Grilled Chicken Margherita

If you love Margherita pizza, Caprese salad, and pesto, this Grilled Margherita Chicken recipe is for you! It features perfectly grilled chicken with melted mozzarella cheese, fresh basil pesto, juicy cherry tomatoes, and the perfect drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Trust me; this is one of the best grilled chicken recipes to add to your dinner rotation.  

This chicken is everything you want in a bright and fresh summer meal. It starts with herby chicken that's cooked on the grill. Then, the chicken gets coated in flavor-packed pesto, melted mozzarella cheese, and plenty of tomatoes. This is one of those easy dinners that will quickly become a family favorite. It's ready in just 20 minutes, healthy, and super easy to prepare.

Whenever I need a quick meal, I tend to reach for this recipe. When it's really hot, I serve it with a big green salad and grilled veggies. I grab some angel hair pasta, quinoa, spaghetti squash, or rice for cooler nights. 

Why You'll Love This Grilled Margherita Chicken

• 20 Minute Dinner: When you need a quick, healthy, easy dinner - this hits the spot! Using store-bought pesto, chicken cutlets, or chicken breast tenderloins speeds things up even more.
• Tastes like pizza: My family could happily eat pizza multiple times a week, and this is an easy way to take those beloved pizza flavors and turn them into a protein-packed dinner. 
• Only 7 Ingredients: This dinner requires only 7 common ingredients. It's affordable and made with common pantry and fridge ingredients. 

Looking for more tasty grilled dishes? Try this Grilled Cilantro Lime Salmon, Grilled Pork Chops, or Grilled Flank Steak with Tomato Basil Salad.

What is Margherita Chicken? Olive Garden Copycat!

Margherita chicken gets its name from the popular Margherita pizza, which is simply pizza with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil. This is a grilled chicken version of the classic pizza.

Additionally, grilled Margherita chicken gained popularity when Olive Garden began serving its own version. This dish is inspired by that Olive Garden favorite and the classic pizza, but lightened up!

The Olive Garden dish is also covered with melted butter and a lemon garlic sauce If you would like to make a similar sauce, simply melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a heavy skillet. Add 2-3 cloves of minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Then add 3 tablespoons of flour to create a roux. Whisk until the flour fully dissolves and lightly browns. Add about 1 cup of chicken broth and bring to a simmer.  Simmer for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens. Add fresh lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Taste and season as needed.

Ingredients and Swaps (+ Picky Eater Ideas!)

Here is everything you need to make this tasty chicken dinner.

• Chicken breast: This versatile protein is perfect for this light and healthy grilled dish. Make sure to pound out the chicken with a meat mallet to an even thickness or start with chicken cutlets so that the chicken cooks evenly on the grill. 
• Spices: Since the chicken is coated with pesto, it doesn't need a ton of extra spices. A simple combination of Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper creates the perfect amount of flavor. If you don't have Italian seasoning, you could swap in dried oregano or dried basil.
• Mozzarella cheese: Although the recipe calls for sliced mozzarella cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese also works. Fresh mozzarella is also really good! Feel free to add or swap in Parmesan cheese if you prefer.
• Cherry tomatoes: With their sweet flavor and firm texture, cherry or grape tomatoes are perfect for the tomato salsa served on top. If you don't have cherry tomatoes, any fresh tomatoes will work. And if you have picky eaters at home, swap in marinara sauce and call this pizza chicken!
• Balsamic vinegar: Balsamic vinegar is a great choice to kick up the flavor of the tomatoes and add some acid to the dish. For even more balsamic flavor, swap in balsamic glaze. The classic flavors are inspired by a Caprese salad and Caprese pasta dishes.
• Pesto: Basil pesto is a perfect way to add tons of flavor without needing many ingredients. You can make this homemade pesto or use your favorite store-bought brand. At the end, add some extra fresh basil.

How to Make Margherita Chicken

This chicken is so easy to make. You can grill it, cook it in a hot skillet, or even air fry it or bake it in the oven. 

1. Prep and season the chicken

One of the most important things you can do to make delicious chicken every time is to ensure it has an even thickness so it cooks evenly. This guarantees your chicken won't get dry while you wait for the thickest part of the breast to cook.

To do this, place the chicken breast between two pieces of plastic wrap and use the smooth edge of a meat mallet to pound it to a uniform thickness. You could also slice it in half horizontally or swap in chicken cutlets.

Once the chicken is ready, brush it with olive oil and season it with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. 

2. Make the tomato salad

Now it's time to make the tomato salad so the flavors have time to combine. Toss together halved cherry tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. You can also add olive oil, minced garlic, fresh basil, or other ingredients. Just remember, that pesto can be a strong flavor, so don't over-season the salad.

Note: If you prefer not to melt the cheese, you could add fresh balls of mozzarella cheese to this salad for a Caprese salad-inspired topping.

3. Cook the chicken

Now it's time to cook the chicken. Depending on its thickness, it could take 3-5 minutes per side. Just make sure to cook it to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

• Grill: Make sure the grill grates are clean and oiled if needed. Once the grill is preheated and hot, add the chicken and cook for 3-5 minutes per side. The chicken is ready to flip when there are dark brown grill marks and the chicken easily releases from the grill. Cook for another 2-4 minutes on the second side.
• Skillet: Heat the skillet to medium-high heat. Drizzle with olive oil. Cook the chicken for 3-5 minutes per side until cooked through.
• Oven: Preheat the broiler. Place the chicken on a foil-lined baking sheet. Place the chicken about 6 inches from the broiler. Cook for 3-5 minutes per side. 
• Air fryer: Cook in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 6-10 minutes, depending on thickness. 

4. Make it margherita!

Once the chicken is just cooked through, add a thin layer of pesto to each chicken breast. Then, top with a layer of mozzarella cheese. Place it back on the hot grill and cook for about 1 minute until the cheese melts. 

Top with cherry tomato salad. Season with kosher salt and black pepper to taste.

Recipe Tips and Ideas

This recipe is super easy to customize to fit different tastes, dietary needs, and more.

• Skip the cheese: For a dairy-free, Whole30, or Paleo option, skip the cheese! It still comes out packed with flavor.
• Extra pesto flavor: For even more flavor, marinate the chicken in the pesto the night before, like in this grilled pesto chicken recipe.
• Add crunch: Add some crunch and extra flavor by finishing the dish with pine nuts, thinly sliced almonds, or toasted Panko breadcrumbs.
• Skip the pesto: If you don't love pesto, make this dish with your favorite pasta sauce or simply marinate the chicken in Italian dressing before grilling. It will still turn out delicious.
• Add lemon: Before serving, squeeze lemon over the dish to brighten it. Lemon juice can also be used in place of balsamic vinegar.
• Skillet option: If you prefer to cook this in a pan or skillet, heat olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until it is nicely browned. Add the cheese and cover until it melts. Then, add the pesto sauce and tomatoes. It can also be baked in the oven.
• Leftovers: If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, make sure to pack the chicken separately from the pesto, cheese, and tomato salad. Then, assemble when it is time to eat. You can use leftovers to make pizza, salads, sandwiches, paninis, wraps, and more. 

Side Dishes for Grilled Margherita Chicken

Whenever I cook on the grill, I like to stick to simple sides that I cook alongside the meal. That way, I am not cooking inside and outside. No-cook sides like salads are also a great option.

• Grilled vegetables: Make your veggie side dish right on the grill. Try this Garlic Grilled Broccoli, some Grilled Zucchini, or perfect Grilled Corn.
• Olive Garden copycat: Want to feel like you are at the Olive Garden? Pair this dish with Two-Ingredient Breadsticks and this delicious Spring Mix Salad.
• Salads: Try serving this with a hearty salad like this Meditteranean Chickpea Salad or Easy Lentil Salad.
• Pasta or grains: For a simple crowd pleaser, serve this with some cooked pasta, rice, or zucchini noodles.

Leftovers, Meal Prep, and More

If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, this recipe is great for meal prep and leftovers. Let the chicken fully cool before storing it in an airtight container. Keep in the fridge for 3-5 days; strong the tomato salad separately. 

Reheat in a hot skillet, oven, or the air fryer.  Consider using leftovers to make:

• Chicken Margherita pizza: Chop up those leftovers and make a pizza using a store-bought crust, marinara sauce, and an extra pesto drizzle.
• Pasta Salad: Toss leftovers with cooked pasta, extra pesto, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, and arugula. Add some extra fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. 
• Green salad: Make a protein-packed green salad with cucumbers, black olives, shredded carrots, red bell peppers, and Italian dressing.
• Grain bowl: Add some cooked rice, leftover chicken, tomato salad, and greens.