Balsamic Chicken and Strawberries
Juicy balsamic-marinated chicken breasts baked until tender, then topped with a fresh strawberry–mozzarella–basil salsa and finished with a sweet balsamic reduction for a bright summer main dish.
- Prep Time: 10 mins (+optional 30–60 mins marinating)
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz/170 g each)
- 1 cup (240 ml) balsamic vinegar, divided
- 1 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
- 1 pint (≈ 2 cups/300 g) fresh strawberries, hulled and roughly chopped
- 4 oz (115 g) fresh mozzarella, diced
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
- Optional: 1 tsp honey for the balsamic reduction
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 °F (200 °C).
- Place chicken in a zip-top bag, add ½ cup balsamic vinegar, seal, and massage to coat. Refrigerate at least 5 minutes and up to 5 hours.
- Transfer marinated chicken to a lightly oiled baking dish; pour any remaining marinade over. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Bake 25–30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 °F (74 °C).
- While chicken bakes, pour the remaining ½ cup balsamic (and honey, if using) into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and syrupy. Remove from heat.
- In a bowl, toss strawberries, mozzarella, and basil with a pinch of salt and pepper to make the salsa.
- To serve, spoon the strawberry mixture over each chicken breast and drizzle with the warm balsamic reduction.
Notes
- Grill option: cook marinated chicken over medium heat 6–7 minutes per side instead of baking.
- For melted cheese, add the strawberry mixture to the pan during the last 5 minutes of baking.
- Swap mozzarella for goat cheese or feta for a tangier flavor.
- Use a good-quality aged balsamic for the richest reduction.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with topping
- Calories: 224
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 370 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
Keywords: Balsamic chicken, Strawberry chicken, Caprese chicken, Summer dinner, Gluten Free
Find it online: https://yumrecipesnow.com/balsamic-chicken-and-strawberries/
