Description
Succulent crispy chicken caprese brings Italian summer flavors to your dinner table with golden chicken, melted mozzarella, and fresh basil. Juicy tomatoes and herbed seasonings create a perfect balance of crisp textures and rich Mediterranean-inspired tastes you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 chicken breasts (pounded thin)
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 burrata (torn into pieces)
- 1 ½ cups fresh basil leaves (chiffonade cut)
Coating Ingredients:
- 3 eggs (whisked)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups Italian panko breadcrumbs
Seasoning and Sauce Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze
- Oil for shallow frying
Instructions
- Tenderize chicken breasts between plastic wrap, flattening to uniform thickness using a meat mallet. Season generously with salt and black pepper.
- Create three distinct breading zones: flour, whisked eggs, and seasoned breadcrumbs in separate shallow containers.
- Carefully coat each chicken piece first in flour, ensuring complete coverage. Dip into egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off, then thoroughly coat with breadcrumbs, pressing gently to create an even crust.
- Heat oil in a cast iron skillet to 325°F. Carefully lower chicken cutlets into hot oil, frying 2-3 minutes per side until achieving a rich golden-brown exterior. Transfer to paper towels to drain excess oil.
- In a separate skillet, warm olive oil over medium heat. Add cherry tomatoes, allowing them to develop a beautiful char without movement for 2 minutes. Gently stir and continue cooking for an additional 3 minutes.
- Introduce minced garlic and kosher salt, sautéing until aromatic and fragrant, approximately one minute.
- Deglaze the pan with white wine, using a wooden spoon to scrape accumulated browned bits. Reduce liquid by half within 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat, incorporating fresh basil leaves and bright lemon juice.
- Plate crispy chicken cutlets, generously top with vibrant tomato basil mixture, and strategically place torn burrata pieces across the surface.
- Elevate the dish with a delicate sprinkle of lemon zest and an artistic drizzle of balsamic glaze for a sophisticated finish.
Notes
- Choose tender chicken breasts with even thickness to ensure uniform cooking and crispy coating.
- Pat chicken completely dry before breading to help breadcrumbs adhere better and create maximum crunchiness.
- Use panko breadcrumbs for extra crispy texture, which provides a lighter and more delicate crunch compared to traditional breadcrumbs.
- For gluten-free version, replace wheat flour with almond flour or cornstarch and use gluten-free breadcrumbs to maintain the recipe’s integrity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 160mg