Description
This Balsamic Glazed Caprese Chicken is a flavorful, oven-baked dish featuring juicy, skinless bone-in chicken thighs seasoned with herbs and glazed with a sweet and tangy balsamic sauce. Topped with fresh mozzarella and grape tomatoes, then garnished with fresh basil, this recipe combines classic Caprese flavors with hearty chicken for a deliciously satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Ingredients
- 6 skinless bone-in chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pinch cracked black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or a light spray of cooking oil spray
- 2 tablespoons garlic minced
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar packed
- 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, divided
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese or Bocconcini, cut into 6x 1/2-inch slices
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves chiffonade
Balsamic Glaze (Optional To Serve)
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar packed
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 210°C (410°F) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking the chicken thoroughly and melting the cheese on top.
- Season Chicken: Season each chicken thigh evenly with oregano, basil, salt, and cracked black pepper to infuse them with herbaceous flavors.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil or apply cooking spray in a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken thighs on each side for about 4 minutes until golden brown. Remove chicken and place on a plate, draining most of the excess oil, leaving about one teaspoon in the pan.
- Make Garlic Balsamic Glaze: Return skillet to the stove, add minced garlic, and fry until fragrant, roughly 1 minute. Stir in balsamic vinegar and brown sugar, combining and bringing to a simmer. Let it cook for 5-6 minutes with occasional stirring until the glaze thickens.
- Coat Chicken & Add Tomatoes: Return the chicken thighs to the pan, turning to coat them evenly in the balsamic glaze. Scatter 1 cup of whole grape tomatoes around the chicken in the skillet.
- Bake Chicken: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 30 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked through.
- Add Mozzarella & Continue Baking: Remove from oven, top each chicken thigh with a slice of mozzarella, then return to the oven for an additional 5 minutes until the cheese melts beautifully.
- Garnish & Serve: Slice the remaining 1/2 cup tomatoes in half and place atop the melted cheese. Drizzle some of the pan’s balsamic sauce over everything and garnish with fresh chiffonade basil leaves. Serve immediately for the best flavor.
- Optional Extra Glaze: While chicken bakes, combine 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar and 2 tablespoons brown sugar in a small pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5-6 minutes stirring occasionally until reduced to a thick glaze. Drizzle over chicken before serving for enhanced balsamic flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute oregano and basil with Italian seasoning or pizza topper if that is what you have available.
- For Australian cooks, fresh Bocconcini can be found in Woolworths’ deli section. The recipe uses 2 large balls (125g each), but smaller sizes can be substituted if necessary.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with toppings
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
