Chicken Margherita Recipe

A super simple dinner recipe, Chicken Margherita can be prepared ahead of time, so it’s ready to pop in the oven. Fresh and zesty with gooey mozzarella melted on top, it’s a crowd-pleaser!

Love easy chicken dinners? Our chicken pesto pasta is ready in under 30 minutes! Or give our delicious huli huli chicken recipe a try next.

Baked Margherita Chicken: easy to prepare and makes a delicious dinner idea! Serve with salad or pasta!


Why Margherita Chicken Should Be Tonight’s Dinner

Chicken Margherita takes an easy dinner to next-level deliciousness. With an aromatic  Mediterranean flavor, zingy tomatoes, and balsamic, it’s simple but not boring.

  • Because it’s made in one baking pan, my recipe will save you time (and dishes).
  • Fresh basil adds a mouthwatering aroma and fresh taste.
  • Melted mozzarella brings sumptuous richness and a wonderful cheesy texture.
  • This dish goes well with salads, pasta, or even roasted vegetables.
  • You’ll only need 7 ingredients!

Make tonight’s dinner easy so you can relax! And in the spirit of relaxation, this recipe would also be perfect with a glass of wine to accompany it.

If you love our homemade bruschetta recipe, tonights dinner is just for you.

Ingredient Notes 

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

  • Boneless skinless chicken breast – Easy to work with, the chicken breast will soak up flavor wonderfully while cooking. Go “boneless” for faster and more even cooking.
  • Balsamic vinegar – Adds a rich, tangy flavor and a hint of sweetness to the chicken.
  • Diced tomatoes – Tomatoes provide a splash of color and some acidity, keeping in line with the Mediterranean flavors.
  • Red onion – Onion gives a savory flavor and gets slightly caramelized and sweet while cooking
  • Basil – Adds a touch of herbal flavor with a hint of natural sweetness.
  • Mozzarella cheese – The finishing touch, you can use sliced or shredded mozzarella cheese to top off the cooked chicken. 

Easy Instructions

  1. First, you’ll need to chop your tomatoes, red onion, and basil and have them ready. 
  2. Then toss together your tomatoes, red onion, basil, and balsamic vinegar in a bowl. 
  3. In a 13×9 inch baking dish, arrange your chicken breasts in one layer. 
  4. Pour the tomato and herbed balsamic mixture over the chicken. Cover the top of the dish with foil.
  5. Bake at 350F for 40-45 minutes, or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked. 
  6. Remove the chicken from the oven and top each piece with mozzarella cheese.
  7. Return the dish to the oven uncovered. Bake for 5-10 minutes, just until the cheese is melted. 
  8. Enjoy!
Baked Margherita Chicken: easy to prepare and makes a delicious dinner idea! Serve with salad or pasta!

Tips & Tricks

  • To prepare this recipe in advance, place your chicken breasts and all the toppings (minus the cheese) in the baking dish and cover it. Keep it in the refrigerator and bake it within 12 hours. 
  • It is essential to make sure your chicken is cooked all the way through, with no pink inside whatsoever. If you have a meat thermometer, its internal temperature should reach at least 165 degrees F.
  • Cooked leftovers can be stored in the fridge and should be eaten within three to four days.

Serving Suggestions

Chicken Margherita is delicious with pesto pasta. I love angel hair pasta since it cooks quickly and has a lovely light texture.

This chicken dish goes perfectly with salads, too. If you’d like a pasta salad, orzo salad shares many of the same Mediterranean flavors. 

Easy Italian Salad is about as easy as it gets for a quick side salad. And my Cucumber Tomato Salad also serves as a refreshing side on a hot day. 

For an extra-special summery salad, use fresh corn in my Roasted Corn Salad to go with the Chicken Margherita. It’s worth it!

Recipe FAQs

Can I use a different cheese on the Chicken Margherita?

You can use any cheese you like! Parmesan and provolone are some of the best-tasting options to go with the other flavors in the dish. 

Does chicken need to be thawed before cooking? 

Fully thawed chicken can go right from the fridge into your baking dish. However, if you’re using frozen chicken, it needs to be fully thawed before use. Place it in a leak-proof bag under cold running water until it’s thawed. 

How long can I store raw chicken breasts in the refrigerator?

Raw chicken breasts will keep for 1-2 days in the refrigerator. 

What can I use instead of balsamic vinegar?

Suppose you don’t have any balsamic vinegar on hand. In that case, you can use 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar plus ½ teaspoon of sugar in its place.

More Dinner Recipes:

Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section below!

Chicken Margherita Recipe

5 from 2 votes
By: Aimee
A super simple dinner recipe, Chicken Margherita can be prepared ahead of time, so it’s ready to pop in the oven. Fresh and zesty with gooey mozzarella melted on top, it’s a crowd-pleaser!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups diced tomatoes
  • ½ red onion diced
  • ¼ cup snipped fresh basil
  • 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 pounds boneless skinless, chicken breasts
  • 4 ounces mozzarella cheese

Instructions 

  • Combine diced tomatoes, diced red onion, basil, balsamic vinegar and salt in a bowl. Place chicken breasts in a 13×9 baking dish. Pour tomato mixture over top.
  • Cover dish with foil. Bake in a 350 degree oven, covered, for about 40-45 minutes (until chicken is completely cooked).
  • Remove foil and top with mozzeralla cheese. I used sliced cheese, but shredded would work well too. Place dish back in oven on top rack. Bake 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted.
  • Serve immediately with a fresh salad or angel hair pasta. ENJOY.

Notes

    • You can either refrigerate and bake later (within 12 hours) or bake immediately.
    • Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F with a meat thermometer.

Nutrition

Calories: 325kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 52g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 143mg, Sodium: 533mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!


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About Aimee

Aimee is a dessert lover (specifically rice krispie treats), workout enthusiast, self-taught foodie, and recipe creator.

Learn more about Aimee.

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Posted on May 6, 2015

Comments & Reviews

  1. An oven meal is my favorite and so is this chicken margharita now that we’ve tried it! The balsamic vinegar makes the sauce so speciall!  Thank you!

  2. Love this recipe – looks really great and you don’t need a lot of time to prepare it. I’ll try it tonight, thanks for sharing = )

  3. Wow – this looks delicious Aimee! And thanks for linking to our Sweet & Sour Chicken recipe too!

  4. I love this idea! Much healthier than a pizza, but just as delicious. Though I may still want to have some garlic bread with it 🙂

  5. Aimee – What a great way to eat your favorite flavors and save some calories along the way. I love balsamic on chicken. This recipe is something that I am going to make very soon! 

  6. Margherita pizzas are the best! Have you tried the Amy’s brand pizza? They have the best margherita.  I would also love my margherita flavors baked with chicken. This recipe is perfect for dinner!

    1. OMG YES! That’s my favorite one 🙂 Although…it’s not the cheapest…haha

  7. I feel ya on the frozen pizzas. But I also crave super fancy gourmet pizza. I just never want delivery. Ever. Is that weird?

  8. This looks so cheesy and flavorful – LOVE IT! What an easy weeknight meal! 

  9. Frozen pizza – should be so bad – but is just the opposite! Love this chicken recipe, am going to give it a go! Thanks for the inspiration. Sammie x http://www.feastingisfun.com

  10. We have a love affair with those easy breezy pizzas too.  They are just so easy to throw in the oven.  Although I am loving how easy and delicious this chicken is too!  We make something similar but different here in the oven too!

  11. This is a brilliant idea!  I love all things Margherita!  I need to make this soon.

  12. Oh my word, this recipe speaks to me! It says, “make me now”!  It’s like… the perfect weeknight dinner.  Simple ingredients, few steps = delicious home cooked, wonderful tasting meal! I love it, love it, love it.  I know it’s going to be a staple in my house! Great recipe, Aimee!

  13. I absolutely love a simple Margherita Pizza!!  This chicken looks amazing – perfect for a quick weeknight meal or for company!

  14. I’ve been in a dinner rut lately, and this looks like the perfect meal to snap me out of it! Pinned!

  15. I totally love that these can be prepped in advance — what an awesome time-saver for hectic weeknights! Nicely done.

  16. Oh my gosh, you did it – a love affair between chicken and pizza margherita, which I am also obsessed with.  Score!

  17. Ok, I might be REALLY late to the party here, but I just saw your redesign and I LOVE IT OH MY GOSH! SO CUTE!!
    Now, about this chicken. Confession: I also ADORE frozen Margherita pizzas….so this chicken is obviously happening to my face! Pinned!

  18. I love cheap frozen margherita pizza too! It’s so good! Ha! And another confession is that I am also HORRIBLE at getting my act together in time for dinner. The struggle is real. I need more make ahead dishes like this in my life. Looks great, Aimee!

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