Stuffed Caprese Chicken Recipe
I love caprese salads and caprese flavors, so this tomato, basil, and mozzarella stuffed chicken recipe is an automatic winner. It’s hard to resist juicy chicken stuffed with sun-dried tomato pesto, fresh basil, gooey mozzarella cheese, extra tomatoes, and topped with more basil. The chicken is easy, ready in 30 minutes, and will become a family dinner favorite in no time! It’s so juicy, packed with flavor, and is naturally gluten-free.
What’s in the Caprese Stuffed Chicken?
To make this tomato basil mozzarella chicken recipe, you’ll need:
Chicken breasts Alessi Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Fresh basil Mozzarella cheese Olive oil Salt and pepper Canned diced tomatoes Alessi Balsamic Reduction (optional)
How to Make Caprese Stuffed Chicken
Start by making a pocket in each of your chicken breasts using a sharp paring knife. Make sure not to slice the chicken breasts in half, just make an opening that goes about 80% of the way through. Next spread a generous dollop of Alessi Sun-dried Tomato Pesto into each butterflied chicken breast. It’s so flavorful and has the right amount of garlic, salt, and spices to add plenty of flavor to the entire dish. No need for extra garlic, poultry seasoning, much salt, or anything else. This stuff is magic in a jar.
The Alessi brand is rooted in deep tradition that started in the early 1900’s when the Alessi family emigrated from their home in Sicily to America. Soon after that Antonino Alessi opened Vigo Importing Company. From this company came the Alessi foods line, which captures the true flavors of Italian cuisine. The Alessi family is still very involved in the brand and the quality, innovation, and value of their products are what makes them so different. They believe that the quality and value of the food you eat enriches your life and they pride themselves on making products that do just that. It’ll make you feel good serving ingredients like these to your family and friends.
After adding the Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto, add fresh basil leaves, and mozzarella cheese. To seal the chicken breasts, use toothpicks that are inserted horizontally, almost like you are ‘sewing’ and the toothpick is your needle. Although some cheese and tomato pesto inevitably escapes, that’s okay because it creates an awesome pan sauce that’s bursting with flavor and you can just scoop that right over the finished chicken. Sear the chicken, transfer to the oven to bake, add petite diced tomatoes in the final minutes of cooking, and top the dish off with basil and Alessi Balsamic Reduction if you’d like. Make sure to look for other Alessi toppings like pates, capers, pine nuts, and more.
What to Serve with Caprese Chicken
Serve this caprese stuffed chicken with a simple green salad, or one of the following side dishes:
Oven Roasted Rainbow Carrots Roasted Brussels Sprouts Roasted Cheesy Asparagus Mediterranean Salad Parmesan Balsamic Roasted Broccoli
Tips for Making Stuffed Caprese Chicken
When you’re purchasing the chicken, select breasts that are on the thicker side rather than anything labeled ‘thin-cut’ or similar. This makes it easier to slice and stuff the chicken breasts. When sealing the chicken breasts with the toothpicks, you don’t want them sticking straight up like fenceposts. You want them flush with the chicken and woven in which will help prevent leakage during cooking. It’s like you’re sewing the chicken together. Make sure to use no-salt added canned tomatoes because there’s enough salt from the tomato pesto and cheese.
More Italian Chicken Recipes:
ALL OF MY ITALIAN-INSPIRED RECIPES! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Pesto Chicken Caprese Salad — Homemade pesto coats every bite of jucy chicken, tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella in this fun twist on caprese salad! Easy, ready in 20 minutes, and loaded with rich basil flavor!
Balsamic Chicken Caprese Salad – Juicy chicken coated in balsamic along with plump tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and basil! Easy, healthy, ready in 15 minutes! The caprese salad you’ll make again and again!
Parmesan Pesto Chicken Penne — EASY, ready in 20 minutes, and every piece of tender chicken and pasta is coated in fresh pesto sauce and parmesan cheese!!
Sheet Pan Italian Chicken and Vegetables — This sheet pan recipe is ready in about 30 minutes and cleanup is as easy as tossing a piece of foil. The chicken and vegetables marinate in a mixture of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, and dried onion.
One-Skillet Balsamic Chicken and Vegetables— This balsamic chicken recipe is easy, ready in 15 minutes, healthy, and made in one skillet! The chicken is juicy and moist while the vegetables are perfectly crisp-tender.
Post is brought to you by Alessi. The recipe, images, text, and opinions expressed are my own.
