Description
This Grilled Chicken Margherita is a delightful dish featuring tender grilled chicken breasts topped with creamy mozzarella, vibrant basil pesto, and fresh cherry tomatoes. It’s perfect for a family dinner or a special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (pounded to less than 1-inch thickness)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano + 1/4 teaspoon dried basil + 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme)
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
- Cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: In a large bowl, combine chicken breasts with salt, pepper, olive oil, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Toss to coat evenly.
- Grill the Chicken: Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Grill chicken for about 6-8 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Top each chicken breast with a slice of mozzarella cheese and close the grill lid to melt the cheese for an additional minute.
- Prepare the Tomato Topping: In a small bowl, toss cherry tomatoes with lemon juice and sliced basil.
- Assemble the Margherita Chicken: Place about 3 tablespoons of pesto on each chicken breast, then top with a spoonful of the tomato-basil mixture. Add freshly cracked black pepper to taste.
- Serve Immediately: Enjoy this fresh, flavorful dish!
Notes
- For extra flavor, marinate the chicken in the olive oil, garlic, and herbs for a few hours before grilling.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with a side salad or grilled vegetables.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: main course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with toppings
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg