By: Jill Mills Posted: Apr 17, 2025

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Grilled chicken breasts are topped with marinated balsamic tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil in this Chicken Caprese recipe. A quick, easy recipe that’s perfect for summer grilling!

Overhead view of chicken caprese on a white plate

I love the flavors and simplicity of a good caprese salad. So much so that I’m always finding new ways to incorporate those flavors and ingredients into other recipes, like my caprese bruschetta and caprese asparagus. This chicken caprese recipe is my way of turning those same fresh, flavorful ingredients into an entree the entire family loves.

Why I Love This Chicken Caprese Recipe

Here are a few reasons why this recipe is one I’ll be making over and over this summer.

Fresh and flavorful. The key to a good caprese is FRESH ingredients and this chicken caprese is no exception. That’s one of the reasons it’s so perfect for summer, when fresh basil and juicy Roma tomatoes are readily available.
Tender, juicy chicken. The chicken is marinated in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a few spices. That means the chicken alone is super juicy and flavorful before adding the topping.
Quick & easy! Aside from the hour plus marinating time, this chicken caprese recipe takes well under 30 minutes to prepare. The thin chicken breasts grill to perfection in just 10 minutes or so!

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make chicken caprese

What You’ll Need

This recipe is made with chicken plus many of the same ingredients as a classic caprese salad. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.

Chicken

Olive oil & balsamic vinegar – The base of the marinade for the chicken. Marinating them in this combo infused them with classic caprese flavor.
Spices – Italian seasoning, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
Chicken breasts – Thin-cut chicken breasts, like chicken cutlets, are best for this recipe. It ensures they cook quickly and evenly, without drying out, and offers a nice balance of chicken and toppings in every bite.

Toppings

Tomatoes – Roma tomatoes are my favorite for caprese chicken. Cut them into thick slices.
Basil – Fresh basil is a key part of caprese! Cut them into thin strips.
Olive oil – Chicken caprese is a great place to splurge on high quality olive oil.
Balsamic vinegar
Salt & pepper
Mozzarella cheese – Fresh mozzarella is key for caprese! It’s also a great place to splurge and buy the best mozzarella you can.
Balsamic glaze – Optional but a great final garnish.

How To Make Chicken Caprese

This recipe is so easy to make! While it does need to marinate for at least an hour, the actual prep and cook time of the recipe is under 30 minutes. The printable version of the instructions is in the recipe card below.

Marinate the chicken. Combine the oil, vinegar, and seasonings in a bowl. Add the chicken and toss to evenly coat. Marinate for at least an hour.
Prepare the tomatoes. Preheat the grill. Then combine the tomatoes, basil, oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Toss to combine.
Grill the chicken. Cook the chicken on the grill for 5-6 minutes per side, until the chicken reaches 165F.
Add the topping. Transfer the chicken to a plate. Immediately top with slices of mozzarella and 1-2 slices of the marinated tomatoes. Sprinkle with more basil and drizzle with balsamic if desired.
Enjoy. Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Make It In The Oven

No grill? No problem! Instead of grilling this chicken caprese recipe, you can bake the chicken in the oven at 375 F. It should take about 15-18 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165F.

Overhead view of three pieces of chicken caprese on a platter

Tips & Variations

Here are a few key tips to making this yummy chicken breast recipe.

Remove chicken from fridge ahead of time. I like to remove the chicken from the fridge prior to preheating the grill. This gives it a chance to begin coming to room temperature so it’s not so cold when it hits the grill, which results in more even cooking.
Thin the chicken breasts. If the chicken breasts are super thick, pound them down to 1/2 inch thick and cut them in half or butterfly the chicken breasts. Using chicken thighs is another option.
Make sure the cheese melts. Put the cheese on top of the chicken as soon as it is off the grill so it can make the cheese soft and melty. If you want the chicken to be meltier you can lay the cheese on the chicken when it’s still on the grill for the last 1-2 minutes of grill time.
Let rest before serving. I recommend letting the chicken rest for 10 minutes or so after adding the toppings. This helps ensure the marinade and juice don’t rush out when the chicken is sliced and results in tender, juicy chicken.
Tomatoes. Use any sliced fresh tomatoes including cherry tomatoes.

Drizzling balsamic glaze over chicken caprese

Serving Suggestions

Chicken caprese pairs beautifully with pasta, orzo, rice, and other grains. The basil in the chicken would go very well with pesto rice or pesto pasta, though a plain grain is just fine too. For an added veggie side, consider oven roasted asparagus or air fryer brussels sprouts.

How To Store Leftovers

Fridge. Chicken caprese is definitely a dish best enjoyed immediately. If you expect to have leftovers, I would wait to add the topping. Store the chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days.
Reheat. Reheat in the oven or air fryer. Once hot, add the mozzarella and toppings. Cold chicken caprese could also be sliced and added to salads.

Chicken Caprese

Why I Love This Chicken Caprese Recipe