This chicken caprese is a fresh, flavorful dinner made with juicy chicken, ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and basil all finished with a drizzle of balsamic glaze. We love to use the grill but you can also bake in the oven or fry in a pan. Bonus points for being a quick and healthy chicken recipe!
It’s everything you love about a classic caprese salad, turned into an easy, satisfying main dish. Whether you grill it, bake it, or cook it in a skillet, this caprese chicken recipe comes together quickly and feels just a little bit elevated without any extra effort.
What is Chicken Caprese?
Chicken caprese is a simple dish inspired by the classic Italian caprese salad, made with chicken, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and balsamic glaze.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Caprese
- Hands-on prep time is less than 30 minutes
- Fresh, simple ingredients
- Naturally low-carb (8g) and high-protein (61g)
- Works on the grill, stovetop, or oven
- Perfect for weeknights or entertaining
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken Breasts: the juicy, protein-packed base
- Tomatoes: fresh and vibrant
- Fresh Mozzarella: creamy and melty
- Fresh Basil: adds bright, herby flavor
- Balsamic Glaze: sweet and tangy finish
- Olive Oil + Seasonings: simple flavor builders
👉 Optional (but highly recommended!): balsamic marinade for extra flavor (see below)
How to Make Chicken Caprese
- Prepare the chicken: Season (or marinate) the chicken breasts.
- Cook the chicken: Grill, bake, or pan-sear until fully cooked (see section below for instructions for each).
- Add toppings: Top each piece with sliced mozzarella and tomatoes.
- Melt the cheese: Let the mozzarella melt slightly in the broiler.
- Finish and serve: Drizzle with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with fresh basil. Serve immediately while warm and melty.
👉 Chicken is done when it reaches 165°F internally.
Ways to Cook Chicken Caprese
Grilled Chicken Caprese – Adds smoky flavor and is perfect for summer.
- Heat a grill to medium-high heat, then add the chicken and reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 6-7 minutes per side depending on thickness.
Baked Chicken Caprese – Easy, hands-off and great for weeknights.
- Preheat the oven to 350℉. Place the chicken in a baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray and bake for 30 minutes uncovered, or until chicken reaches 165°F internally.
This tortellini pasta salad is everything you want in a summer side dish. It’s fresh, flavorful, and incredibly easy to throw together. Loaded with tender cheese tortellini, savory salami, juicy tomatoes, and creamy mozzarella, it’s a simple recipe that always disappears fast.
We make it just as often for lunch the next day as we do for a side dish. And honestly, I actually make this is as our main dish quite often during the summer. It’s so fast and fresh and doesn’t heat up the house. It is a winner!
Why You’ll Love This Tortellini Pasta Salad
- Ready in about 15 minutes
- Uses simple, fresh ingredients
- Perfect served cold (great for make-ahead)
- Works as a side or main dish
- Easy to customize with what you have
Ingredients You’ll Need
Summers are all about pasta salad recipes and this easy tortellini pasta salad is fresh, flavorful, perfect for hot summer days and done in just 15 minutes! Here is what you need:
- Cheese Tortellini: the hearty base that makes this salad extra satisfying
- Kosher Salt: adds flavor to the pasta as it cooks
- Mozzarella (marinated): adds a savory, salty bite
- Salami: bring creaminess and built-in flavor
- Black Olives: add a rich, salty bite that brings a classic Italian flavor to the salad
- Cherry or Grape Tomatoes: fresh and juicy
- Red and Orange Bell Peppers: add a sweet, crisp crunch and bright color
- English Cucumbers: add a fresh, cool crunch with a mild flavor
- Red Onion: adds a sharp bite and a little zing to balance the flavors
- Fresh Basil: bright, herby finish
- Italian Dressing: adds a tangy, herby flavor that ties everything together
How to Make Tortellini Pasta Salad
Don’t blink because you might miss this…
- Cook the tortellini: Bring a pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add tortellini and cook until they float to the top. Drain and let cool.
- Combine ingredients: Once cooled, add tortellini to a large bowl with salami, mozzarella (including oil and herbs), tomatoes, and basil.
- Toss and serve: Gently toss everything together until well combined. Season with salt to taste and serve.
👉 Serve immediately or chill for later—this pasta salad is delicious either way.
Variations and Substitutions
This tortellini s
This lasagna soup recipe has everything you love about classic lasagna with savory meat, tender pasta, rich tomato sauce, and plenty of melty cheese all in one cozy bowl.
A few years ago my husband and I had the chance to go to New York and film two episodes of Paula’s Party. It was such a fun experience. We even got to meet Carson Kressley, Cheri Oteri, Jason Priestly and a bunch of others. One of the dishes Paula made was Tastes Like Lasagna Soup and it smelled amazing. We were so disappointed we didn’t get to taste it, so when we got home we created our own version. It quickly became a favorite.
There’s just something about lasagna soup that feels like home. It’s saucy, cheesy, cozy, and truly the best kind of comfort food.
Ingredients for Lasagna Soup
This soup recipe is a cross between a creamy soup and broth soup due to the addition of a little ricotta. It’s hearty, beefy, and delicious. In other words, perfection. Here is what you will need:
- Olive Oil: For sautéing veggies
- Minced Vegetables: Diced onion (red), garlic, and bell peppers
- Fresh Herbs: Oregano, parsley, and basil
- Ground Beef: 80/20 for rich flavor
- Beef Broth: Forms the soup base
- Ricotta Cheese: Adds creaminess
- Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes: Smoky flavor with a hint of heat
- Marinara Sauce: Rao’s recommended (stock up at Costco sales!)
- Parmesan Rind: Simmer for flavor, remove before serving
- Lasagna Noodles: Use broken pieces or break up fresh ones
- Mozzarella Cheese: Melty and gooey topping
- Garlic Bread: Optional but perfect for dipping
Scroll to the end of the post to the recipe card to see all the measurements and details.
How to Make Lasagna Soup
This recipe comes together so quickly, and the steps are super easy. Here are the basic steps:
- Sauté: Cook the vegetables until tender, then stir in the herbs and seasonings.
- Brown: Add the beef, cook until browned, and drain any excess grease.
- Simmer:Stir in all remaining ingredients (except pasta and cheese) and let simmer for at least 30 minutes, or up to all day for deeper flavor.
- Add: D
Need dinner on the table in 20 minutes? This Cheesy Pesto Pasta is quick and easy to make, and you can throw in any extra veggies lying in your produce drawer!
The BEST Pesto Pasta Recipe
If you’ve got a need for vegetarian or gluten-free recipes, these basil pesto noodles is a great dinner option. You can add chicken to make it a heartier dish, but it’s actually really fantastic with just grape tomatoes. Heck, you could even throw in chopped zucchini, which would also be yummy. In fact, I think I will next time.
Our favorite way to serve this pesto pasta is actually straight from the pan. I know, that doesn’t seem very classy, but the pan is sizzling hot and to bring it out and serve it straight into bowls really is so fun and it keeps everything fresh and fragrant versus putting it into a cold serving bowl.
We started with our Classic Pesto recipe. You just can’t beat the taste of fresh pesto! It’s our favorite and I think it’s the toasted garlic that really takes things over the top. We actually add a little more to the pasta as well. It’s ridiculous, but true. Garlicky, cheesy noodles are kind of awesome.
I don’t know how healthy pesto pasta is considering that you dump a full cup of cheese in there, but it’s certainly better for you than a lot of other pasta dishes out there. It’s fresh, simple and a really fast pasta to serve as a main dish. Not to mention it is full of flavor!
What’s Needed for Basil Pesto Pasta?
This pesto sauce pasta couldn’t be any easier to make! Here’s all you’ll need to make these pesto noodles:
- Olive Oil
- Garlic
- Angel Hair Pasta
- Basil Pesto
- Shredded Mozzarella
- Grape Tomatoes (or cherry tomatoes)
- Black Pepper
The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card down below so keep scrolling for all the details.
How to Make Pesto Sauce Pasta
This pesto dish comes together in just 20 minutes! Here are the basic steps to mastering this recipe:
- Prep: Make the homemade pesto (if making at home) and prepare the pasta to al dente according to the package instructions (reserve the pasta water!).
- Sauté: Add the oil and garlic to a large skillet over medium heat and stir until fragrant. Reduce the heat then at the tomatoes and salt and sauté.
- Boil: Add some starchy pasta water and bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. You want the tomatoes to start burstin
Have you ever had a pizza quesadilla (or tortilla pizza)? It is such a quick and easy way to enjoy those classic pizza flavors! We have named them “pizza-dillas” in our house!
It’s always the random recipes that turn out the best. We held a quesadilla throw down one Sunday evening and things got a little delicious. At first we had planned to make original quesadillas using anything, but the kids decided to have us all pick a meat then create any kind of quesadilla you want.
I ended up with pepperoni and at first was a little bummed. But it turned out to be the best quesadilla ever!! The secret? Oh my goodness, it’s so random and I don’t even know why it works, but a little lime honey drizzle inside of the quesadilla, wow!!! It’s absolutely delicious!!! The buttery, garlic topping and that touch of salt from the cotija cheese, it’s just so good! Always use vista tortillas, my favorite, and Volpi pepperoni is hands down the best!
We make them in the air fryer which makes them extra crispy and delicious, and dinner is on the table in 10 minutes!
Ingredients for Tortilla Pizzas
The ingredients for pizzadillas are simple with a couple of key items that take the flavor profile to the next level! Here is what you will need:
- Flour Tortillas: Our favorite brand is Vista, but you can use whatever flour tortillas your family loves.
- Mozzarella: Buy a brick of good quality mozzarella cheese and shred it yourself for the best flavor and melt factor.
- Pepperoni: Volpi is the best brand ever. I find it here in Utah at Trader Joe’s and Harmons. If you can’t find Volpi, then ask the deli counter worker for a good quality pepperoni.
- Butter: I use unsalted butter just to keep the saltiness down, and it’s used to create the garlic butter spread for the outside of the tortilla pizza.
- Johnny’s Garlic Spread: I always buy Johnny’s at Costco, but you can find it at most grocery stores or online. Any garlic seasoning would work to mix with the butter for the garlic butter spread.
- Honey: A little drizzle inside of the pizzadilla adds a little touch of sweetness that makes all the other flavors burst. You could use hot honey instead if you want a little heat!
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