• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Family Dinners

Delicious Dinners Families Love

  • Browse Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Brunch
    • Condiments
    • Desserts
      • Cake
      • Cheesecake
      • Cookie
      • Pie
    • Drinks
      • Alcoholic Drinks
      • Non-Alcohol
    • Main Dish
    • Side Dish
    • Salads
    • Soup
  • Ingredient
    • Apple
    • Bacon
    • Beans
    • Beef
    • blueberry
    • Cheese
    • Chicken
    • Chocolate
    • Cranberry
    • Egg
    • Lemon
    • Pasta
    • Peanut Butter
    • Pork
    • Potato
    • Pumpkin
    • Seafood
    • Tomato
    • Turkey
    • Vegetables
  • Method
    • Air Fryer
    • Fried
    • Grill
    • Instant Pot
    • No Bake
    • No Cook
    • Oven
    • Slow Cooker
    • Stovetop
  • Kitchen Tips
  • About Us
Home » Blog » Course » Main Dish » Caprese Chicken Thighs

Caprese Chicken Thighs

Pin RecipeRate Recipe

Published: May 20, 2022 · Modified: Aug 20, 2022 by Andrea + Stef ·

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our full Disclosure Policy for details.

Learn how to cook mouthwatering caprese chicken thigh skillet topped with delicious mozzarella, tomatoes and balsamic glaze.
Jump to Recipe
Caprese chicken thighs on a spatula.

You will love these incredibly flavorsome oven baked caprese chicken thighs. Juicy chicken, topped with melted mozzarella cheese, sweet cherry tomatoes and fresh basil make for a most delicious family dinner. The tangy balsamic garlic glaze perfectly supports the rich caprese flavor and makes this gluten free dish out of this world yummy.

Table of Contents

  • WHAT ARE CAPRESE CHICKEN THIGHS?
  • CAPRESE CHICKEN THIGHS INGREDIENTS
  • INSTRUCTIONS
  • RECOMMENDED TOOLS
  • TIPS FOR THE BEST CAPRESE CHICKEN SKILLET
  • STORAGE TIPS
  • WHAT TO SERVE WITH CAPRESE CHICKEN THIGHS
  • MORE CHICKEN RECIPES
  • FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
  • Caprese Chicken Thighs

Balsamic chicken thighs are done in just 35 minutes and can be served alongside jasmine rice, roasted vegetables, a crunchy salad or simply with a fresh loaf of crusty white bread.

caprese chicken thighs in a pan sprinkled with basil

Make your tomato and mozzarella chicken thighs extra special by using homemade balsamic reduction.

WHAT ARE CAPRESE CHICKEN THIGHS?

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs seasoned with oil and Italian spices, then seared in a skillet and glazed with balsamic reduction. Caprese chicken is topped with a mouthwatering blend of fresh tomatoes and mozzarella slices, before cooked to perfection in the oven. Garnished with fresh basil, this dish represents the colors of the Italian flag, green-white-red.

❤️ WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS BALSAMIC CHICKEN RECIPE

✔️ This juicy chicken dish combines all the best flavors of Italy.

✔️ It creates amazingly delicious pan juices.

✔️ Great gluten free and keto friendly weeknight dinner with 31 grams of protein.

✔️ Leftovers can be sliced up for an amazing caprese chicken sandwich.

Caprese chicken with melted mozzarella and tomatoes on a spatula.
tomato and mozzarella topped chicken thigh on a wooden spatula
Caprese chicken with mozzarella and tomatoes in a skillet.

CAPRESE CHICKEN THIGHS INGREDIENTS

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for chicken with mozzarella and tomatoes, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

You may have all of these oven baked balsamic chicken thighs ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store. See recipe card below for ingredient amounts.

  • Chicken Thighs: Use defrosted boneless, skinless thighs for best results.
  • Italian Seasoning: You can substitute plain oregano, or make your own Italian seasoning by mixing oregano, dried basil, and thyme.
  • Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Oil: We recommend using olive oil or avocado oil.
  • Garlic
  • Balsamic Glaze: Use your favorite store bought balsamic reduction or make your own. Check out our super easy and quick recipe for homemade balsamic glaze. It tastes incredible! If you’re eating Keto, omit the balsamic glaze. You can use a straight balsamic vinegar.
  • Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes work best for this recipe, because they add an intense, slightly sweet tomato flavor. You can also use grape tomatoes.
  • Mozzarella: Use fresh mozzarella slices, not low moisture cheese.
  • Fresh Basil: Get a ready to use basil plant at the grocery store. It usually lasts you quite a while to make many delicious recipes. Packaged basil leaves only last for a very short time and start to look unappetizing quite quickly.
ingredients for caprese chicken skillet

INSTRUCTIONS

This section shows how to cook balsamic chicken thighs in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full instructions, nutritional information, to print the recipe or to have the recipe scaled to double or triple, see the recipe card below.

PREHEAT THE OVEN: Preheat oven to 400ºF.

Seasoning in a bowl.
Seasoning on chicken thighs.

SEASON THE CHICKEN: Drizzle the chicken thighs with oil and spices, then rub the seasonings well into all sides of the meat.

🔴 TIP: Use defrosted boneless skinless thighs, because frozen chicken thighs do not absorb the seasonings as well. Additionally frozen thighs take longer in the oven and might cause the balsamic glaze to burn.

raw chicken thighs in a skillet.
Cooked chicken thighs in a skillet.

SEAR THE THIGHS: In an ovenproof skillet, sear the chicken thighs on all sides over medium-high heat. About 4 minutes on each side.

🔴 TIP: Don’t skip the browning of the chicken, because it seals up the outside of the chicken and therefore keeps the moisture inside the meat while roasting in the oven.

chicken thighs drizzled with balsamic glaze
fresh mozzarella slices and raw tomatoes on chicken in a skillet.

MAKE GLAZE: Add the garlic to the pan and sautée for a minute. Then add balsamic reduction and stir to combine. Coat chicken with the glaze on all sides then add half of the tomatoes.

COOK IN THE OVEN: Now transfer the chicken to the oven and cook for 20 minutes.

Melted cheese on chicken.
Drizzled balsamic and basil on caprese chicken.

MELT THE CHEESE: Top the almost done balsamic chicken thighs with slices of fresh mozzarella. Then return to the oven and finish cooking till an inside temperature of 165ºF is reached.

🔴 TIP: Check the temperature of the chicken, by poking the thermometer through the thickest part of the chicken to make sure the whole piece is cooked through. Remove from oven immediately when internal temperature reaches 165°F.

SERVE: Top caprese chicken thighs with more sliced tomatoes, fresh basil chiffonade and drizzle with pan juices. Serve and enjoy!

RECOMMENDED TOOLS

Ovenproof Skillet – An ovenproof pan works well for this recipe as it goes right from the stove into the oven. If you don’t have one, transfer the chicken to a baking dish before putting it into the oven.

TIPS FOR THE BEST CAPRESE CHICKEN SKILLET

Follow these tips to make the best chicken with mozzarella and tomatoes.

✔️ Do not use frozen chicken thighs. Use boneless, skinless thighs that are defrosted.

✔️ Use your favorite balsamic glaze. You can use store bought or homemade balsamic reduction for this recipe. Have you tried our balsamic glaze recipe?

✔️ Fresh mozzarella cheese is best for this recipe, but if you want to buy mozzarella to shred, buy low moisture mozzarella.

STORAGE TIPS

Refrigerate: Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the fridge for up to 3 days.

How to use leftovers: You can slice up the cold caprese balsamic chicken thighs and use them to make a sandwich with crusty white bread. Add some arugula salad, fresh tomato slices and a drizzle of pesto and enjoy!

Reheat: To reheat, simply pop in the microwave or put back into the oven until heated through.

Freeze: Leftover chicken thighs can be frozen in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. We do not recommend freezing the tomatoes though, as they loose their texture in the freezer.

close up of cooked tomato and mozzarella chicken thighs

WHAT TO SERVE WITH CAPRESE CHICKEN THIGHS

Serve tomato and mozzarella topped chicken thighs with jasmine rice, or a healthy side dish, such as a crunchy salad. Try our delicious and colorful Italian salad or amazing Greek salad with caprese chicken thighs.

Or if you prefer to make your side dish in the air fryer, check out our air fryer carrots with balsamic glaze, air fryer green beans and air fried asparagus.

Copycat lion house rolls or easy cheesy garlic rolls are also a great addition to oven baked balsamic chicken thighs, because you want to mop up all the tasty pan juices.

  • air fryer green beans in an air fryer basket.
    Fresh Green Beans In Air Fryer
  • Raw asparagus salad with walnuts and parmesan cheese on top.
    Raw Asparagus Salad With Walnuts
  • strawberry avocado salad with homemade vinaigrette pouring onto top.
    Strawberry Avocado Salad with Poppyseed Dressing
  • Chopped Asparagus Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
    Chopped Asparagus Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

MORE CHICKEN RECIPES

If you love love caprese chicken thighs you’ll also enjoy our other scrumptious chicken recipes. If you want to keep it on the lighter side, you have to try our caprese stuffed chicken breast, air fryer lemon chicken, grilled chicken marinade with lemon, or chicken meatballs.

In case you are looking for a more hearty chicken dish, we highly recommend trying our Instant Pot chicken thighs with lemon butter, chicken parm sandwich bake, herb roasted chicken or chicken in white wine sauce with mushrooms.

  • Balsamic glaze poured over caprese stuffed chicken in a skillet.
    Caprese Stuffed Chicken Breast
  • Grilled Chicken Marinade with Lemon
  • Lemon butter chicken thighs on a plate.
    Instant Pot Chicken Thighs with Lemon Butter Sauce
  • chipotle chicken sheet pan fajitas with guacamole, salsa and tortillas
    Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For perfect results every time, here are answers to the most common questions about cooking balsamic chicken thighs.

How do I know when caprese chicken thighs are done?

Insert a food thermometer at the thickest part of the chicken and make sure the inside temperature has reached 165ºF.

Can I also use chicken breast for this recipe?

Yes, you can also make this recipe using chicken breast. Depending on the size of your meat you might have to adjust cooking time. Check the chicken breast for doneness after 20 minutes in the oven. Have you tried our quick and easy caprese stuffed chicken recipe?

Caprese chicken thighs on a spatula.
5 from 2 votes

Caprese Chicken Thighs

Author Andrea + Stef

Course Main Dish
Cuisine American, Italian, keto
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes minutes
Total Time 35 minutes minutes
Print
Pin
Rate
6 servings
Learn how to cook mouthwatering caprese chicken thigh skillet topped with delicious mozzarella, tomatoes and balsamic glaze.
Prevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

  • small bowl
  • ovenproof skillet
  • kitchen spatula
  • knife and cutting board

Ingredients
  

  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 2 tsps Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • pinch of black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon oil olive oil or avocado oil
  • 3 tablespoon garlic minced
  • ¼ cup balsamic glaze
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • 8 oz fresh mozzarella

Garnish:

  • fresh basil chiffonade

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
  • Drizzle ½ teaspoon of oil on each chicken thigh.
    raw chicken thighs on a plate
  • Sprinkle Italian seasoning evenly over each thigh.
    Seasoning on chicken thighs.
  • Using your hands, rub in the seasoning to coat all sides of the chicken.
  • Heat an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken into the pan once the oil is hot. Sear each side until golden brown, about 4 minutes on each side.
    Chicken thighs in a skillet.
  • First add garlic around the chicken and cook for about 1 minute. Then add balsamic glaze, and stir to combine glaze and garlic.
    Balsamic glaze poured over chicken in a skillet.
  • Turn chicken to coat in the glaze.
  • Add ½ cup of whole cherry tomatoes around the chicken thighs.
    tomatoes added to the chicken thighs
  • Transfer the pan to the oven. Cook for about 20 minutes, until the internal chicken temperature is 160ºF.
  • Top with mozzarella cheese and return to the oven to melt the mozzarella. Remove from the oven when mozzarella is melted and the internal temperature of the chicken is 165ºF.
    Melted cheese on chicken.
  • Slice the remaining tomatoes and garnish chicken with freshly sliced tomatoes and basil.
    Drizzled balsamic and basil on caprese chicken.
  • Spoon some of the glaze from the pan over the chicken.

Notes

Recipe Notes:
  • Use boneless skinless thighs that are defrosted. Do not use frozen thighs.
  • You can use store bought or homemade balsamic glaze. Give our quick and easy balsamic reduction recipe a try!
  • Fresh mozzarella slices are perfect for this recipe but if you want to buy mozzarella to shred, buy low moisture mozzarella.

Nutrition

Calories: 297kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 137mg | Sodium: 729mg | Potassium: 384mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 416IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 222mg | Iron: 2mg

Did you create this?

Share it on Instagram and follow us on Pinterest for more cleverly simply recipes.

Email Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
Pin
Share
Tweet
Previous
Balsamic Glaze (Balsamic Reduction)
Next
Better Than Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply! Cancel reply

Share your thoughts!
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Stef and Andrea - Authors of Family Dinners.

Meet Stef + Andrea

We are women who love to cook! Our goal is to make life easier for other parents by sharing our tried and true recipes, meal plans and kitchen tips.

More About Us

Family Dinner Recipes Straight To Your Inbox!

When you subscribe to all the latest recipes!

    Featured Recipes

    • stacked chocolate chip cookie bars.
      Better Than Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
    • opened breakfast biscuit bite with egg, bacon and cheese inside.
      Air Fryer Breakfast Biscuit Bites
    • stack of cherry cheesecake hand pies
      Cherry Cheesecake Hand Pies
    • easy lasagna recipe
      Easy Lasagna
    • air fryer fried fish on a plate.
      Air Fryer Fried Fish
    • Plate full of air fryer boneless skinless chicken thighs cooked perfectly.
      Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
    Spoon scooping bbq meatballs.
    cooked bbq chicken nachos with all toppings and garnish

    Easy Family Dinners

    It’s been a busy week and you need dinner on the table? We have you covered. Browse hundreds of favorites straight from our table to yours.

    Browse Dinners
    Family Dinners Logo

    Browse Recipes

    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Brunch
    • Condiments
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Main Dish
    • Dairy Free
    • Gluten Free
    • Keto Friendly
    • Air Fryer
    • Fried
    • Instant Pot
    • Oven

    Family Dinner Recipes Straight To Your Inbox!

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      Policies

      • Privacy Policy

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates

      About

      • About Us

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2021 FamilyDinners.com

      ©2023, Family Dinners. About Privacy Policy Back To Top
      Design by Pixel Me Designs
      ×

      Newsletter

      Family Dinner Recipes Straight To Your Inbox!

      When you subscribe to all the latest recipes!

        53 shares