Caprese Chicken Bowl (Printable)

Protein-packed bowl featuring grilled chicken, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and balsamic glaze.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1.1 lbs)
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
04 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Salad

07 - 7 oz fresh mozzarella balls, sliced or torn
08 - 3 medium ripe tomatoes, sliced or diced
09 - 1 cup fresh basil leaves
10 - 4 cups mixed salad greens, optional (arugula, spinach)

→ Balsamic Reduction

11 - 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
12 - 1 tablespoon honey

→ Finishing

13 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
14 - Sea salt and black pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
02 - Slice chicken breasts in half horizontally to create 4 thin cutlets. Drizzle with olive oil and season evenly with Italian herbs, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
03 - Grill chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until fully cooked and juices run clear. Remove from heat and rest for 5 minutes, then slice.
04 - In a small saucepan, combine balsamic vinegar and honey. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until syrupy. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
05 - Arrange salad greens in bowls. Top with sliced grilled chicken, mozzarella, tomatoes, and fresh basil leaves.
06 - Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic reduction. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
07 - Serve immediately while chicken is warm.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen when you actually spent thirty minutes, which is the real magic.
  • The balsamic reduction is so ridiculously good you'll want to drizzle it on everything afterward.
  • Fresh mozzarella and basil together feel like a little edible garden, and somehow that makes you feel healthier just eating it.
02 -
  • If your balsamic reduction looks too thin after 7 minutes, it will thicken even more as it cools, so stop before you think it's done or you'll end up with something more like candy.
  • The warm chicken and cool fresh ingredients create this perfect temperature contrast that actually makes the flavors pop more than if everything were cold.
03 -
  • A slight char on the grill adds complexity to the chicken that you absolutely cannot replicate in a pan, so if you have access to a grill, use it.
  • Taste your balsamic reduction as it reduces—it should coat a spoon and have a syrupy, concentrated quality, because this is where half the flavor lives.
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