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    Home » Dinner

    Chicken Caprese Sheet Pan

    February 5, 2021 by Agnieszka 19 Comments

    1487 shares
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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Chicken Caprese Sheet Pan is a super quick and spectacular one-pan meal that’s ready in 30 minutes. This simple dish looks and tastes amazing but it is actually very easy to make and only requires a few ingredients.

    chicken tenders with mozzarella mini balls, roasted cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and balsamic drizzle on a paper lined baking sheet.

    This chicken sheet pan meal is a true showstopper! It is simple and healthy, yet elegant and perfect for a date night at home or a casual dinner party. If you’re like me and love the classic Caprese combination of tomatoes, mozzarella and basil, you’ve got to try this recipe!

    I love the simplicity and no fuss preparation of sheet pan dinners, but I often find that boneless skinless chicken breast and chicken tenders tend to dry out quickly when baked on a sheet pan. Chicken thighs are a lot more forgiving in the oven because thanks to the higher fat content, they stay moist and juicy when treated with high heat. Chicken tenders are small and lean, and it is very easy to overcook them and end up with super dry rubbery chicken.

    Jump to:
    • How to bake chicken tenders so they stay juicy
    • Ingredient notes
    • How to make balsamic glaze from scratch
    • Serving suggestions
    • Other quick and easy dinners
    • Recipe
    • You may also like
    • Meet the Author

    How to bake chicken tenders so they stay juicy

    My trick for baking chicken tenders so they don’t dry out is to coat them in mayo (!) and bake them for less than 30 minutes in high heat. Mayo may sound a little unconventional here but trust me, the fatty, creamy mayo forms a barrier on the chicken’s surface and it keeps the moisture from escaping when baking. Plus, it gives the chicken a nice, almost crispy coating. You may know that to make super crispy grilled cheese, some people use mayo on the outside of the bread but you can’t really taste it in the finished product. This chicken is the same kind of story – the mayo is there but you won’t be able to taste it.

    Because this sheet pan meal is inspired by a classic Caprese salad, I decided to add some pesto to the mayo marinate. This ingredient adds a nice basil flavor boost to this dish.  

    Ingredient notes

    • Chicken tenders: I like chicken tenders for this recipe because they require zero prep but if you want, you can also use boneless skinless chicken breast cut into strips the size of chicken tenders.
    • Mayonnaise: I use avocado oil mayonnaise, such as Primal Kitchen. You can use any mayo you like, store bought or homemade.
    • Mozzarella pearls: Most grocery stores carry mozzarella pearls - tiny cheese balls that are either vacuumed packed or packed in water. Just drain them and you are ready to go!
    • Pesto: I like Kirkland (Costco brand) or Barilla (found in most grocery stores). You can also make your own with fresh basil, olive oil, garlic, parmesan cheese and pine nuts.
    • Balsamic glaze: Balsamic glaze, also sometimes called balsamic reduction is basically reduced balsamic vinegar. I buy mine at Trader Joe’s and love the ease of a squeeze bottle but if you prefer to make your own, I tell you how to do it below.

    How to make balsamic glaze from scratch

    If you are feeling ambitious and/or don’t have store bought balsamic glaze, you can easily make your own. It only takes one ingredient: good quality balsamic vinegar, preferably from Modena in Italy (most grocery stores carry some form of Aceto Balsamico di Modena). Just bring it to boil, turn the heat down and simmer for about 20 minutes until it reduces and thickens. 2 cups of balsamic vinegar will produce about ½ cup of balsamic glaze. Keep in mind that it will thicken even more as it cools.

    chicken tenders with mozzarella mini balls, roasted cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and balsamic drizzle on a paper lined baking sheet.

    Serving suggestions

    It’s up to you! This dish is pretty versatile so it can be served hot as a main dish with a side of roasted fingerling potatoes and asparagus or whatever roasted vegetables you like. You can also turn it into a salad and serve it hot, at room temperature or cold on the bed of arugula lightly dressed with olive oil and lemon juice.

    chicken tenders with mozzarella mini balls, roasted cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and balsamic drizzle on a white plate.
    chicken tenders with mozzarella mini balls, roasted cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and balsamic drizzle on a paper lined baking sheet.

    Other quick and easy dinners

    • Tuna Pesto Pasta
    • Sausage, Apples & Veggies Sheet Pan
    • Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus Stuffed Chicken
    • Spaghetti Squash with Spinach, Bacon & Goat Cheese Skillet
    • Creamy Veggie Feta Pasta Bake
    • Egg Roll in a Bowl {Paleo, Whole30}

    This post contains affiliate links. 

    Recipe

    Chicken Caprese Sheet Pan

    Chicken Caprese Sheet Pan is a super quick and spectacular one-pan meal that’s ready in 30 minutes. This simple dish looks and tastes amazing but it is actually very easy to make and only requires a few ingredients.
    5 from 17 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: dinner
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: chicken caprese, sheet pan dinner
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 303kcal
    Author: Agnieszka

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb chicken tenderloins
    • 6 oz cherry tomatoes
    • 4 oz mozzarella pearls
    • 3 tablespoon mayonnaise
    • 1 tablespoon pesto
    • 1 teaspoon olive oil
    • Balsamic glaze
    • Fresh basil leaves
    • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

    Instructions

    • Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with oil.
    • In a large bowl combine mayo and pesto. Add chicken tenders and stir around to coat. The mayo coating will make the chicken moist on the inside and crispy on the outside.
    • In a small bowl combine cherry tomatoes and olive oil. Sprinkle with some kosher or sea salt and stir to coat.
    • Place the chicken on the prepared baking sheet so that the tenders don’t touch each other. Arrange cherry tomatoes around the chicken. Season with freshly ground pepper.
    • Place the baking sheet in the over for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken turns slightly golden and the tomatoes look soft and slightly blistered.
    • Take the baking sheet out of the oven, sprinkle with mozzarella pearls, drizzle with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with chopped basil leaves.
    • Serve hot or cold, on the bed of arugula lightly dressed with olive oil and lemon, or with a side of roasted veggies.

    Notes

    For pesto, you can use homemade or store bought kind. I like Kirkland (Costco brand) or Barilla (found in most grocery stores).
    The balsamic glaze I use is from Trader Joe’s. Some balsamic glazes contain sugar so if you’d like this dish to be truly keto, I recommend checking the label or making your own sugar-free reduction (see blog post for instructions).
    Chicken Caprese Sheet Pan is a super quick and spectacular one-pan meal that’s ready in 30 minutes. This simple dish looks and tastes amazing but it is actually very easy to make and only requires a few ingredients.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 303kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 258mg | Potassium: 514mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 324IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 118mg | Iron: 1mg

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    Meet the Author

    Hi, I'm Agnieszka. I'm a mom of three and recipe developer, writer and photographer behind Wholly Tasteful. I love creating comforting, delicious, family-friendly recipes that you can feel good about.

    Learn more about me →

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marta

      February 21, 2021 at 4:06 pm

      5 stars
      I made this one for lunch today and my family liked it a lot! Me as well - very easy to prepare, it turned out colourful and elegant-looking and very tasty too!

      Reply
      • Agnieszka

        February 22, 2021 at 12:13 am

        So glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
        • MyYellowApron

          March 29, 2022 at 8:26 pm

          5 stars
          Would love to try this recipe and that’s a great looking dish. 🥰

          Reply
    2. Erica

      April 26, 2021 at 4:12 pm

      5 stars
      I've made this a few times now. It is the new go-to recipe for super easy but still kind of impressive and fancy looking. It's hard to mess up.

      Reply
    3. Jen

      April 29, 2021 at 10:03 am

      5 stars
      I loved how easy and delicious this was for dinner! I only had to send my hubby out for pesto as we had everything else on hand. This one will definitely be in our regular rotation.

      Reply
    4. Traci

      April 29, 2021 at 10:27 am

      5 stars
      You had me at caprese LOL. Seriously, I love chicken recipes that are unique, easy, and delicious. This one checks all the boxes.

      Reply
    5. Wanda

      April 29, 2021 at 10:41 am

      5 stars
      I always end up with bags of chicken tenders in the freezer. Now I know exactly what I'm going to make with them!

      Reply
    6. Michelle

      April 29, 2021 at 11:05 am

      5 stars
      We love caprese salad and this looks so delicious! Love the tip for keeping the chicken moist by using mayo! Can't wait to give this a try soon.

      Reply
    7. Diana Reis

      April 29, 2021 at 11:26 am

      5 stars
      So easy and delicious. This is just right for a quick and healthy dinner.

      Reply
    8. FOODHEAL

      March 30, 2022 at 9:39 am

      First, I love simple recipes, and this chicken Caprese wins on that, two, I love your captures! Great job!

      Reply
    9. Marysa

      March 30, 2022 at 8:13 pm

      Mozzarella caprese is one of my fave foods, and I would love to try your recipe. I like the convenience of the sheet pan as well!

      Reply
    10. Alexandra

      August 03, 2022 at 9:44 pm

      5 stars
      Caprese salad is one of my favourites, so I knew I would love this chicken sheet pan dish. Great colours and flavours - delicious!

      Reply
    11. Tina

      August 04, 2022 at 12:19 am

      5 stars
      What a great recipe for the whole family to enjoy!

      Reply
    12. Peter

      August 04, 2022 at 7:49 am

      5 stars
      I'm always on the look out for an easy dinner, so glad I found this recipe. I've never thought of using mayo, we used Japanese Mayo and the chicken was delicious and juicy! thanks!

      Reply
      • Agnieszka

        August 04, 2022 at 10:50 am

        I LOVE Japanese mayo. This stuff is dangerous!

        Reply
    13. Kayla DiMaggio

      August 04, 2022 at 11:04 am

      5 stars
      This chicken caprese sheet pan dinner was so delicious! I loved how easy it was to make and it was so yummy! Perfect Summer dinner!

      Reply
    14. Nora

      August 04, 2022 at 1:54 pm

      5 stars
      Love this recipe! Perfect in the summer when we have visitors. Everyone was hooked! Thanks for the great recipe!

      Reply
    15. Nancy

      August 04, 2022 at 4:23 pm

      5 stars
      This sheet pan meal is wonderful and chicken and caperes salads are my fav

      Reply
    16. Genevieve

      August 05, 2022 at 9:23 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe looks so easy and vibrant! I love a good sheet pan meal! Less mess and no fuss. Can't wait to try this!

      Reply

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    About me

    Hello and welcome to Wholly Tasteful, a healthy food and lifestyle blog! My name is Agnieszka and I am a busy mom of 3 living in and renovating a 1852 farmhouse in Maine. My recipes use ingredients that are healthy, whole and family friendly. More about me

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