Caprese Stuffed Chicken

Caprese stuffed chicken is an impressive dinner to make for family and friends! Chicken breasts filled with melty mozzarella, Roma tomatoes, and fresh basil make for a bright and flavorful meal you’re sure to love.

For our dad’s birthday this year, we surprised him by preparing a fancy meal for him and our mom to enjoy at home. We set out our best dining ware, lit candles, and played his favorite instrumental music in the background. The key to our success in pulling this off was an elegant but easy main course that we knew would turn out well: Caprese stuffed chicken. Gooey mozzarella melted with slices of Roma tomatoes and leaves of fresh basil gave the meal a lovely Italian flavor profile. Served with buttery roasted potatoes and lemony asparagus, this caprese chicken made a delicious and beautiful dinner that (I think!) our parents enjoyed.

Even if you’re not planning a special dinner, this Caprese stuffed chicken is well worth your time to make. With the first bite, you’ll enjoy all the best summery flavors. Served with sourdough bread and a side of veggies, this stuffed chicken makes such a delicious dinner!

What to serve with Caprese Stuffed Chicken

Because this dish is pretty fancy, you can do simple sides to let the chicken shine. Here are a few ideas to try:

• A simple salad like this cucumber feta salad or panzanella salad.
• Roasted vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, or rosemary potatoes.
• Your favorite sourdough bread 🙂 We enjoyed homemade focaccia sprinkled with parmesan.

Tips for making Caprese Stuffed Chicken:

• If you are having trouble keeping the chicken folded, you can use a toothpick to hold the chicken breasts together once you stuff them.
• It can be tricky to make sure the chicken is cooked all the way through because it is stuffed. Check the inside flap of the chicken breast with the thermometer to ensure it’s cooked all the way through.
• If you are worried about the chicken drying out, cover it with foil for the last few minutes. This will catch steam from the broth and keep the chicken moist.
• This chicken will taste best if you enjoy it within 3 days of making it. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge.

Tools you will need

To make this Caprese Stuffed Chicken, you’ll need a knife, cutting board, meat tenderizer, tongs, skillet, casserole dish, kitchen thermometer, and parchment paper.

Ingredients you will need

• 4 chicken breasts – Aim for 3-4 oz per chicken breast. You don’t want them to be too large or else they will take forever to bake.
• 4 oz mozzarella cheese – I used a round ball of mozzarella, but you can also use shredded cheese if you prefer.
• 1 Roma tomato – Can’t have caprese without tomatoes! If need be, you can also use a Beefsteak tomato instead of a Roma tomato.
• 1 lemon
• 20 leaves of basil – Just estimate here, you want a few leaves per chicken breast.
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp salt – Kosher salt is best for this.
• 1 cup chicken broth – Veggie broth also works here.
• 1 tbsp olive oil – You can also use avocado oil, coconut oil, or butter, although olive oil fits well with the Mediterranean flavors.

How to make Caprese Stuffed Chicken

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have the convection setting on your oven, use it to help the chicken cook through completely.

Cut the lemon in half, and squeeze the juice into a bowl. Stir in the oregano, dried basil, and salt, then set aside.

Slice the chicken breasts in half, but leave one edge still intact. Use a rolling pin or meat tenderizer to flatten the chicken out a bit. I like to put the chicken between two sheets of parchment paper so that the meat tenderizer doesn’t get covered in raw meat. 🙂

Slice the tomato into four slices, and then cut the mozzarella into 4 slices as well.

Layer one slice of mozzarella on one half of a chicken breast. Top with a slice of tomato and a few leaves of basil. Cover the stuffing with the other half of the chicken breast. Repeat for the remaining pieces of chicken.

Rub the lemon and herb mixture over each piece of chicken.

Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sear the chicken breasts for 3 minutes on each side, so they are golden brown.

Remove the chicken from the heat and place them in a casserole dish. Pour the chicken broth over the chicken.

Bake the chicken for 20-25 minutes, until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Looking for more dinner recipes?

If so, make sure you head over to the Kitchen Counter for lots of easy and yummy dinner ideas. Here are a few you might enjoy:

• Greek Lemon Chicken and Potatoes
• Lemon Basil Chicken
• Focaccia Sandwiches
• Tuscan Chicken Pasta
• Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers
• Zucchini Lasagna

If you make this recipe and enjoy it, let me know in the comments section below! You can also tag me on instagram @oldfashionedinspiration with a picture of your creation!