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Balsamic Baked Chicken Breast with Mozzarella

Balsamic baked chicken breast with mozzarella—juicy chicken draped in a caramelized balsamic glaze and finished with melted fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and basil for a caprese-inspired bake. This Italian baked chicken method uses a quick marinade and short oven time for tender, flavorful results.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
marinating 20 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken breasts
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Seasoning
  • 0.5 tsp Salt to taste
  • 0.5 tsp pepper to taste
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder to taste
  • 0.5 tsp Italian seasoning to taste
Balsamic marinade and glaze
  • 1 cup balsamic vinegar measured as 1/4 cup (scale-safe)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced minced
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
Topping
  • 8 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 0.5 cup Fresh basil leaves garnish
  • 1 Balsamic glaze for drizzling for serving

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Marinate the chicken
  1. Whisk balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, minced garlic, and Dijon mustard in a bowl until smooth. Season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning, then marinate in the mixture for 20 minutes and reserve some marinade.
Sear
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F, then heat an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the marinated chicken in the skillet for 3 minutes per side until golden.
Bake
  1. Transfer the skillet to the oven with the remaining reserved marinade. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Melt mozzarella and finish
  1. Remove from the oven and top each breast with sliced mozzarella and halved cherry tomatoes. Return to the oven for 4-5 minutes, just until the cheese is melted and starting to turn golden.
  2. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving. Let stand briefly so the glaze clings to the chicken.

Notes

For best flavor, keep the chicken fully coated during the 20-minute marinating time. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days; reheat gently at 350°F until warmed through. Freezing is not recommended due to texture changes in the mozzarella. If you want a lower-sugar option, swap honey for an equal amount of a sugar-free honey-style syrup.