Chicken Caprese Salad Recipe

4.67 from 3 votes

This chicken Caprese salad is a fast, flavorful meal ready in under 1 hour. Oven-baked chicken, fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and homemade balsamic vinaigrette make a protein-packed, restaurant-quality salad perfect for healthy lunches.

Prep Time15

Cook Time25

Rest Time10

Total Time50

Course: Dinner, lunch, Salad

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: salads

Calories: 905kcal

Author: Becky Hardin

Equipment

Baking Sheet

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts *
½ tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper

For the Dressing:

¼ cup balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon maple syrup **
1 clove garlic minced
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon kosher salt
ground black pepper optional, to taste
¼ cup olive oil

For the Salad:

6 cups spring mix ***
8 ounces mini mozzarella balls halved****
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes *****
¼ cup fresh basil thinly sliced

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Pat the chicken breasts dry, then drizzle with the olive oil, rubbing it all over to coat. Season both sides with the Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and black pepper.
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, ½ tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Place the chicken on the prepared baking sheet and bake until cooked through to 165°F and the juices run clear, about 25-30 minutes.
While the chicken cooks, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and black pepper (optional) to taste. Slowly stream in the olive oil while whisking.
¼ cup balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon maple syrup, 1 clove garlic, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ground black pepper, ¼ cup olive oil
Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes to seal in the juices, then slice.
To assemble the salad, add the spring mix to a bowl and pour over just enough dressing to coat. Divide into serving bowls.
6 cups spring mix
Top with the sliced chicken, mini mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, and sliced basil. Drizzle with more dressing and serve.
8 ounces mini mozzarella balls, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, ¼ cup fresh basil

Video

Notes

*You can top this salad with any cooked chicken breast, tenders, shredded chicken, or sliced rotisserie chicken.

**You can use brown sugar if you prefer.

***Feel free to use your favorite mix of salad greens, such as Romaine, butter lettuce, arugula, or spinach.

****If you can't find mini mozzarella balls, you can chop up a larger ball into bite-sized pieces.

*****You can use grape tomatoes or a large chopped tomato instead.

Tips:

Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness (about ½-¾ inch) for faster, more even cooking.
To maximize flavor, marinate chicken in my balsamic marinade before cooking.
Cook the chicken until it registers 165°F internally at the thickest point.
Let the chicken rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing to lock in the juices.
Pat the mozzarella balls dry if they’re too wet, or your salad might get watery.
Remove seeds from larger tomatoes to prevent excess moisture.
Try not to over-dress the salad, or it will turn soggy.
If you plan to have leftovers, it's best to store the salad, dressing, and chicken separately and assemble the salad just before eating.

Grilling Instructions: Season the chicken breasts as directed, then place on a grill set over medium-high heat (375-450°F) and cook for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Make-Ahead: You can cook the chicken up to 1 day in advance of when you plan to serve it. Store the chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Storage: Store chicken Caprese salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The homemade balsamic vinaigrette will keep for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Nutrition