Balsamic Baked Chicken Breast With Mozzarella Cheese
Balsamic Baked Chicken Breast rubbed with garlic and herbs, dripping with a tomato balsamic sauce and melted mozzarella cheese!
It doesn’t get any better than this EASY chicken recipe! Let your oven do ALL the work and have the most delicious Balsamic Baked Chicken Breast on your table in less than 30 minutes!
Balsamic Caprese Chicken crossed paths with my Mozzarella Chicken recipe, and this Balsamic Baked Chicken Breast With Mozzarella Cheese was the end result. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts stay so moist and juicy baked in balsamic vinegar with a hint of brown sugar, getting so much flavour from sweet grape tomatoes, red onion slices and a touch of garlic.
How to bake chicken breasts
There are only four steps to this recipe. F.O.U.R.
- Season chicken in a mixture of herbs, salt and pepper, and the most fundamental ingredient: olive oil. Olive oil not only adds flavour to chicken breasts, it also adds moisture AND help your seasonings stick to the breast while avoiding chicken sticking to the bottom of your baking dish.
- Pour in the balsamic sauce that acts like a two-for-one: tenderises and adds another level of flavour to otherwise boring or dry breasts.
- Roasting. This is the part that terrifies some people. How long two you bake chicken breasts for? High or low temperature? How do you know when it’s done? TERRIFIES. Because there’s nothing worse than dry-hard-to-swollow chicken breasts. I hear you loud and clear. But! It should not be a terrifying experience. After all, it’s just chicken.
- Broiling (or grilling in the UK or Aus). You want your melted cheese to be bubbling and golden on your chicken, right? Yes.
What temperature to cook chicken breast in the oven?
Through years of trial and error, I prefer roasting chicken breasts at high heat (220°C or 430°F) instead of low and slow. Why? I find the longer they are left in the oven, even on low heat, the quicker they dry out and resemble a shoe sole. Breasts don’t need much time at all.
How long do you bake chicken breast in the oven?
At the above temperature, usually for around 15-20 minutes (depending on the size of your chicken breasts, it could take longer), or until juices run clear and breasts are no longer pink in the middle. If you’re in doubt, use a meat thermometer to make sure your chicken is heated through to 160-170°F (or 70-75°C). Cooking time can vary though, depending on how thick your chicken breasts are, how hot your oven runs and if you have preheated it before baking.
I prefer to use fresh shredded (or grated) mozzarella cheese for this recipe, and for most of my recipes. Pre-shredded packet cheese never seems to give the same result as fresh mozzarella. You can use either one, it’s just personal preference.
After baking, allow your chicken to rest for 5 minutes before cutting into it. The cheese acts like tented foil over it which allows it to hold on to all of those amazing juices.
Also, this cheesy cheese pull is worth the extra biceps of grating cheese.
What wine goes with balsamic chicken breast?
I personally love a smooth Rosé with this recipe, but a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio go well also. For something a little sweeter, try a chilled glass of Riesling.
Sides?
We serve this with plain rice, drizzling all of the pan juices over it. It is divine. You can also serve it over pasta mixed with olive oil and garlic, mashed potatoes or for something lighter, a simple side salad.
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