Better-Than-Olive-Garden Chicken Margherita
User Reviews
4.9
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
20 mins
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Total Time
30 mins
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Servings
4
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Calories
870 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Italian
Better-Than-Olive-Garden Chicken Margherita
Description
Better-Than-Olive-Garden Chicken Margherita begins with chicken breasts pounded evenly and marinated in Italian dressing for at least 30 minutes. The chicken is pan-seared in olive oil, then cooked with a lemon garlic butter sauce adding brightness and richness. Fresh grape tomatoes join the skillet and soften slightly during cooking.
The chicken is topped with slices of mozzarella cheese and finished in a 350°F oven to melt the cheese while preserving the tomatoes' freshness. A fresh basil pesto made from basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, and Parmesan cheeses complements the dish by layering herbal and nutty flavors that enhance the tomato and chicken.
This dish delivers tender, flavorful chicken with a balance of creamy, citrus, and herbaceous notes. It pairs well with simple sides like pasta or a green salad. The layering of lemon garlic butter and basil pesto makes it a vibrant choice for dinner.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breast 4 portions
- 1 cup Italian salad dressing or your favorite marinade
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup basil pesto
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1½ tablespoons lemon juice
- ½ pound mozzarella cheese 1 slice for each piece of chicken, sliced
- 1 cup grape tomatoes
- ¼ cup basil sliced thin, fresh leaves
Basil Pesto
- 1 cup basil fresh leaves
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese grated
- ¼ cup Romano cheese grated
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 DetailsNutrition 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.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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