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.

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.

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.  

CHICKEN CAPRESE SHEET PAN INGREDIENTS

CHICKEN CAPRESE SHEET PAN INGREDIENTS

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.

HOW TO SERVE SHEET PAN CHICKEN CAPRESE?

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.

OTHER QUICK AND EASY DINNER IDEAS TO TRY

Sausage, Apples & Veggies Sheet Pan

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus Stuffed Chicken

Spaghetti Squash with Spinach, Bacon & Goat Cheese Skillet

Creamy Veggie Feta Pasta Bake

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Chicken Caprese Sheet Pan

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★★★★★

5 from 8 reviews

• Author: Agnieszka
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 2-4 servings 1x

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Description

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.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

1lb chicken tenderloins

6 oz cherry tomatoes

4 oz mozzarella pearls

3 tbsp mayonnaise

1 tbsp pesto

1 tsp olive oil

Balsamic glaze

Fresh basil leaves

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

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Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with oil.
2. 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.
3. In a small bowl combine cherry tomatoes and olive oil. Sprinkle with some kosher or sea salt and stir to coat.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Take the baking sheet out of the oven, sprinkle with mozzarella pearls, drizzle with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with chopped basil leaves.
7. 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.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: dinner

Keywords: sheet pan dinner, chicken caprese