Baked Caprese Chicken

This chicken, tomato medley is baked in a sweet and savory balsamic glaze and topped with golden-brown Mozzarella cheese. With the addition of onions, honey, garlic, and other spices, this caprese chicken is an explosion of tastes and textures sure to satisfy your tastebuds! 

What can I expect? 

This recipe has all the rich flavors of traditional baked caprese chicken recipes. However, instead of being made with brown sugar, the dish features honey and other natural, whole food ingredients to create the sweet and savory flavor we want.

In addition, we omit the carb-heavy pasta you’ll find in other recipes. The end result is a baked, low-carb recipe featuring tender chicken breasts and caramelized veggies topped with gooey, savory cheese. It’s easy to prepare, quick to cook, and sure to leave you feeling full! 

Is Caprese Chicken Healthy? 

Let’s take a look at the main ingredients: 

• Chicken breasts
• Avocado oil
• Honey
• Vegetables
• Mozzarella cheese

Chicken, avocado oil, and fresh vegetables are all natural, nutritious food sources. Include them in a variety of recipes for flavor, protein, and nutrients. 

But what about mozzarella cheese? Is dairy healthy?

Here’s what we know. Dairy is full of vitamins, minerals, protein, and natural fat energy. But if everyone consumed dairy all of the time, dairy farming would become abusive and unsustainable…

Let’s be mindful of our dairy intake. Buy dairy that comes from pasture-raised cows and try to eat less. 

Sugar is what makes food unhealthy.

Traditional caprese chicken recipes are made with brown sugar and served over wheat pasta (starchy carbs), which digest very similarly to sugar. 

Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of brown sugar and a serving of pasta to this recipe, for a total of 45 to 50g of sugar, and you’re looking at heartburn with an energy crash. (And you’ll be scouring the pantry for your next sugar snack within the hour.)

Omit the brown sugar and pasta, and this recipe becomes nourishment. The ingredients provide vitamins, minerals, protein, and quality, whole-food energy. 

Enjoy this caprese chicken knowing it supports your well-being. Learn more about eating less sugar here.

Caprese Chicken Tips

1. Add sides

Feel free to enjoy this recipe on its own. Or, bulk up your meal by serving it with low-carb noodles, cauliflower rice, low carb zuppa toscana soup, or a lemon parmesan salad. 

2. Meal prep

Make a big batch of caprese chicken at once, and store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Then, just warm them up in a skillet over medium heat for quick meals throughout the week! 

3. Have leftover chicken? 

Freeze it for later. Or, use it to make chicken marsala, marry me chicken, or chicken pot pie soup!   

4. Grate the cheese

For the best results, use a block of mozzarella cheese, and grate it yourself. It will have a bolder flavor and melt more easily, creating the gooey consistency we want. Also, know that pasture-raised cheeses always taste better (happy cows make for tasty cheese). 

5. Use a meat thermometer

Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken to ensure it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit and is safe to eat.

Caprese Chicken

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:25 minutes mins

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• 2 Tbsp of avocado oil
• ¾ tsp oregano
• ½ tsp salt
• Pinch pepper
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1 tsp minced garlic 2 cloves
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
• ⅓ cup sweet onion
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• Garnish with fresh basil

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 425.
• Place chicken breasts in a baking dish – drizzle with oil and season with oregano and salt and pepper.
• Place tomatoes and onion around the chicken.
• Place in the oven and bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes.
• Mix vinegar, honey and garlic in a small bowl.
• Remove the baking dish and pour vinegar mixture over the chicken and add cheese on top and return to the oven on broil on low for 5 minutes or until melted and toasted slightly. 7. Sprinkle with basil.

Notes

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

Please let us know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #neutraleating

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recipe from Neutral Eating: https://neutraleating.com/caprese-chicken

Servings: 4

Author: Neutral Eating