Description
Balsamic Glazed Caprese Chicken is a deliciously flavorful dish featuring juicy, bone-in chicken thighs seasoned with herbs, seared to golden perfection, and baked with a sweet and tangy balsamic glaze. Topped with fresh mozzarella, sweet grape tomatoes, and fragrant basil, this Italian-inspired recipe is simple to prepare and perfect for a delightful weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 6 skinless bone-in chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pinch cracked black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or a light spray of cooking oil spray
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 1/2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, divided
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese or Bocconcini, cut into 6 x 1/2-inch slices
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chiffonade
Balsamic Glaze (Optional To Serve)
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 210°C (410°F) to prepare for baking the chicken after searing.
- Season Chicken: Evenly season each chicken thigh with dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and cracked black pepper to infuse the meat with Italian flavors.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil or cooking spray in a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken thighs for about 4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside, leaving about a teaspoon of oil in the skillet.
- Sauté Garlic and Make Glaze: Return the skillet to the stove and sauté minced garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add balsamic vinegar and brown sugar, stirring together while heating. Let it simmer while occasionally stirring until the glaze thickens, about 5-6 minutes.
- Coat Chicken with Glaze and Add Tomatoes: Return the chicken thighs to the skillet, turning them in the glaze to coat evenly. Scatter 1 cup of whole grape tomatoes around the chicken in the pan.
- Bake Chicken: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake until the chicken is completely cooked through, approximately 30 minutes.
- Add Mozzarella and Continue Baking: Top each chicken thigh with a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese. Return the skillet to the oven for an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Finish with Tomatoes and Basil: Slice the remaining 1/2 cup of grape tomatoes in half. Place these halved tomatoes on top of the melted cheese. Drizzle some of the pan’s balsamic sauce over the top and garnish with chiffonade of fresh basil leaves.
- Optional Extra Glaze: For extra balsamic glaze, while the chicken is baking, combine 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar and 2 tablespoons brown sugar in a small pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and stir occasionally until the glaze thickens and reduces by half, about 5-6 minutes. Drizzle over the plated chicken before serving.
- Serve: Serve the balsamic glazed Caprese chicken immediately for best flavor and enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute dried oregano and basil with Italian seasoning or pizza topper if preferred or more convenient.
- For Australian cooks, fresh Bocconcini cheese may be found in the deli section, for example at Woolworths. The recipe uses two large balls (125 g each), but smaller ones can be used depending on availability.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with toppings
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
