Description
A flavorful and easy grilled chicken recipe topped with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, perfect for quick summer meals and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 ounces / 170 grams each)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 medium fresh tomatoes, sliced (Roma or vine-ripened)
- A generous handful of fresh basil leaves, torn or whole
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced or torn into pieces
- Balsamic glaze (optional, for drizzling)
Instructions
- Pat dry the chicken breasts with paper towels to help the marinade stick and promote even browning.
- In a small bowl, mix olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper to create the garlic oil mixture.
- Brush the garlic olive oil mixture generously over both sides of each chicken breast and let rest for 10 minutes at room temperature.
- Preheat the grill or grill pan to medium-high heat, about 400°F (205°C).
- Grill the chicken for 6-7 minutes per side, flipping once. Use a meat thermometer to ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- In the last 2 minutes of grilling, top each chicken breast with sliced tomatoes and fresh mozzarella. Close the grill lid or cover the pan to let the cheese melt and tomatoes soften.
- Remove the chicken from the grill and immediately scatter torn fresh basil leaves on top to release aromatic oils.
- Optionally, drizzle balsamic glaze over the chicken before serving.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving to lock in juices.
Notes
If chicken breasts are thinner, adjust grilling time to prevent drying out. Let chicken rest 5 minutes after grilling. For indoor cooking, use a grill pan or broiler and watch cheese carefully to avoid burning. Clean grill grates before cooking for best results. Adding mozzarella in the last minutes helps it melt without falling off. Marinate up to 2 hours for more flavor but avoid longer to prevent overpowering garlic taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 5
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 30
Keywords: grilled chicken, chicken margherita, summer meals, easy dinner, fresh basil, mozzarella, tomatoes, BBQ recipe