Description
This One-Pan Balsamic Chicken is a flavor-packed dish that brings together juicy, seared chicken breasts with a sweet and tangy balsamic glaze, topped with fresh tomatoes, basil, and creamy mozzarella. It’s an easy, elegant weeknight dinner that’s bursting with bold Italian-inspired flavors—all in one skillet.
Ingredients
For the Balsamic Sauce:
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons avocado oil (or olive oil)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Tomato-Mozzarella Topping:
8 ounces grape tomatoes, halved
8 ounces fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine or pearls)
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Chicken:
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (pounded to even thickness)
2 tablespoons avocado oil (or any high-heat oil)
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
-
Make the Balsamic Sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, honey, avocado oil, garlic, Italian seasoning, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside. -
Prepare the Topping
In another bowl, toss together grape tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and chopped basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. -
Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). -
Sear the Chicken
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Sear for 1–2 minutes per side until lightly golden. -
Add the Sauce
Pour the prepared balsamic sauce over the chicken in the skillet. Let it come to a gentle simmer and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. -
Add the Topping
Remove skillet from heat. Evenly distribute the tomato-mozzarella mixture over the chicken breasts. -
Bake
Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake, uncovered, for 18–23 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). -
Rest and Serve
Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Spoon pan sauce over the top and garnish with extra basil if desired.
Notes
-
Serving Suggestions: This dish pairs beautifully with mashed potatoes, rice, pasta, or crusty bread to soak up the extra sauce.
-
Make it Dairy-Free: Skip the mozzarella and top with seasoned roasted cherry tomatoes instead.
-
Meal Prep Tip: Cook and portion into containers with quinoa or veggies for a delicious high-protein lunch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One-Pan / Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired, Gluten-Free