Bonus Recipe: Grilled Chicken Caprese

Grilled chicken with Italian herbs & melty mozzarella + charred tomatoes & basil

It’s summer!

Today we’re taking a little trip to the Island of Capri, to swim in the turquoise water and enjoy a simple outdoor dinner with friends on a balcony overlooking the rugged coastline.

While sipping a sparkling Italian spritz we’ll enjoy chicken breast marinated in garlic & herbs, grilled with fresh mozzarella cheese melted over the top and served with charred cherry tomatoes drenched in olive oil and basil.

Photo by Salomè Jangulashvili on Unsplash

Sounds nice, doesn’t it?

I don’t know what your real summer plans are, but in real life my only summer vacation will be spent on a lake in Idaho (beautiful, but not exactly Italy) and my outdoor dining will be limited to my back patio (charming in its own way, but again, not exactly Italy).

In real life, this recipe for grilled chicken Caprese isn’t exactly authentic Italian cuisine. For just one evening, though, let’s not think too hard about real life. Let’s allow ourselves to be transported back to that balcony in Capri.

You’ll have to do all of the cooking, but don’t worry, this meal doesn’t require a lot of effort.

To make this Italian-inspired dinner, you’ll marinate chicken breast in olive oil, garlic and Italian seasoning (you can marinate overnight if you want, but I just let the chicken marinate while I prep the grill and dinner ingredients.) The chicken cooks on one side of the grill while the cherry tomatoes cook in a grill basket on the other side, bursting as they char. At the last minute, you’ll melt slices of fresh mozzarella over the chicken and serve it on a platter with the grilled tomatoes and torn fresh basil.

It’s a very summery meal best eaten outdoors, even if that just means your back patio. 🙂

Garlic bread or sliced baguette is optional but highly recommended to sop up the juices and garlicky olive oil. Or, you can serve the chicken & tomatoes over pasta. I’ve included a pesto recipe too, but that’s optional as well.

Reading Inspiration…

If you want to extend your visit to the Italian coast line after dinner, you might enjoy reading Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter or The House at the Edge of Night by Catherine Banner.