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Pesto Chicken Caprese Salad

Homemade pesto coats every bite of JUICY chicken, tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella in this chicken caprese salad! Ready in 20 minutes and loaded with flavor!

Prep Time
12 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Additional Time
1 min
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 793 kcal
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Pesto
  • 1 cup tightly packed fresh basil leaves from about one 4-ounce container
  • ¼ cup pine nuts
  • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 to 3 cloves garlic to taste
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste if desired
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
  • ⅓ to ½ cup HemisFares Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Chicken
  • 2 tablespoons HemisFares Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • about 1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast diced into bite-sized pieces
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
  • ⅓ cup pesto
Caprese Salad
  • 1 ½ cups Cherry or grape tomatoes halved if desired
  • one 8-ounce container fresh mozzarella ‘pearls’ or small mozzarella balls drained
  • about 10 fresh basil leaves torn in half
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons balsamic reduction or balsamic glaze for drizzling or to taste

Instructions

Make the Pesto:
    Cup of Yum
  1. To the canister of a food processor fitted with the S-blade, add the basil, pine nuts, parmesan, garlic, lemon juice (helps pesto from oxidizing as quickly) salt, pepper, and blend on high speed momentarily to break ingredients down.
  2. With the motor running, drizzle in the olive until the pesto is smooth and emulsified; set aside.
Make the Chicken:
  1. To a large skillet, add the olive oil, chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook over medium-high heat; stir and flip intermittently so chicken cooks evenly.
  2. When chicken is about 90% cooked through, add the pesto, stir to combine, reduce the heat to low, and allow the chicken to simmer in the pesto for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until chicken is done (internal temp of 165F).
Assemble the Caprese Salad:
  1. To a large bowl, add the chicken including the pesto/pan juices, mozzarella, basil, evenly drizzle with balsamic, stir to combine, and serve immediately. Dish is best fresh.

Notes

  • Extra pesto will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 3 days, noting it will oxidize as time passes although the lemon juice helps to minimize this.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 Calories 793kcal (40%) Carbohydrates 22g (7%) Protein 62g (124%) Fat 51g (78%) Saturated Fat 14g (70%) Polyunsaturated Fat 33g Cholesterol 173mg (58%) Sodium 1454mg (61%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 15g (30%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 793

% Daily Value*

Serving 1
Calories 793kcal 40%
Carbohydrates 22g 7%
Protein 62g 124%
Fat 51g 78%
Saturated Fat 14g 70%
Polyunsaturated Fat 33g 194%
Cholesterol 173mg 58%
Sodium 1454mg 61%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 15g 30%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.