Stuffed Caprese Chicken Food

CAPRESE STUFFED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Place chicken on a cutting board and make 5 to 6 slits in each breast, being careful not to cut through completely. Transfer to a small baking sheet.
• Drizzle with olive oil then season chicken all over with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Stuff each breast with mozzarella, spinach and tomatoes.
• Bake until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink, about 25 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil then drizzle balsamic glaze on top.

SHEET PAN CAPRESE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of oil onto a rimmed baking sheet and use your fingers to evenly spread it out and coat the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with the Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Scatter the cherry tomatoes on the baking sheet and shake it back and forth so they become evenly coated in the oil and seasoning. Arrange the chicken in the center of the baking sheet, pushing the tomatoes out to the perimeter, and drizzle the chicken with the remaining tablespoon of oil.
• Bake until the tomatoes are soft, blistered and begin to burst, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the vinegar to a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to medium and simmer until the vinegar has reduced by half and is thick enough to coat back of the spoon, 7 to 8 minutes.
• Remove the baking sheet from the oven and drape a slice of mozzarella over each chicken breast. Bake until the cheese melts and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast has reached 160 degrees F, 5 to 7 minutes (the chicken will carryover cook to 165 F).
• Sprinkle the chicken and tomatoes with the basil and drizzle with the balsamic reduction. Spoon the collected pan juices over the tomatoes and chicken. Serve on a bed of arugula and with crusty bread to mop up the pan juices.

CAPRESE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST WITH BALSAMIC REDUCTION

Steps:

• Mix olive oil, garlic, onion powder, black pepper, and sea salt together in a bowl. Place chicken breasts in a shallow dish and pour marinade on top. Refrigerate at least 4 hours.
• Heat balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan to a slow boil. Allow to boil for 15 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning. Cook until vinegar has reduced to half the original volume. Allow balsamic reduction to cool completely.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place 1/4 cup basil leaves, 2 ounces mozzarella cheese, and 1/2 a tomato on each piece of chicken. Roll chicken up and secure with toothpicks.
• Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add stuffed chicken breasts to skillet and sear on all sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• Transfer skillet to the oven and bake until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Allow stuffed chicken breasts to rest 5 minutes. Drizzle with balsamic reduction before serving.

STUFFED CAPRESE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Butter a 9x13-inch glass baking pan.
• Combine 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, chopped spinach, cream cheese, and garlic powder in a medium bowl.
• Slice chicken lengthwise on the side of each breast to make a pocket, being careful not to cut all the way through to the other side. Stuff cheese and spinach mixture into each breast. Secure filling by sealing each pocket with 2 to 3 toothpicks. Season with lemon-pepper seasoning and place in the prepared baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes; it's okay if some of the cheese and spinach mixture spills out while baking.
• Remove from the oven and top with tomato slices and remaining mozzarella. Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette and return to the oven. Bake until chicken is cooked through and cheese on top is bubbly and golden, 10 to 15 more minutes.

STUFFED CHICKEN CAPRESE

Steps:

• With small knife, make horizontal slit in chicken breasts to create pockets, being careful not to cut all the way through.
• Sandwich 1 cheese slice between 2 basil leaves; stuff into pockets. Secure with toothpicks. Sprinkle chicken with 1/8 teaspoon of the salt and pepper.
• Heat large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add oil; heat until hot Cook chicken 5 minutes; turn.
• Scatter tomatoes over chicken; sprinkle with remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, covered, 4 to 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center. Sprinkle chicken with torn basil.
• Remove toothpicks before serving.