One can never have enough chicken breast recipes, right? Especially simple, healthy chicken breast recipes. Chicken breasts are really a perfect food - they are healthy, easy, quick, delicious and so versatile. And this Baked Balsamic Chicken (with tomatoes) is no exception.
Quick and easy enough for busy weeknights, but fancy enough to serve to company, a special dinner, or date night, this chicken breast with balsamic vinegar recipe pairs a tangy and rich balsamic tomato sauce with fresh thyme and plum tomatoes for an easy meal. And it is only 6 Weight Watchers points (if you use ALL the sauce, which you likely won't.) If you're looking for an easy balsamic chicken recipe, this is one the whole family will love!
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The very first time I made this balsamic chicken recipe, I served it to company and it was well-loved! My Orange Hoisin Chicken is also a delicious, WW friendly recipe that's ideal for serving to guests!
🥘 Ingredient Notes
This balsamic chicken is a great way to use up lots of fresh tomatoes!
- Plum tomatoes. Plum tomatoes (also known as Roma tomatoes) are the perfect size and oval shape for this recipe. They have a firm texture and a rich, tangy flavor, and they don't get mushy when baked, as other tomato varieties tend to do.
- Balsamic vinegar. Use good quality balsamic vinegar - it makes all the difference! (see explanation in the Top tip below) !
- Fresh thyme. Using fresh thyme gives this dish a unique and fresh flavor!
- Dijon mustard. Gives this sauce a welcome touch of spice and adds depth of flavor to this sauce.
*See recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantities
Top Tip
Balsamic Vinegar of Modena
Having quality balsamic vinegar is pretty important, especially if it's the star of the show! And if you've ever had the misfortune of consuming a balsamic vinegar that's not good quality, between the bitterness and gagging, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. My favorite balsamic vinegar discovery is Kirkland Signature Balsamic Vinegar of Modena! I actually found this by chance, shopping at Costco, and was pleasantly surprised at how smooth it is. It's definitely the best balsamic vinegar!
Then when I was researching balsamic vinegar for an article, I came across a taste test of "economical" balsamic vinegar, where Kirkland came out in FIRST PLACE! Several judges concurred that the aroma was the most interesting, with a hint of wood, it had the most viscosity and the best sweet-to-sour balance.
One panelist said it was “brighter on the palate" and another said they could detect hints of cherries on the nose. Several judges said that it had the most pleasing finish. In sum, "it has an excellent sweet-to-sour balance and pleasing finish, especially for its price point." I'd definitely agree with that! You can read more about the balsamic vinegar taste test HERE. Try it with this Onion and Olive Bread Machine recipe, dipped in this balsamic vinegar and oil!
So, if you're not up to paying $75+ for a bottle of top-notch balsamic vinegar aged 12+ years, then I think you'll be pretty happy with the Kirkland brand (this $21 bottle will last you a very long time).
📖 Variations & Substitutions
- Thyme: you can substitute dried, but only use half the amount
- Tomatoes: you can use any type of tomato, including cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, or even garden tomatoes
- Chicken: you can use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts
- Parmesan cheese: you could use regular or fat-free parmesan cheese instead
- Spicy: add some crushed red pepper flakes
🔪How to Make Balsamic Chicken
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F/204 degrees C.
Sauce:
Whisk together tomato juice, balsamic vinegar, oil and thyme, mustard, sugar, and garlic in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, continue to boil, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Set aside ¼ cup (for serving with chicken)
Cut tomatoes in half, lengthwise, and arrange in a sprayed 9X13 pan. Then spoon ⅓ of the sauce over the tomatoes. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Pat chicken dry with paper towels, place chicken in 9X13 dish, then score chicken with fork (or use a meat mallet)
Coat the top of the chicken breast with remaining balsamic sauce (NOT from the reserved ¼ cup).
Cooking Time: Bake in a preheated oven for 25-35 minutes, turning halfway through (at about 15 minutes), and spoon sauce over the chicken (from the bottom of the pan), as you would if you were basting.
Cook until no longer pink inside and the internal temperature (inserted into the thickest part of the chicken) reaches 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Serve with reserved sauce. Sprinkle tomatoes with a little more parmesan cheese, if desired.
Expert Recipe Tips
- Use a Meat Thermometer for Perfect Doneness. To ensure your chicken is cooked perfectly, use a meat thermometer (affiliate link). Insert it into the thickest part of the chicken breast, and make sure it reads 165°F (74°C).
- Score the Chicken for Better Flavor Absorption. Use a fork or knife to score the chicken breasts lightly before coating them with the sauce. This helps the balsamic sauce penetrate deeper, enhancing flavor in every bite.
- Opt for High-Quality Balsamic Vinegar. The flavor of this dish relies heavily on the balsamic vinegar. A good-quality balsamic (such as Kirkland Balsamic Vinegar of Modena) will result in a smoother, richer sauce. Avoid vinegar with added caramel coloring or artificial sweeteners.
- Avoid Overcrowding the Baking Dish. Arrange the chicken and tomatoes in a single layer with some space between each piece. This allows for even heat circulation and prevents steaming instead of baking.
When it's been a long day at work, this easy chicken and tomato recipe is my go-to meal. And you can't go wrong with a one-pan baked chicken recipe. Only a couple of minutes of prep and you have yourself a healthy and delicious meal.
🥗 What to serve with Balsamic chicken
I usually serve this with baked potatoes because I can quickly throw them in the oven while I'm prepping the chicken and they are done at the same time! Easy Peasy. If you want to kick it up a notch, try these Onion Soup Mix Baked Potatoes in Foil (shown below). They can even be prepped in advance!
However, if you want a side of low-carb bread, try this Everything Bagel Cloud Bread Recipe is a great 0 point ww recipe to serve with this. If you're looking to splurge a little more on calories and ww points, I'd recommend my Garlic bread.
For vegetable sides, Green beans and mushrooms are an easy choice, as well as this 0 ww point Skinny Coleslaw. Or opt for a simple side salad or this mildly sweet Strawberry Spinach Pecan Salad to balance the tangy chicken.
🌡️Storage
Store leftover balsamic chicken breasts in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
👪 Serving Size
This easy balsamic chicken recipe (with tomatoes) makes 4 servings. However, you can half, double, or triple it. Just click on the serving number and select the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.
🔢WW Points
This balsamic chicken breast recipe is Weight Watchers friendly @ 6 ww points per serving. Of course, it's less if you don't use ALL the sauce, which you likely won't.
❔ Recipe FAQ's
Absolutely! You can prepare the sauce and assemble the chicken and tomatoes in the baking dish a few hours ahead. Store it covered in the fridge, and bake it just before serving.
If your sauce becomes too thick, you can thin it out with a small amount of water or additional tomato juice until it reaches your desired consistency
Yes, but make sure the chicken breasts are fully thawed before cooking. Cooking frozen chicken directly can result in uneven cooking and make it harder to achieve the correct internal temperature.
Certainly! Marinate the chicken in the balsamic sauce for 1–2 hours, then grill over medium heat for 6–8 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Serve the grilled chicken with the baked tomatoes and reserved sauce.
As I said, you can never have enough easy chicken recipes. So if you're looking for additional easy chicken breast recipes, give my low-carb 5 Ingredient Caprese Sheet Pan Chicken Breast a try!
Enjoy!
🐔More Healthy Chicken Breast Recipes
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📋 Baked Balsamic Chicken (with Tomatoes) Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 8 plum tomatoes
- 3 tablespoon reduced fat parmesan cheese
Sauce
- ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
- ⅓ cup tomato juice
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon granulated white sugar
- 1 cloves of garlic, minced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F ( 204 degrees C ).
Sauce:
- Whisk together tomato juice, balsamic vinegar, oil and thyme, mustard, sugar and garlic in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, continue to boil, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Set aside ¼ cup (for serving with chicken)⅓ cup balsamic vinegar, ⅓ cup tomato juice, 3 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme, 2 tablespoon dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon granulated white sugar, 1 cloves of garlic, minced
- Cut tomatoes in half, lengthwise and arrange in sprayed 9X13 pan. Then spoon ⅓ of the sauce over tomatoes. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.8 plum tomatoes
- Place chicken pieces in pan. Score chicken with fork.4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, 3 tablespoon reduced fat parmesan cheese
- Coat with remaining balsamic reduction sauce (NOT from the reserved ¼ cup)
- Bake in a prdheated oven for 25-35 minutes, turning halfway through (at about 15 minutes) and spoon sauce over the chicken (from bottom of the pan), as you would if you were basting.
- Cook until no longer pink inside and internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F (74 degress C) . Serve with reserved sauce. Sprinkle tomatoes with a little more parmesan cheese, if desired.
- Serve with baked potatoes and additional vegetables if desired.
Notes
-
- Use a Meat Thermometer for Perfect Doneness. To ensure your chicken is cooked perfectly, use a meat thermometer (affiliate link). Insert it into the thickest part of the chicken breast, and make sure it reads 165°F (74°C).
-
- Score the Chicken for Better Flavor Absorption. Use a fork or knife to score the chicken breasts lightly before coating them with the sauce. This helps the balsamic sauce penetrate deeper, enhancing flavor in every bite.
- Opt for High-Quality Balsamic Vinegar. The flavor of this dish relies heavily on the balsamic vinegar. A good-quality balsamic (such as Balsamic Vinegar of Modena) will result in a smoother, richer sauce. Avoid vinegars with added caramel coloring or artificial sweeteners.
- Avoid Overcrowding the Baking Dish. Arrange the chicken and tomatoes in a single layer with some space between each piece. This allows for even heat circulation and prevents steaming instead of baking.
Mike Lafleur
I made this recipe for Monique's birthday dinner and what a hit this was!!!
Easy to do and great tasting as well!
Terri Gilson
Glad you guys loved it, Mike!!!
Sabrina
I love everything about this recipe. The tanginess and the one pan and my kids love it! Thanks for this great recipe:-)
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Sabrina!
Lisa
Love how this recipe is so easy and can just imagine the flavors! I can see this being equally delicious with chicken thighs, too!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Lisa! Yes, chicken thighs would work too!
Bernice Hill
Darn! I was just at Costco today. Of course you can never have enough quick chicken recipes. I'll save this one for later.
Terri Gilson
Oh no, Bernice! Well, next time... the recipe will still be here 🙂
Colleen
A one pan baked chicken breast recipe that isn't boring is just what I'm always on the hunt for. This recipe looks simple to make, delicious and right up my alley. Thanks Terri!
Terri Gilson
Thank you, Colleen!
Katerina | Once a Foodie
You're right, you can't ever have enough one pan baked chicken recipes. The sauce sounds delish - thanks so much for sharing!
Terri Gilson
Thank you, Katerina!