CHICKEN CAPRESE

This recipe has everything you might want in a meal.  It's fast, it's fresh, it's delicious...oh, and it's easy cleanup! You can literally have this cooked and on the dinner table in just about 40 minutes.  Add your favorite side or a fresh salad and you're set.

Everything is cooked in the same skillet, so it's a one pot cleanup.  Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:

1 ½ tsp. herbes de provence

fresh out of the oven!

½ tsp. garlic powder

½ tsp. paprika

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. black pepper

3 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)

2 Tbsp. olive oil

3 thick slices mozzarella cheese

1 cup cherry tomatoes 

¼ cup basil leaves

2 Tbsp. quality aged balsamic vinegar*

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a small prep bowl, combine all of the dry seasonings, with the exception of the basil leaves.  Season the chicken on both sides (I actually had to double the seasonings since my chicken breasts were so large)

Set a large oven proof skillet over medium high heat.  Add the olive oil.  When the oil is hot, add the chicken and sear on both sides until golden brown, about 3 minutes each side.

Place skillet into the preheated oven and bake until the chicken reaches an internal temp of 165 degrees; about 20-25 minutes.  Remove from the oven and top the chicken breasts with cheese, return to the oven and broil 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is gooey.  Remove and top with tomatoes and basil, drizzle with balsamic vinegar and serve immediately.  

*I tried the balsamic vinegar but due to the consistency it slid right off the breast.  I opted to use a balsamic salad dressing which had more body allowing it to stay on the chicken.  

recipe adapted from:  www.lifemadesimple.com