Grilled Chicken Caprese Salad Recipe

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This Grilled Chicken Caprese Salad Recipe is a modification of the original Caprese Salad with layers o Buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes, basil with a balsamic and olive oil drizzle.

This new take on has the Caprese salad is layer over grilled chicken. We make it all the time for dinner and it has become a family favorite.

Caprese Salad is a traditional Italian favorite that is made of sliced fresh mozzorella, tomatoes, and sweet basil. It is seasoned with salt and pepper and olive oil. Sometimes it is preppared with balsamic vinegar drizzled over the top. Also, Caprese is sometimes laid over a bed of arugula.

The traditional Caprese salad is made with the colors of the Italian flag. We like to share Italian pride in as many foods as possible. Even these rainbow cookies (also called 7 Layer cookies) are made to display the colors of the Italian flag.

Grilled Chicken Caprese Salad Recipe

This grilled chicken recipe is gluten free and extremely low carb. The Caprese Salad is a great choice for when you are dining at an Italian restaurant.

I do my best to keep my recipe gluten free when I can. My mother has been eating gluten-free for over 10 years due to a gluten allergy. That means she was gluten free before there was anything labelled gluten free in the store.

I put together this easy gluten-free chicken caprese salad recipe that includes buffalo mozzarella and delicious sweet baby tomatoes. My very Italian mother would call it mozzarella in the water.

This chicken caprese is awesome because it is healthy and really easy to make.

Ingredients You Need

Here are the ingredients you will need to make this recipe. The full printable recipe is below. I like to print it while I cook.

• Chicken Breasts
• Fresh Mozzarella
• Tomatoes
• Fresh Basil Leaves
• Salt & Pepper
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Olive Oil

Caprese Salad Variations

The Classic caprese salad has large tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, olive, and salt and pepper. We add balsamic vinegar and chicken to this recipe. You can also some of these ingreidents to change things up and based on what you have on hand.

You can use Italian dressing or pesto in place of olive oil, or red vinegar in addition to it. 

Olives may also be added into the mix. We know that the flavors go great together like with Steak Pizzaola.

You can also add arugula or romaine lettuce to add to greenery of the dish.

For spices, you can add oregano, parsley, or dry Italian Spices.

Kid Friendly Version

My daughter enjoys it as well with only olive oil drizzled over it. The balsamic is too strong for her since she is only 6. If you have children in the house, I would set a few pieces aside before you drizzle the balsamic on top.

I have let my daughter try from my plate a bunch and she will eat a few bites, but she always wants it a little more plain. You know your children’s tastes best so use your best judgement.

Is Chicken Caprese Keto Friendly?

This dinner is extremely Keto Friendly with only 3 carbs per serving and 1 gram of fiber with net carbs of only 2 per chicken breast.

Related Recipes: Italian Wedding Soup Recipe with Kale Couscous, Easy Italian Meatloaf Recipe, and Crockpot Chicken Marsala Recipe. Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore, and Keto Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.

Serve this Salad with: Easy Roasted Veggies,  Air Fryer Green Beans, and Air Fryer Cauliflower Recipe.

Italian Cookie Recipes: Italian Butter Cookies, Italian Rainbow Cookies Recipe, Pine Nut Pignoli Cookies Recipe, and Spring Lemon Ricotta Cookies Recipe.

Tools and Supplies 

Tenderizer: For this dish, I wrap the chicken in Saran Wrap and use a tenderizing mallet to make the chicken breast more tender. If you don’t have a tenderizer, cut the chicken breasts into cutlets by cutting them lengthwise. 

Grill Pan or Grill: To grill the chicken on the stove, I use my La Creuset Cast-Iron grill pan. You can enjoy grilled chicken without going outdoors and at time of year. 

The cast-iron skinny grill allows you to grill year round. It has a non-stick coating making it really easy to cook and clean it. If it’s grilling season, you can also just grill your chicken breasts on the grill! 

Tongs: To flip the chicken, I like to use tongs. My favorite tongs are from this set.  In case you are wondering, here are my ultimate kitchen favorites! 

Prep the Chicken Breasts

Start by prepping the chicken by laying the chicken in between 2 pieces of Saran Wrap. Use the flat part of a meat tenderizer to hammer the chicken.

This helps the chicken to cook quicker and  makes it more tender. 

Spice the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides.

How to Grill the Chicken on a Grill Pan? 

Pre-heat the grill pan to medium heat. Use your oil to grease the pan. Use a paper towel to spread the oil over the grill pan. 

Using tongs, add the pounded chicken to the grill pan. You can fit 2 pounded chicken breast on the pan.

Cook the chicken on one side for about 4 minutes to cook about 2/3 of the way so that the white cooked chicken is coming up the sides. 

Flip over the chicken and cook for another minute or 2.

How to turn the grilled chicken into caprese chicken?

To turn the grilled chicken into chicken caprese, add the sliced mozzarella on top. 

Then, add a leaf of basil and tomatoes on top. 

Drizzle olive oil on top and then the balsamic vinegar.

If you want to melt the cheese a bit, you can heat the oven to 300 degrees F. Then, take the grill plate and put it right in the oven.

Add the mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes on top. Let it heat up for 5 minutes. Top of the salad by drizzling of Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar over the top.

Try to keep it from getting on the plate for the best presentation. Throw a pinch or salt and pepper on top for flavor.

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