Description
Margherita grilled chicken offers a delightful Italian-inspired twist on classic pizza flavors. Juicy chicken, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil create a simple yet satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless (pounded to <1 in/2.54 cm thickness)
- ½ cup (120 ml/4 fl oz) basil pesto
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (75 g/2.6 oz) cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup basil leaves, packed, very thinly sliced
- 2 tbsps (30 ml/1 fl oz) olive oil
- 1 tbsp (15 ml/0.5 fl oz) fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (or mix ½ tsp dried oregano, ¼ tsp dried basil, ¼ tsp dried thyme)
- Cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Marination: Combine chicken with salt, black pepper, olive oil, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning in a mixing bowl, ensuring thorough and even coating of all chicken pieces.
- Grilling Preparation: Heat grill to medium-high temperature, creating optimal conditions for cooking chicken breasts with perfect char and moisture retention.
- Cooking Process: Grill chicken for 6-8 minutes per side, rotating once to achieve consistent cooking and attractive grill marks, verifying doneness through internal temperature check.
- Cheese Melting: During final cooking minute, layer mozzarella cheese on chicken breasts, allowing it to melt and create a luxurious golden surface.
- Tomato Garnish: Simultaneously prepare fresh garnish by mixing cherry tomatoes with lemon juice and finely chopped basil leaves, creating a vibrant accompaniment.
- Flavor Layering: Spread pesto generously across grilled chicken, establishing a rich aromatic foundation for the dish.
- Final Presentation: Elegantly top pesto-covered chicken with prepared tomato-basil mixture, finishing with a delicate sprinkle of cracked black pepper to enhance overall flavor profile.
- Serving: Present Grilled Chicken Margherita immediately to preserve optimal temperature and culinary integrity.
Notes
- Marinate Like a Pro: Allow chicken to absorb marinade for at least 30 minutes before grilling to maximize flavor penetration and tenderness.
- Grill Temperature Matters: Maintain medium-high heat around 375-400°F to achieve perfect grill marks and prevent chicken from drying out.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Add mozzarella in the last minute of grilling to create a perfectly melted, golden-brown cheese topping without overcooking the chicken.
- Fresh Ingredient Magic: Use room-temperature, high-quality ingredients like fresh basil and ripe cherry tomatoes to elevate the overall taste and presentation of the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 16 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg