Description
A quick, flavorful baked chicken recipe with a tangy balsamic glaze and melty mozzarella, 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 the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Grease a baking dish lightly with olive oil.
- Season the chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Make the balsamic sauce by whisking together balsamic vinegar, honey or maple syrup, dried basil, dried oregano, and minced garlic in a small bowl.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Sear the chicken for 2–3 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Place the seared chicken in the greased baking dish, drizzle the balsamic mixture over it, and tuck halved cherry tomatoes around the chicken.
- Bake the dish in the oven for 20–25 minutes, or until the chicken is almost cooked through (internal temp about 155–160°F).
- Remove from oven, sprinkle shredded mozzarella on top of each breast, and return to the oven for an additional 5–10 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown and the chicken reaches 165°F.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving.
Notes
Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after baking to keep it tender. Adjust honey in the balsamic sauce for sweetness as needed.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 75mg