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Better-Than-Olive-Garden Chicken Margherita
4.9 from 66 votes

Better-Than-Olive-Garden Chicken Margherita

This Chicken Margherita features marinated, pan-seared chicken topped with basil pesto, mozzarella, and grape tomatoes, finished briefly in the oven. The chicken is tender with a bright lemon butter sauce and fresh herb flavor, balanced by melted cheese and juicy tomatoes. The homemade basil pesto adds aromatic depth to the dish.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 870 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

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

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Wash the grape tomatoes and set them aside.
  5. Heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
  6. 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.
  7. Add butter, minced garlic, and lemon juice to the skillet. Cook until the butter has melted. 
  8. Add the chicken back to the skillet with the lemon butter sauce.
  9. Place a slice of mozzarella on top of the chicken.
  10. Add the tomatoes to the skillet.
  11. Place the chicken in the oven, and bake until the cheese begins to melt and brown. This should take 7 to 10 minutes.
  12. Add a tablespoon or two of pesto on top of the mozzarella cheese.
  13. Serve garnished with fresh basil if desired.
Basil Pesto
  1. Place all pesto ingredients in a food processor.
  2. Process until the mixture is smooth.

Nutrition Information

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%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 870

% 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.