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Baked Caprese Chicken Thighs cooked right in a sweet, garlic balsamic glaze with juicy cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and topped with melted mozzarella cheese!
Caprese Chicken made over with juicy baked chicken thighs! Many Caprese Chicken recipes I have found over the last few months call for searing chicken with salt and pepper and adding vinegar right at the end. But, why? This recipe is different.
Baked Chicken Thighs
I love the amazing flavour of baked chicken thighs in a sweet balsamic gaze… it has to be the best of all baked chicken recipes. PLUS, adding mozzarella and basil into that mix? Well.
What is Caprese
A traditional simple and flavourful Italian appetiser, a Caprese Salad (Insalata Caprese) consists of ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese and basil, drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with salt. With this recipe, we are adding baked chicken thighs and a tonne of flavour.
I hope you’re not getting sick of seeing Caprese around here. The Caprese Deep Dish Mini Pizzas and Caprese Frittata were so good. Not to mention those Caprese Stuffed Garlic Butter Portobellos. But it was time for chicken, and this Caprese recipe is SO EASY. One of the EASIEST and TASTIEST recipes on this whole entire blog.
How To Make Chicken Caprese
First, we sear our chicken in oregano and basil (or you can use Italian seasoning), salt and pepper, until golden on both sides. (It won’t be cooked through, but we finish cooking them in the oven).
Next, fry the garlic until fragrant. Mmmmm, garlic smells.
Balsamic Vinegar and Brown Sugar
This is where all the flavour comes from. The sauce gets absorbed into the chicken as it cooks and creates the most amazing flavour. Stir both to combine well and allow to simmer until thickened. Don’t get your face close to the pan though. The strong smell can burn your eyes.
Add the chicken back into the pan, rotating to coat in the glaze and place into the oven and continue baking in the oven until cooked through and succulent. Place your mozzarella slices on each thigh and bake in the oven for a further 5 minutes.
So good you’ll want it straight out of the pan. And that SAUCE is extremely addicting! You have been warned. Top with shredded basil and a few fresh tomatoes and don’t forget to share it with whoever you’re cooking for.
WATCH US MAKE Balsamic Glazed Caprese Chicken RIGHT HERE!
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Balsamic Glazed Caprese Chicken
Ingredients
- 6 skinless bone-in chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pinch cracked black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or a light spray of cooking oil spray
- 2 tablespoons garlic minced
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar packed
- 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, divided
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese or Bocconcini, cut into 6x 1/2-inch slices
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves chiffonade
Balsamic Glaze: (Optional To Serve)
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar packed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 210°C | 410°F.
- Season each chicken thigh with the oregano, basil, salt and pepper.
- Heat the oil (or cooking spray) in a large oven-proof pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken on both sides until golden brown, about 4 minutes each side. Transfer chicken to a plate; drain most of the excess oil, leaving about a teaspoon worth.
- Return the skillet back to the stove; fry garlic until fragrant (about 1 minute). Add the vinegar and brown sugar; stirring to combine while heating through. Bring to a simmer, while stirring occasionally, until glaze has thickened (about 5-6 minutes).
- Return the chicken to the pan, turning in the glaze to evenly coat. Add 1 cup of the tomatoes, whole, around the chicken and place the chicken into the oven. Bake until the chicken is completely cooked through (about 30 minutes). Top each chicken with a slice of mozzarella cheese; return back into the oven for a further 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
- Slice the remaining 1/2 cup tomatoes in half; place them on top of the cheese; pour over some of the balsamic sauce from the pan and garnish with basil. Serve immediately.
Optional:
- If wanting to serve with extra balsamic glaze (as pictured above), make your glaze while the chicken is in the oven. Combine the vinegar and sugar in a small pot and bring to the boil. Reduce heat, allowing to simmer while stirring occasionally, until the glaze is thickened and reduced by half (about 5-6 minutes). Drizzle over the chicken when ready to serve.
Notes
*For my Australian followers, I find fresh Bocconcini in the deli section in Woolworths. I used 2 large balls, both 125 g each. You can use the smaller ones if that's all you can find.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
OMG… this is the best thing ever.. sweet.. tangy… I grow my own basil hydroponically, and it just make this dish sing even louder! LOVE it… LOVE IT.. LOVE IT, and so does everyone I’ve ever made it for?
Way cool! That is awesome that you grow your own herbs. Thank you for sharing and following along with me! I am so glad that this chicken was more than you were expecting!
There is a Facebook page that is using your photo and claiming they have the “paleo” recipe if you buy their book. I suggest reporting them, it’s called The Paleo Recipe Cookbook – Cheap and Easy.
Oh thank you so much sweetheart! That is so kind of you! I will look into this and see what I can do. Thank you very much for your support and love!
I really want to try this but my fiance doesn’t eat anything with a bone in it specially chicken. Can I use breast instead? If so how much (I’m in Australia) and what would I need to change time wise in the recipe?
Yes, of course! You would need to cook it a bit longer! It will still taste fantastic! He will love this chicken!
I cook just for myself so I heat up a lot of food. Mozzarella and balsamic glaze become solidified in the microwave! What’s the best way to heat this? Thanks!
This looks so amazing and I can’t wait to try it! Do you have any thoughts on adding baby spinach toward the end, making it a complete meal?
I’ve made this in the past and it was absolutely fantastic. Realized I didn’t have an oven proof pan so had to transfer to baking dish. Has anyone made this with a cast iron pan? How did it turn out or do you have recommendations for using one with this recipe?
Yes, I used a cast iron pan, and it turned out great! Used boneless chicken thighs and lowered the temp, (hot outside), to 350. Only needed about 24 minutes till done. 3 minutes more to melt the cheese. Oh, and used balsamic glaze I purchased at the store. I added a little water to thin and it was fantastic!
This was really good! I followed the recipe exactly and the chicken turned out moist and really tasty. I did not do the extra glaze at the end, but next time I make this, I will. Zero complaints, and my entire family ate it, bonus points that it was a one pot dish. I served with asparagus and roasted root vegetables.
So yummy! My boyfriend loved it and went back for seconds.
Made this for my family and we loved it!!!
Kristie I’m so happy to hear that!
I made this tonight after seeing it posted an FB and it was DELICIOUS!!! My kids loved it too. A gem to add to the recipe binder. Thank you!!