Happy Foodie Friday!
Air fried chicken is a regular rotation in my weekly menu as it is tasty, quick to prepare, and easy to clean up. But my goodness, the addition of the caprese elements takes the chicken dish to a whole other level! If you are a fan of tomato mozzarella salads you will enjoy this simple meal. The tomatoes become warm and even more flavorful and the cheese melts beautifully over the chicken for a delicious bite every time.
The best part of the recipe however is the bright and vibrant pesto. Pesto is one of my favorite ingredients to cook with but I typically just grab a jar at the store instead of making it from scratch. After tasting this recipe however, I'm not sure I'll be able to go back to jarred! The basil leaves and spinach pop exquisitely in this fresh sauce. I highly recommend doubling the batch while you are making as it is great topped on different things from fried eggs to toast. Overall this recipe is a 10/10 and will quickly become a favorite. We hope you enjoy!
Makes 4 servings
Preparation Time: 10 minutes (+24 hours marinading chicken overnight!)
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Chicken Ingredients:
*4 chicken breasts, pounded so they are a uniform thickness
*1 tablespoon lemon juice (about 1/2 a lemon)
*1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
*2 garlic cloves, minced
*2 vine-ripened tomatoes, sliced
*8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
*Sprinkle of salt and black pepper to taste
Pesto Ingredients:
*1 cup fresh basil, packed
*1 cup fresh spinach, packed
*1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
*1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
*2 tablespoons pecans (or pine nuts)
*2 garlic cloves
*1/2 a lemon, juiced
*Sprinkle of salt and black pepper to taste
Preparation:
*Place chicken breasts into a dish and add olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper to marinate overnight, or at minimum two hours.
*Preheat air fryer or oven to 375F. Once hot add the chicken and cook for 10-15 minutes depending on thickness.
*While the chicken is cooking, make the pesto by combining all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulsing until smooth.
*Remove the chicken breasts and top each with 2 slices of both tomato and mozzarella.
*Set the chicken back into the air fryer or oven and cook for 8-10 more minutes until the internal temperature is 165F and the cheese is melted.
*Place the chicken on a plate and top each breast with about two tablespoons of pesto. Enjoy!
Recipe Creator - Alina Gersib