Baked Chicken Caprese Recipe

Name: Baked Chicken Caprese Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 4 chicken breasts, (boneless, skinless); ½ teaspoon garlic powder; 2 Tablespoons olive oil; 1 cup ricotta cheese, (part-skim or whole); ½ teaspoon oregano, (dried); ¼ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; 1 cup crushed tomatoes; 4 slices mozzarella cheese, (sliced); fresh basil, (handful)

Yield 4 people

Cook 20

Prep 10

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Baked Chicken Caprese is a fresh, flavorful dish that’s so easy to make! These juicy chicken breasts are baked with mozzarella cheese, creamy ricotta, oregano, and tomatoes for the perfect meal. Ready in just 30 minutes, this is a simple, flavorful, and delicious dinner you'll make over and over again!

Spatula filled with chicken breasts topped with melted provolone cheese topped with fresh basil.

Chicken dishes will never get old with me. Especially baked chicken recipes, like this Mexican Chicken Bake, One Pan Garlic Baked Chicken with Mozzarella and this Bacon Wrapped Veggie Stuffed Chicken. And this baked caprese chicken is full of mouthwatering flavors that will be ready and on your table in 30 minutes!

This chicken recipe is a delicious twist on the classic Caprese salad. But here's what it's made of and how I make it....I combine ricotta cheese with dried herbs and then smear it on top of the chicken breasts. From there, I add tomatoes and top everything with mozzarella cheese and then bake it until the cheese is melted and golden brown. When it's done, top it off with some fresh basil and you've got yourself an easy one-pan dinner that brings bold Italian flavors to your table with minimal effort.

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Why This Recipe Works
🛒 Ingredients You'll Need
🔪 Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
🙋🏼‍♀️ Recipe FAQs
Expert Tips
🥘 More Baked Chicken Recipes!
Baked Chicken Caprese Recipe

Why This Recipe Works

This is a one pan meal, easy to throw together, and done within 30 minutes. It's perfect for any weeknight meal but tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen making it!

Caprese chicken is usually a summer dish since it’s typically grilled, but this baked version makes it easy to enjoy any time of year!

🛒 Ingredients You'll Need

Plate with 4 chicken breasts, can of crushed tomatoes, ricotta cheese, provolone cheese, olive il and spices.

Chicken Breasts - for juicy results, use thick breasts rather than thin slices. Thicker cuts retain more moisture while baking.
Garlic Powder - added to the breasts before searing to help form a crust.
Olive Oil - used to pan sear the raw chicken breasts.
Ricotta Cheese - adds a an additional layer of flavor and smooth and velvety texture, similar to the taste of stuffed chicken.
Oregano - use dried oregano and mix it in with the ricotta cheese to add a depth of flavor.
Salt - a flavor enhancer mixed in with the ricotta.
Pepper - adds a subtle bit of peppery flavor when mixed in with the ricotta cheese.
Crushed Tomatoes - you can use canned or freshly crushed tomatoes.
Mozzarella Cheese - Sliced or shredded cheese works well. You can also use Provolone cheese as a substitute for the mozzarella if desired. The flavors are very similar when melted.

Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions!

🔪 Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

Bowl containing ricotta cheese mixed with dried oregano.

Step 1: Start by preheating the oven to 350°F. Then, take the dried oregano, salt, and pepper and then mix with the ricotta cheese using either a whisk or a handheld mixer. Set aside.

Sauteing 4 chicken breasts in a black skillet.

Step 2: Rub each breast with garlic powder. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sauté for 3-5 minutes per side, until golden brown.

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Baking dish with sauteed chicken breasts, crushed tomatoes, ricotta cheese and 4 slices of Provolone cheese.

Step 3: Put each piece of sautéed chicken in an oven safe baking dish. Place the crushed tomatoes, ricotta cheese, and Mozarella cheese all in a row on the counter.

Spoonful of ricotta cheese topping chicken breasts.

Step 4: Next, add ¼ cup of the ricotta cheese mixture on top of each piece of chicken.

Spoonful of of crushed tomatoes topping ricotta covered chicken breasts.

Step 5: From there, add ¼ cup of crushed tomatoes on top of the ricotta cheese.

4 pieces of sauteed chicken covered with ricotta cheese, crushed tomatoes and Provolone cheese.

Step 6: Top each piece of chicken with Mozzarella cheese.

Baking dish with 4 chicken breasts covered in ricotta cheese, crushed tomatoes and melted Provolone cheese topped with basil.

Step 7: Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Since you already sautéed the chicken, it only needs about 20 more minutes to finish cooking. Just make sure the internal temperature is 165°F. Once the baked caprese chicken is done, top it with some fresh chopped basil and some extra fresh ground pepper. You can even drizzle on some balsamic vinegar for extra flavor!

One of the best chicken breast recipes you'll ever eat for dinner, it's savory, mouth watering delicious, and full of flavor!

🙋🏼‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

What kind of cheese can you use when making Caprese Chicken?

Ricotta cheese is a key ingredient, but if you don't want to use mozzarella cheese, you can use Provolone cheese. Pepper jack or white cheddar cheese also works well.

Can you make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes! Prepare and sear the chicken according to the instructions and top with the ricotta cheese mixture and crushed tomatoes. Cover and place in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you're ready to bake the chicken, top with mozzarella cheese and bake accordingly.

What do you serve with Caprese Chicken?

My favorite way to serve this dish is to serve it with on a bed of homemade rice pilaf, homemade mashed potatoes, or pasta. But it also pairs really well with my Brussels Sprouts Salad and these Oven Roasted Vegetables. And, I love to eat it with a good piece of toasted garlic bread!

How do I know when the chicken is done?

I highly recommend using a meat thermometer to check and see when it is done. When the chicken has been baking for 15 minutes, insert a digital thermometer into the center of a piece. As soon as it reaches 165°F in the thickest part, it's done.

Expert Tips

Don't over bake. Remember, you already sautéed the breasts for a couple of minutes on each side. You just need to finish cooking until it reaches 165°F, which should only take about 20 more minutes.
Make sure you pat the chicken to remove any excess moisture before adding the garlic powder.
When mixing the ricotta cheese, feel free to add in any additional Italian seasonings you like. I like using dried basil, Italian Seasoning, or rosemary. Everything I've tried has turned out to be delicious!
When done, allow the chicken to rest for about 5 minutes before serving. This will help lock in the moisture which will be very juicy when you slice into it.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
To freeze, let the chicken cool completely, then discard the cheese and tomatoes. Store the breasts in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator, place in a baking dish, top with ricotta, crushed tomatoes, and Mozzarella cheese, and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Leftovers are great but try serving this on toasted bread to turn this into a chicken caprese sandwich!

Knife cutting into a chicken breast topped with Provolone cheese served with a side of pasta. Red wine on table.

🥘 More Baked Chicken Recipes!

If you tried this baked chicken caprese or any other recipes on my website, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below. I love hearing from you! And please leave a 🌟 rating while you're there!

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Comments

5 from 16 votes (2 ratings without comment)