Trying to feed the family during the week and keep dishes to a minimal can be quite the hassle at times. Kids are picky, you will make the wrong thing, and at least one person will complain no matter what you do so you might as well keep things super simple with a single sheet pan dinner and let them complain away! Today's recipe, Sheet Pan Caprese Chicken, is a quick and easy weekday dinner that is sure to satisfy the kids, spouse, in-laws, and/or whoever else is complaining yet still not pitching in to help. The only sounds you will hear are their lips smacking their lips as they all will be shoveling down this cheesy chicken and tomato dish! This is the less than 10 ingredient meal anyone can make to shut up their family and enjoy a dinner for once...Let's Get Cooking!
Not only is this a single sheet pan dinner, but it is also a no prep dinner! Begin by placing the cherry tomatoes in a bowl with some olive oil and Italian seasoning. Toss the tomatoes till they are well coated and dump out onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
Put your chicken breasts into that same bowl and add a bit more olive oil, Italian seasoning, and some salt and pepper. Again, just toss till everything is coated and dump them onto the tray with the tomatoes. Spread the chicken around so it is evenly spaced.
Slide your chicken and tomatoes into an oven preheated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. While these bake for 20 minutes, we will make the balsamic reduction sauce. Keeping with that super simple theme, pour some balsamic vinegar into a small saucepot and bring it up to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the temperature to Medium and continue to simmer the balsamic vinegar until it reduces by about half, just shy of 10 minutes. Boiling vinegar, even balsamic vinegar, does create some interesting aromas your kids may not like, so this might be the one time you hear them complain so just keep them away from the kitchen to maintain your peace and sanity!
The vinegar should be reduced and ready by the time the chicken comes out of the oven after 30 minutes so just move it off the burner and set it aside for now. Layer a thick slice or 2 of fresh mozzarella cheese onto each chicken breast and pop the tray back into the oven for another 8 to 10 minutes, until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160 degrees. Residual heat will carry it over to 165 so be careful not to overcook your chicken breasts at this point.
Once your chicken reaches that 160 to 162 degree internal temperature, remove it from the oven. Use your hands to roughly tear some fresh basil leaves and spread over the sheet pan. Tearing the leaves helps release the internal oils and flavor which helps mimic traditional caprese goodness!
The final step is to drizzle the balsamic reduction sauce over the sheet pan to complete the umami flavor bomb we just created with a few ingredients and a single sheet pan! I will warn, though, your kids may not be a fan of the balsamic reduction, so you can also wait till you plate the chicken and tomatoes to drizzle it on to avoid any complaints. If there are adults complaining about it, just kick them out of the house because they wouldn't know and understand flavor if it punched them in their own mouth!
This Sheet Pan Caprese Chicken is really that simple, quick, and delicious! It is also great as a meal prep option for meals on the go. I would suggest only cooking the chicken to about 150, maybe 155 degrees, though, to keep it from drying out when reheated in a microwave. 1 minute and 30 seconds should be plenty of time to get it up to 165 degrees and keep it tender and moist!
Chow it down now or meal prep it for later, this Sheet Pan Caprese Chicken is so good it will likely make a weekly or biweekly appearance in your home for months to come! Those roasted tomatoes are tasty on their own, but also add that extra bit of sweetness to the salty, cheese drenched chicken while the vinegar completes the flavor profile wheel to keep the meal balanced. You can enjoy your Caprese Chicken as is, over a bed of fresh arugula for a bit of peppery freshness, or with some toasted French bread to soak up the extra oils and juices from the tomatoes and chicken. It's honestly a healthy summer dinner that goes from the fridge to the dinner table in 45 minutes and can't be beat so next time your family starts complaining about dinner during the week think of this one and give it a try...Just Keep Cooking!
SHEET PAN CAPRESE CHICKEN
This looks fabulous and I can’t wait to try it