- Let chicken rest for 5 minutes after baking. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and garnish with extra fresh basil leaves before serving.
Notes
Pat mozzarella slices dry before stuffing to reduce excess moisture. Use toothpicks to secure edges if needed. Do not skip pounding chicken to ensure even cooking. Watch balsamic glaze closely to avoid burning. Let chicken rest after baking to keep it juicy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed chicken br
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 5
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 40
Keywords: Caprese chicken, stuffed chicken breast, balsamic glaze, Italian chicken recipe, easy chicken dinner, mozzarella stuffed chicken, healthy chicken recipe