This Sheet Pan Chicken Caprese is a quick, 5 ingredient chicken dinner with basil, grape tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and reduced balsamic vinegar glaze, and can be made in under 30 minutes. It's also Weight Watchers friendly and gluten-free.
I fell in love with these Caprese Salad Sticks, and they inspired me to transform them into this easy weeknight baked caprese chicken recipe. It's the perfect last-minute dinner and something the whole family loves!
🍒Reader Review
"This was super easy to make and delicious! Even my kids (11 & 9) really liked it and went in for seconds! We will definitely include this recipe into our regular rotation! I made an olive oil/garlic spaghetti to go with it as well." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jump to:
- 🍒Reader Review
- 🥘 Ingredient Notes
- 📖Variations & Substitutions
- 🔪Step-by-Step: How to Make Sheet Pan Chicken Caprese
- Expert Recipe Tips
- 🍽Equipment
- Top tip - Never overcook your chicken breast again!
- 👪 Serving Size
- 🔢WW Points
- 🥗 What to Serve with Caprese Chicken
- 🌡️Storage
- ❔ Recipe FAQs
- Didn't find the answer you're looking for?
- 🐓More Healthy and Easy Chicken Recipes (WW friendly)
- Comments & ⭐Ratings
- 📋 5 Ingredient Sheet Pan Caprese Chicken Recipe
I don't have air conditioning, and it's been a hot summer, so I've avoided turning on the oven. And if there's one thing that excites me about fall, it's turning on my oven! I love to bake just about anything, and this recipe is my new favorite baked chicken! My Baked Balsamic Chicken (with tomatoes) and my Baked Chicken Cacciatore are also very popular!
However, if you're looking for more fall-flavored chicken recipes, be sure to try my Coconut Pumpkin Chicken and my Maple Marinated Grilled Chicken Kabobs!
🥘 Ingredient Notes
I love this Sheet Pan Caprese chicken because it's healthy, easy, low-fat, and you can add just about any flavor combination to it. But this medley of basil, grape tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and balsamic glaze really makes this chicken sing!
And sheet pan chicken is nothing short of brilliant - it's fast and one pan, which means fewer dishes to wash. And fewer dishes is always a bonus!
For this Caprese chicken bake, you'll need:
- Chicken breast. You can use fresh or frozen chicken; just make sure you completely thaw frozen chicken and pat it dry before you cook it.
- Garnish: Balsamic reduction glaze (affiliate links). It's so much easier to buy this than to try to make a reduction yourself. I did this once, it took forever, made the entire house smell bad, and clogged up my stove fan! Make sure you leave it at room temperature for 30 minutes or it will be too cold to drizzle.
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Basil- you can use your own fresh basil from the garden, or you can purchase fresh basil at most grocery stores. *And if you have grown an abundance of fresh basil, try my Basil Pesto with almonds or dehydrating your basil in the air fryer so you can enjoy it all winter long!
- Tomatoes- you can substitute cherry tomatoes instead of grape tomatoes, or use slices of regular tomatoes
🔪Step-by-Step: How to Make Sheet Pan Chicken Caprese
PREP: Spray a baking sheet pan with non-stick cooking spray or line it with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/176 degrees C.
- Step 1: Pat chicken breasts dry and place chicken on a parchment-lined sheet pan.
- Add about 3-4 whole basil leaves to each chicken breast, then about 5 ½ grape tomatoes (or however many you can fit).
- Step 3: Top with shredded mozzarella, dividing evenly between all 4 chicken breasts.
- Step 4: Cooking time: Cook for about 25 minutes, depending on the thickness of your chicken breast.
- Step 5: When chicken is done (no longer pink inside and reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F/74 degrees C, measured by the thickest part of the breast), remove from oven.
- Step 6: Drizzle reduced balsamic vinegar over everything. Garnish with fresh basil leaves. (This recipe tastes best if you eat the fresh basil with the chicken- I highly recommend this!)
Expert Recipe Tips
- Pound chicken for even cooking - If your chicken breasts vary in thickness, lightly pound them so they cook evenly and stay juicy.
- Don't overload the pan - Make sure the chicken has space around it on the sheet pan. Crowding can cause steaming instead of roasting, which affects texture and flavor.
- Pat chicken dry first - Moisture on the surface of the chicken can prevent proper browning. Use paper towels to blot before seasoning and baking.
- Add cheese at the right time - If you prefer your mozzarella more melted and slightly golden, add it in the last 5-7 minutes of baking instead of at the beginning.
- Use a meat thermometer - The most reliable way to avoid dry chicken is to cook until it reaches exactly 165° F/74° C at the thickest part of the breast.
- Warm balsamic glaze before drizzling - Bringing it to room temperature or giving it a quick warm-up makes it easier to drizzle smoothly and enhances the flavor.
- Finish with fresh basil - Don't skip the garnish! Adding a few fresh basil leaves right before serving gives the dish that bright, authentic Caprese flavor.
🍽Equipment
You will need a baking sheet/sheet pan (9X13) (affiliate link), a cutting board, and a sharp knife for this sheet pan chicken caprese. A meat thermometer is also handy as well!
Top tip - Never overcook your chicken breast again!
Did you know that temperature is the BEST way to check for doneness? No more cutting into your meat mid-grilling, guessing, or hoping it's done, only to find out you've actually overcooked it 🙁
This instant-read thermometer is a game-changer!
It's more than just a meat thermometer! I use my instant-read thermometer for EVERYTHING including:
- Baking pie and bread to eggs, casseroles, candy making, and more!
- This amazing little tool instantly and accurately measures temperature with a quick poke. And it's not just for the grill, it's the go-to kitchen instrument trusted by the world's most acclaimed chefs and BBQ champions (it's one of Alton Brown's 'favorite things')!
- And it comes with a handy little chart that gives you chef-recommended temperatures, as well as the minimum done temps for food safety.
If you love cooking, baking, or grilling, this tool is a must-have!
Click HERE to buy the Thermapen (affiliate link)
👪 Serving Size
This Caprese chicken sheet pan dinner recipe makes 4 servings. However, you can half, double, or triple the recipe by clicking on the serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust. You'll just need additional baking sheets.
🔢WW Points
This Caprese Chicken Breast recipe is Weight Watchers friendly @ only 2 ww points.
🥗 What to Serve with Caprese Chicken
Caprese chicken goes well with rice, such as my Greek rice or Spanish rice, and a veggie side like these Green beans and Mushrooms or this Quick Cucumber Kimchi.
You could also serve it with a Strawberry Spinach salad (shown above) and garlic bread (from baguette). If you're looking for a lighter low-carb bread, try this Everything Bagel Cloud Bread Recipe!
🌡️Storage
Store this baked caprese chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
This recipe does not freeze well.
❔ Recipe FAQs
Yes, simply use a dairy-free mozzarella alternative or skip the cheese altogether. The fresh basil and balsamic glaze still provide plenty of flavor
No, it's best to bake it uncovered. This allows the cheese to melt evenly and gives the tomatoes a chance to roast slightly, enhancing their flavor.
If you can't find balsamic glaze, you can make a quick version by simmering balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan until it thickens slightly. A drizzle of olive oil with a pinch of salt can also be used in a pinch.
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If you are searching for easy sheet pan dinners that are quick, healthy, low-carb, Weight Watchers Friendly, and gluten-free, this 5-ingredient sheet pan chicken breast is the one!
Fall always signals the start of getting back into routine. As the new school year begins, so do activities and busy evenings. Having an arsenal of quick, easy, and delicious dinners in your back pocket can be very comforting. A quick stop at the grocery store for a couple of ingredients, and you have yourself a plan with this Sheet Pan Caprese Chicken!
Looking for more easy Sheet Pan Chicken ideas? Try my One Pan Chicken Parmesan!
🐓More Healthy and Easy Chicken Recipes (WW friendly)
Comments & ⭐Ratings
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📋 5 Ingredient Sheet Pan Caprese Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- sheet pan
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts boneless and skinless
- 125 g shredded mozzarella cheese about ⅓ of a 500 g pkg
- 1 pkg 28 g basil leaves whole (or your own garden basil)
- 1 dry pint grape tomatoes sliced in half
Garnish:
- reduced balsamic vinegar glaze drizzled
- additional fresh basil leaves (set some aside)
Instructions
- Spray a baking sheet pan with non- stick cooking spray or line it with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/175 degrees C.
- Add about 3-4 whole basil leaves to each chicken breast, then about 5 ½ grape tomatoes (or however many you can fit). Top with grated (or sliced) mozzerella cheese.
- Add the remaining grape tomatoes to pan and cook for about 25 minutes, depending on thickness of your chicken breast.
- When chicken is done (no longer pink inside) and the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees F/74 degrees C, remove it from the oven.
Garnish:
- Drizzle reduced balsamic vinegar over everything. Garnish with fresh basil leaves. (this recipe tastes best if you eat the fresh basil with the chicken- I highly recommend this!)Serve hot.
Notes
- Pound chicken for even cooking - If your chicken breasts vary in thickness, lightly pound them so they cook evenly and stay juicy.
- Don't overload the pan - Make sure the chicken has space around it on the sheet pan. Crowding can cause steaming instead of roasting, which affects texture and flavor.
- Pat chicken dry first - Moisture on the surface of the chicken can prevent proper browning. Use paper towels to blot before seasoning and baking.
- Add cheese at the right time - If you prefer your mozzarella more melted and slightly golden, add it in the last 5-7 minutes of baking instead of at the beginning.
- Use a meat thermometer - The most reliable way to avoid dry chicken is to cook until it reaches exactly 165°F at the thickest part of the breast.
- Warm balsamic glaze before drizzling - Bringing it to room temperature or giving it a quick warm-up makes it easier to drizzle smoothly and enhances the flavor.
- Finish with fresh basil - Don't skip the garnish! Adding a few fresh basil leaves right before serving gives the dish that bright, authentic Caprese flavor.
Nutrition
Elaine
Gotta love sheet pan dinners! This is such a family-friendly meal. Easy and delicious, and hardly any clean-up!
Terri Gilson
Hi Elaine: Thanks - yes, I agree - sheet pan dinners all the way! 🙂
Cresta Bock
This was super easy to make and delicious! Even my kids (11 & 9) really liked it and went in for seconds! We will definitely include this recipe into our regular rotation ! I made an olive oil/garlic spaghetti to go with it as well.
Terri Gilson
I'm glad you and the kids liked it, Cresta! And that olive oil/garlic spaghetti sounds fantastic!
Shannon
Hey Terri! This recipe looks great and I will be trying it. However, the link to the reduced balsamic vinegar glaze takes you to amazon.com and the glaze does not ship to Canada. Is there another glaze that you would recommend that I can buy here in Calgary?
Thanks,
Shannon
Terri Gilson
Hope you enjoy it- I loved this chicken! I bought the reduced balsamic glaze at both Co op and Sobeys. Thanks for pointing out re: not shipping to Canada- I need to see if I can get that sorted out.