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
If you’re looking for a salad that actually keeps you full, this Grilled Chicken Salad is it. Tender grilled chicken, creamy avocado, sweet grilled corn, crunchy roasted chickpeas, and queso fresco are tossed together with a zesty homemade southwest ranch dressing for a salad that’s hearty enough to be dinner.
It’s fresh, colorful, packed with protein, and loaded with bold Southwest flavors in every bite. Whether you’re meal prepping lunches or serving dinner on a warm summer night, this is one of those salads everyone gets excited to eat.
Why You’ll Love This Grilled Chicken Salad
- Protein-packed from chicken and chickpeas
- Hearty enough for lunch or dinner
- Full of fresh vegetables and bold flavor
- Crispy roasted chickpeas add amazing crunch
- Homemade southwest ranch dressing is easy and delicious
- Great for meal prep
- Naturally gluten-free
- Ready in about 45 minutes
Ingredients You’ll Need
Don’t let the ingredient list fool you—everything in this southwest salad with roasted chickpeas is easy to find and worth every bite.
Roasted Chickpeas
- Chickpeas: Also called garbanzo beans, chickpeas become wonderfully crispy in the oven and add protein, fiber, and crunch to the salad.
- Olive Oil: Helps the chickpeas crisp up while adding rich flavor and helping the seasonings adhere.
- Paprika: Adds a mild smoky sweetness and beautiful color to the roasted chickpeas.
- Ground Cumin: Brings warm, earthy Southwest flavor that pairs perfectly with the chicken and corn.
- Kosher Salt: Enhances all the flavors and helps season the chickpeas from the inside out.
Southwest Ranch Dressing
- Sour Cream: Creates a creamy, tangy base for the dressing.
- Mayonnaise: Adds richness and helps create a smooth, classic ranch texture.
- Lemon Juice: Brightens the dressing and balances the richness with fresh acidity.
- Fresh Dill: Gives the dressing that signature ranch flavor and fresh herbaceous taste.
- Garlic Powder: Adds savory depth without overpowering the dressing.
- Chili Powder: Brings mild heat and smoky Southwest flavor.
- Taco Seasoning: Adds extra layers of spices and enhances the Southwestern flavor profile.
- PRO TIP: This is the key to this salad!
For the Salad
These Red, White and Blue Mini Cheesecakes are so easy to make! When you’re looking for an easy 4th of July dessert these fun mini cheesecakes bites are a creamy dessert for Independence Day! Perfect for your patriotic party!
These festive mini cheesecakes are always a favorite at our house. My kids love the bright red, white, and blue layers and creamy texture, and they make such a fun, special treat for celebrating the Fourth of July together!
I’m actually writing this post while watching the Olympics and these would make the perfect treat for watching the Olympics too! USA! USA! USA! ❤️🤍💙
Ingredients For Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bites
These mini cheesecake bites are wonderfully simple to make and don’t require any special equipment. They’re baked right in a standard muffin tin. The ingredient list is just as straightforward, using classic cheesecake staples plus a few festive extras to create those fun red, white, and blue layers.
Graham Cracker Crust
- Graham Crackers Crumbs: Create the classic sweet, buttery base that holds each cheesecake together.
- Salted Butter: Adds richness and helps bind the crust while enhancing flavor.
- Granulated Sugar: Provides a touch of sweetness and helps the crust set properly.
Filling
- Cream Cheese: The creamy foundation that gives these cheesecakes their smooth, rich texture.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the filling while keeping it perfectly balanced.
- Sour Cream: Adds tanginess and creates an extra silky consistency.
- Vanilla Extract: Brings warmth and enhances the overall flavor.
- Eggs: Help the filling set while keeping it soft and creamy.
- Red Gel Food Coloring: Creates the festive red layer.
- Blue Gel Food Coloring: Adds the bold blue layer for a fun patriotic look.
- Stabilized Whipped Cream: Pipes beautifully and holds its shape for decorating.
- Sprinkles: Add a festive finishing touch.
These cheesecake bites make your celebration feel complete. They’re easy to share, easy to serve, and bring a cheerful pop of color to the table.
Substitutions and Variations
You can easily switch things up to make these mini cheesecakes your own. For a fun, bite-sized cheesecake, use a mini muffin pan instead of a standard one. They turn into the cutest little treats, and there’s nothing better than eating an entire cheesecake in one bite!
This cheesecake filling also makes a wonderful blank canvas. Try stirring in a little vanilla bean paste for extra warmth and those pretty specks. You
If there is one thing that makes a summer barbecue feel extra special, it is ending it with these Grilled Strawberry Nutella Croissants. This grilled dessert comes together in just three minutes and tastes like something you would order at a fancy brunch spot.
Buttery, flaky croissants straight off the grill, slathered with rich chocolate hazelnut spread, piled high with fresh strawberries, and finished with a cloud of whipped cream.
It started with those beautiful buttery croissants from Costco, a jar of our favorite hazelnut spread, and a carton of fresh strawberries, and somehow this magical combination was born.
And can we talk about Costco for a second? You walk in for croissants and walk out having spent three times your budget on dark chocolate blueberry quinoa crisps and things you absolutely did not need but cannot live without. Just us? Didn’t think so.
Ingredients For Grilled Strawberry Nutella Croissants
You only need five ingredients for these grilled Nutella croissants, and every single one of them pulls serious weight in this recipe.
- Croissants: The buttery, flaky base of this whole dessert. A good quality croissant makes all the difference here, so splurge on the bakery ones if you can.
- Salted Butter: A light smear on each half before grilling gives the croissant those gorgeous golden grill marks and an extra layer of rich, buttery flavor. Unsalted butter also works in a pinch.
- Chocolate Hazelnut Spread: The star of the show. Spread generously over the warm, grilled croissant so it melts into every flaky layer, for that dreamy, indulgent chocolate-hazelnut flavor.
- Strawberries: Fresh, juicy, and sliced thin for the perfect bright and fruity contrast to the rich chocolate spread. Use the ripest berries you can find.
- Whipped Cream (optional): The finishing touch. Light, airy, and the perfect cool contrast to the warm grilled croissant.
Five ingredients, three minutes, and one completely unforgettable dessert. You are welcome.
How to Make Nutella Strawberry Crois