Better-Than-Olive-Garden Chicken Margherita
User Reviews
4.9
66 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
10 mins
-
Cook Time
10 mins
-
Total Time
30 mins
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Servings
4
-
Calories
870 kcal
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Course
Main Course
-
Cuisine
Italian
Better-Than-Olive-Garden Chicken Margherita
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Juicy chicken breasts topped with melted mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, and basil pesto in a lemon garlic butter sauce. This Olive Garden copycat is ready in just 40 minutes!
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Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts 4 portions
- 1 cup Italian salad dressing or your favorite marinade
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup basil pesto
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1½ tablespoons lemon juice
- ½ pound Sliced Mozzarella 1 slice for each piece of chicken
- 1 cup grape tomatoes
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves sliced thin
Basil Pesto
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup grated romano cheese
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Pound chicken out between two sheets of plastic wrap. This will even out the thickness of the chicken, and it will make the chicken cook more evenly.
- Place the chicken breasts into a gallon-sized ziptop bag. Add Italian dressing marinade, and allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
- Wash the grape tomatoes and set them aside.
- Heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken and cook for 7 to 8 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is almost done (it will continue to cook in the oven), remove the chicken from the skillet and place it on a plate or baking dish.
- Add butter, minced garlic, and lemon juice to the skillet. Cook until the butter has melted.
- Add the chicken back to the skillet with the lemon butter sauce.
- Place a slice of mozzarella on top of the chicken.
- Add the tomatoes to the skillet.
- Place the chicken in the oven, and bake until the cheese begins to melt and brown. This should take 7 to 10 minutes.
- Add a tablespoon or two of pesto on top of the mozzarella cheese.
- Serve garnished with fresh basil if desired.
Basil Pesto
- Place all pesto ingredients in a food processor.
- Process until the mixture is smooth.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
870kcal
(44%)
Carbohydrates
25g
(8%)
Protein
66g
(132%)
Fat
54g
(83%)
Saturated Fat
22g
(110%)
Cholesterol
237mg
(79%)
Sodium
2177mg
(91%)
Potassium
1003mg
(29%)
Fiber
0g
(0%)
Sugar
19g
(38%)
Vitamin A
1990IU
(40%)
Vitamin C
10.7mg
(12%)
Calcium
362mg
(36%)
Iron
1.4mg
(8%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 870 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 870kcal | 44% |
| Carbohydrates | 25g | 8% |
| Protein | 66g | 132% |
| Fat | 54g | 83% |
| Saturated Fat | 22g | 110% |
| Cholesterol | 237mg | 79% |
| Sodium | 2177mg | 91% |
| Potassium | 1003mg | 21% |
| Fiber | 0g | 0% |
| Sugar | 19g | 38% |
| Vitamin A | 1990IU | 40% |
| Vitamin C | 10.7mg | 12% |
| Calcium | 362mg | 36% |
| Iron | 1.4mg | 8% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
66 reviews
Excellent
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