Flavor Packed & Perfect for a Summer Lunch or Lite Dinner!
I really love this dish, both for it’s simplicity and for the amount of flavor it packs primarily thanks to the Pesto! It’s also a perfect way to use leftover chicken breasts.
Fresh, High-quality Ingredients are Key!
Made with Simple, High-Quality, Real-Ingredients like seasonal heirloom tomatoes, Bocconcini (mini balls of fresh mozzarella packed in water) and fresh store-bought pesto that I like to pump-up with extra toasted pine nuts, chopped garlic & kosher sea salt…this dish is fast, easy, delicious and elegant enough for company!
If you can’t find Bocconcini – no worries. Just buy the larger ball of fresh mozzarella (also packed in water), and dice into bite-sized cubes. Done!
Buying the Pesto….
Of course, you can make your own Pesto (it’s actually easy) – but I love short cuts that do not sacrifice taste or quality! The market by our house makes it’s own pesto on-site, so…… I’ll take 2, pls. Look for Pesto in the refrigerated section, and be sure to read the label. It should only contain ingredients you would use at home: Olive oil, a nut, an herb, garlic, parmesan cheese, sea salt & pepper. I use store-bought as a “base”, then adjust it a little to suit our own tastes. Easy.
This is it! Fresh Mozzarella, Tomatoes, Chicken Breast and Pesto that I adjusted to our liking, with more garlic, chopped pine nuts & sea salt. Done!
The Deal on the Calories…..
Here’s the deal with the calories in this dish. While pesto packs a ton of flavor into a little amount, it also packs a lot of calories and fat due to the ingredients: Olive Oil, Nuts & Parmesan cheese.
YES – olive oil and nuts are “good fats” but they’ll still pack on the pounds if you aren’t mindful. I learned that the hard way, one year ;-/ The second area to watch, lies with the fresh mozzarella. Again, perfectly fine to have – just be mindful.
Here’s How to Keep it Figure-Friendly:
+ Chicken breast & tomatoes are your Primary ingredients. This will give you lots of clean protein (fuller, longer) and fresh tomatoes are just delicious, good for you & low in calories.
+ Mozzarella is the Secondary ingredient. Just enough to add texture & flavor dimension. You’ll still feel satisfied!
+ Pesto is the accent. Add just enough to lightly coat the salad and bind it together (vs gooping it in). Thankfully, a small amount of pesto packs a huge flavor punch, so it’s really no sacrifice to go lighter than you normally might!
Ok let’s make it! The recipe below already follows my Figure-Friendly guidelines. As always, feel free to adjust the quantities as you wish. You’re the Boss of You 😉
Plating and presentation are key! Serve on simple white plates (always tres chic), finish with a sprig of fresh basil. Guest worthy!
Low-Carb CHICKEN PESTO Caprese Salad | Healthy
Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Bocconcini, halved or Large fresh mozzarella, cubed
- Multi-colored cherry tomatoes, halved
- Fresh store-bought Pesto
Optional Pesto Add-Ins
- Toasted pine-nuts – roughly chopped, fresh chopped garlic, sea salt
Instructions
Bake Chicken Breasts
- Season both sides of boneless, skinless chicken breasts with sea salt, pepper & dried basil.
- Over medium-high heat, sear both sides for 3-minutes.
- Place pan directly into 400-degree oven and bake until no longer pink in the middle, about 6-8 minutes depending on thickness of the breasts. .
- Let them rest on a cutting board. Cut into bite-sized cubes and set aside.
Prepare Pesto
- Place store-bought Pesto into a small mixing bowl.
- If desired, add-in your toasted pine-nuts and chopped garlic.
- Taste – and add sea salt if you feel it “needs a little something.” Set aside.
Assemble
- In a large mixing bowl, add cubed chicken, tomatoes, and mozzarella.
- Drizzle pesto over the mixture & toss until nicely coated.
- Transfer to a pretty serving bowl & enjoy!
Notes
