Description
A cozy, comforting dish featuring tender chicken breasts baked with balsamic vinegar and topped with melty mozzarella cheese, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil.
- Season each chicken breast with salt and pepper on both sides.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, honey or maple syrup, dried basil, dried oregano, and minced garlic.
- In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until golden brown.
- Carefully place the seared chicken in the prepared dish, then pour the balsamic mixture over the chicken. Scatter the halved cherry tomatoes around.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken is almost cooked through.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven, sprinkle mozzarella cheese over each chicken breast, and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and chicken reaches 165°F internally.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley and serve warm.
Notes
Make-ahead: Prepare the balsamic sauce a day in advance and marinate the chicken overnight for deeper flavor. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 120mg