Baked Chicken Breast with Tomato and Mozzarella

I will be happy to help you prepare a delicious Baked Chicken Caprese, a variant that combines the classic baked chicken breast with the freshness of tomato and melting mozzarella. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts
• 2 ripe tomatoes
• 1 buffalo mozzarella (or fiordilatte)
• Dried oregano
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Fresh basil (optional)
• Garlic powder (optional)

Preparation

1. Start by preheating the oven to 200 °C.
2. Take the chicken breasts and, if necessary, lightly flatten them with a meat tenderizer to an even thickness. This will help the chicken cook evenly.
3. Arrange the chicken breasts in a baking dish lined with parchment paper and season with extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, and if you like, a pinch of garlic powder for an added flavor boost.
4. Bake the chicken for about 20 minutes or until it’s almost completely cooked through. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts.
5. In the meantime, slice the tomatoes and the mozzarella into slices about half a centimeter thick.
6. Once the chicken is almost done, remove the baking dish from the oven and layer the chicken breast first with tomato slices, then a sprinkling of dried oregano, and finally the mozzarella slices.
7. Return the dish to the oven and continue cooking until the mozzarella has melted and starts to turn golden brown. This should take about 10 minutes, but keep an eye on the oven to avoid burning the top.
8. Once the chicken is out of the oven, garnish it with fresh basil to add color and freshness to the dish.

And now a little hint of trivia: The tomato-mozzarella pairing is typical of the Caprese salad, a simple but beloved appetizer around the world for its balance of flavors and colors that recall the Italian flag. With this dish, you bring a touch of Italian flair to the table even if you’re preparing a recipe that is not strictly Italian. Enjoy your meal!