Why I Love This Recipe

Anything involving pesto, tomatoes, and melty mozzarella already has my attention, but the marinated tomatoes are what make this chicken SO good. Letting the heirloom tomato slices sit with balsamic, olive oil, fresh garlic, and oregano gives them so much more flavor than simply throwing tomatoes on top at the end. Then you have juicy Italian-seasoned chicken, melty mozzarella, and plenty of pesto underneath. It’s basically all the flavors of a caprese salad turned into an easy, high-protein dinner. Fresh, cheesy, a little saucy, and exactly what I want to make when tomatoes are at their best.

Enjoying The Leftovers

If you have a piece left for lunch tomorrow, consider yourself lucky. I like to slice the chicken and add it to a salad, tuck it into a wrap, or warm it up and serve it with whatever vegetables I have in the fridge. Keep any extra marinated tomatoes separate and add them after reheating so they stay fresh.

Storing

Store the cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Keep any leftover marinated tomatoes in a separate container for up to 2 days. This helps the tomatoes keep their texture instead of getting too soft.

Reheating

Reheat the chicken gently in a covered skillet over medium-low heat until warmed through. You can also microwave it in 30-second intervals. I recommend adding the pesto and marinated tomatoes after reheating rather than heating them along with the chicken.

Pesto chicken topped with melted mozzarella and sliced heirloom tomatoes on a white plate.

A few tips before you start

Use the best tomatoes you can find

  • This is definitely a recipe where the tomatoes matter. Ripe heirloom tomatoes are juicy, sweet, and so flavorful, especially after they sit in that balsamic marinade

Save some of that tomato marinade

  • Don’t immediately leave all that balsamic goodness behind on the plate. Spoon a little of the marinade over the finished chicken along with the tomatoes for even more flavor

If you don’t have a grill

  •  A skillet works just as well for this recipe. Heat a little avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then cook the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until fully cooked. Add the mozzarella during the last few minutes, cover the skillet with a lid, and let it melt right over the chicken
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Heirloom Tomato Pesto Chicken

Save this one for tomato season because a really good heirloom tomato makes all the difference. The marinated tomatoes bring that fresh, juicy balsamic flavor, while pesto and melted mozzarella make the chicken feel a little more special than your usual weeknight chicken breast. And somehow it still takes less than 30 minutes to get on the table.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
US M
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1 lb chicken breast, thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp italian seasoning
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil
  • 8 oz mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup pesto
For the marinated tomatoes
  • 1 large heirloom tomato, cut into 1/2 in slices
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic, grated
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • pinch of salt and pepper
US – M

Instructions

  • Arrange the sliced tomatoes in an even layer in a shallow bowl or plate.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, and oregano until well combined.
  • Pour the marinade over the tomatoes and gently flip them to make sure they're evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper, then refrigerate for about 15 minutes while you prepare the chicken.
  • Season both sides of the chicken with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and avocado oil. Add the chicken to a preheated grill or skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until fully cooked.
  • During the last few minutes of cooking, top each piece of chicken with sliced mozzarella. Cover with a lid and continue cooking until the cheese is melted.
  • Remove the chicken from the heat and top with pesto and the marinated tomatoes. Serve with your favorite vegetable or side dish.

Equipment

cutting board
mixing bowls
measuring cups

Nutrition Per Serving

Calories: 469kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 32g | Fiber: 1g