Grilled Chicken Caprese with Pesto

Name: Grilled Chicken Caprese with Pesto
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup oil (corn, vegetable, avocado or olive oil); 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar; 1 Tablespoon italian seasoning; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 6 chicken breasts (approximately 6 ounces each); 1/2 cup pesto (store bought or homemade); 8 ounces fresh mozzarella; 1 large tomato (beef steak, on the vine or home grown)

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This tasty grilled chicken caprese with pesto and is the best summer grilling recipe you didn't know you needed! Marinated and grilled to perfection, the chicken is topped with zesty pesto, fresh tomato, and melty mozzarella cheese.

grilled chicken on a white plate topped with pesto, tomato and mozzarella cheese with fresh basil.

This post was originally sponsored by Mazola and published in May 2021 and has been updated for content.

As the weather warms up, we love spending more time outside and cooking meals on the grill. It's great because I don't have to heat up the house, plus it also allows me to create lighter, fresher meals for the family.

Serve with grilled chicken caprese with pesto alongside st louis ribs for a cookout with strawberry rhubarb cheesecake bars for dessert and homemade Italian sodas!

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🍅 Ingredient notes
📋 Substitutions and variations
🔪 Step by step instructions
⭐ Expert tips
💭 Frequently asked questions
🥘 Alternative cooking methods
🥡 Storage suggestions
♨️ More grilling recipes
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

🍅 Ingredient notes

Marinade - This simple marinade is made with oil, vinegar, and spices that helps provide both flavor and moisture to the chicken.
Tomato - I recommend using a large beefsteak, on the vine, or even a homegrown garden tomatoes.
Cheese - A large 8-ounce mozzarella ball will work and will make nice slices to melt perfectly over the top of the tomato and pesto.
Pesto - You can make your own pesto if you like or buy your favorite store bought pesto. You will need about ½ cup or a 6-ounce jar will do.

📋 Substitutions and variations

Dairy free - Omit the cheese or replace it with your favorite dairy free mozzarella.
Spicy - Add 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to the marinade.
No Pesto - Not a fan of pesto or need a nut-free alternative? Omit the pesto and add a fresh basil leaf to the top of the cheese after cooking instead.

🔪 Step by step instructions

First, combine the oil, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder in a large zip top bag or shallow baking dish. Add the chicken, tossing it gently to make sure it's covered completely by the marinade. Let the chicken sit in the marinade for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

Bag filled with marinade with a bottle of oil next to it and chicken in marinade.

While the chicken is marinating, slice the mozzarella and tomato and preheat the grill to medium high heat or approximately 375˚. Remove it from the bag and place it directly on the grill to cook for 5 minutes on the first side. Flip the chicken over and top each chicken breast with a heaping tablespoon of the pesto.

marinaded chicken on the grill and then the chicken on the grill topped with pesto sauce.

Add a slice of tomato to each chicken breast on top of the pesto and then add a slice of mozzarella to each chicken breast on top of the tomato.

grilled chicken breasts with pesto topped with tomato slices and then topped with sliced mozzarella cheese.

Close the grill and cook for an additional 5 minutes or so until the chicken is fully cooked through. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes off of the grill before serving.

chicken on grill with pesto, tomato and mozzarella and then resting on a wooden cutting board.

If you ever don't recognize a tool or skill that I mention, be sure to look it up in the Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information.

⭐ Expert tips

Allow the chicken to sit in the marinade for a minimum of 30 minutes or up to 2 hours if needed.
When selecting chicken breasts for this recipe, try to pick similar-sized pieces so they cook evenly and in the same amount of time.
Cooking times may vary depending on the actual size and thickness of each chicken breast, so make the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165˚ when checked with a kitchen thermometer.
Let the chicken resting after cooking for serving so it retains its juices and stays moist.

💭 Frequently asked questions

How do you grill chicken breast without drying it out?

Marinating chicken for at least 30 minutes prior to grilling helps to ensure your chicken is moist. Using a kitchen or grill thermometer also helps to make sure your chicken doesn't dry out. Chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165˚.

What is caprese?

Caprese is traditionally a salad consisting of mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and fresh basil that is sometimes dressed with oil and vinegar. This chicken combines all of those fresh flavors into a delicious and fresh main dish that is perfect for summertime!

🥘 Alternative cooking methods

Oven - This recipe can be made in an oven at on a sheet pan instead of on the grill. Cook chicken at 375˚ for 8-10 minutes each side until the internal temperature reaches 165˚.

🥡 Storage suggestions

Leftover grilled chicken caprese with pesto will keep in the refrigerator for 3-5 days and can be reheated in the oven, on the grill or in the microwave until heated through.

♨️ More grilling recipes

If you loved this grilled chicken caprese with pesto recipe, check out these other grilling recipes that I know you will love too!

Don't Forget! If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and give it a rating. I love to hear from each and every one of you! Tag me on Facebook and Instagram as well! It makes my day to see all of your photos of the food you have made.

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