5.0 from 702 votes
Grilled Chicken Margherita
Easy, healthy grilled chicken margherita topped with melted mozzarella cheese, pesto, and tomato basil garnish.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 403 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts pounded to less than 1 inch thickness
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (OR ½ teaspoon dried oregano + ¼ teaspoon dried basil + ¼ teaspoon dried thyme)
- 4 lices mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup basil pesto (try my Easy 5 Minute Pesto Recipe - it's the best!!) https://www.lecremedelacrumb.com/easy-5-minute-pesto-15-ways-to-use-it/
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup packed basil leaves very thinly sliced
- cracked black pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine chicken, salt and pepper, olive oil, garlic power, and Italian seasoning. Toss to combine.
- Grill chicken over medium-high heat for about 6-8 minutes on each side until cooked through. Top each piece of chicken with a slice of mozzarella cheese and cook another minute or so until melted.
- Toss tomatoes, lemon juice, and basil together. Top each chicken breast with about 3 tablespoons pesto, a scoop of tomatoes, and some freshly cracked black pepper. Serve immediately.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- I almost always use fresh-squeezed lemon juice in my tomato topping, because I think it has the best flavor. But, you might not have a fresh lemon laying around. If that's the case, feel free to
- or even lime.
- After placing the cheese on top of the chicken, I always close the grill lid to
- and keep the chicken from drying out.
- You can absolutely use store-bought pesto sauce in this recipe, but if you have five extra minutes (you do!) I highly recommend my super easy homemade basil pesto. You can easily sub out the pine nuts for another nut like cashews or walnuts too!
- I almost always use fresh-squeezed lemon juice in my tomato topping, because I think it has the best flavor. But, you might not have a fresh lemon laying around. If that's the case, feel free to use bottled lemon juice or even lime.
- After placing the cheese on top of the chicken, I always close the grill lid to help the cheese melt faster and keep the chicken from drying out.
- To make your own Italian seasoning for this chicken, simply combine 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon dried basil, and 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme and sprinkle all over the chicken OR swap out Italian seasoning for Herbs de Provence (one of my favorite cooking tricks for boosting flavor!).
Nutrition Information
Calories
403kcal
(20%)
Carbohydrates
5g
(2%)
Protein
32g
(64%)
Fat
28g
(43%)
Saturated Fat
7g
(35%)
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
97mg
(32%)
Sodium
601mg
(25%)
Potassium
496mg
(14%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
950IU
(19%)
Vitamin C
6mg
(7%)
Calcium
209mg
(21%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 403
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 403kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 5g | 2% |
| Protein | 32g | 64% |
| Fat | 28g | 43% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 97mg | 32% |
| Sodium | 601mg | 25% |
| Potassium | 496mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 950IU | 19% |
| Vitamin C | 6mg | 7% |
| Calcium | 209mg | 21% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.