Say it with me: KUH-PRAY-ZAY. You're going to be telling everyone about this 30-minute chicken caprese pasta recipe, so you might as well be able to say it right!
Chicken Caprese Pasta
There are plenty of legendary trios, but in the culinary universe, the combination of tomato, mozzarella, and basil is one of the all-time greats. I know the advice about not messing with a great thing, but I'm not interested in some crazy modification like trading out tomatoes for tic-tacs or using a marshmallow instead of the cheese.
I'm just trying to make an easy recipe that tastes great. So I made this chicken caprese pasta, which combines that Italian trinity of flavor with pasta, chicken, and balsamic vinegar.
The result? A recipe that ruled the summer at our house, and one we plan to try to make all year round.
What is Caprese?
I'm not a food historian by trade, but I have Google to fill in the gaps. Here's what I learned while developing this recipe:
A Caprese salad (or just "caprese") is an Italian combination of mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and basil, seasoned with salt and dressed with olive oil. It's named after the island of Capri.
As for Capri itself... I only know what Wikipedia has told me. If you've been, you should let me know! Maybe next time you can bring me and we can have this chicken caprese pasta together.
Chicken Caprese Pasta Ingredients
You already have an idea of what goes into this recipe, but let's take a look at the ingredients list in full:
- chickpea pasta
- chicken tenderloins
- diced tomatoes (garlic & onion flavor)
- mozzarella pearls
- garlic
- salt & pepper
- olive oil
- balsamic vinegar
- basil
It's not an awfully extensive ingredients list, but you might have some questions. I might have some answers!
Do I have to use chickpea pasta?
Of course not! I tend to choose combinations of ingredients both for flavor and nutrition. Chickpea pasta offers a bit of extra protein to the dish, which I like to have, but it definitely isn't necessary to the core of the dish.
Can I use a different kind of diced tomato?
Yes, you can use another kind of canned diced tomatoes or even use your favorite variety of fresh tomato and dice it yourself!
What are mozzarella pearls?
These are kind of what they sound like—small balls of mozzarella cheese, sold together in a container. It's definitely not the only form of mozzarella good for this recipe, but if you can find them, you should give them a try!
How to make chicken caprese pasta
This chicken caprese pasta might appear a bit more involved than other pasta dishes, but I assure you it's pretty simple to make. Here's what's involved:
- Gather and prepare ingredients (chop chicken and veggies).
- Cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- While preparing noodles, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in large skillet.
- Add garlic. Cook for about 2 mins.
- Add chopped chicken pieces. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, until cooked through and internal temp reaches 165 degrees. Drain extra liquid from the skillet. Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Cut heat to low. Add diced tomatoes and balsamic vinegar. Simmer for about 5 mins.
- Stir in cooked noodles and mozzarella pearls. Simmer for 5 more mins.
- Top with basil and enjoy.
Healthy chicken caprese pasta
Chicken caprese pasta is not the most common of dishes, so I don't expect for people to be searching high and low for a "healthy" version of the recipe (as they might for healthy cheeseburgers, healthy brownies, healthy spinach, etc.).
I'm happy to report that this dish is pretty good on the nutrition front. At 386 kcal per 2-cup serving, it provides 44 grams of protein and 32 grams of carbohydrates with 12 grams of fat.
It's hard to say what counts as "healthy" or not in a particular dish, but this can absolutely fit into a nutrition plan to support a healthy lifestyle. That said, I'm not a dietitian or doctor, so you should consult with a professional about those things. I'm just here to give you easy recipes!
Speaking of easy recipes...
Want some more? You're in the right place. Try one of these Jordo's World staples:
Chicken Caprese Pasta
Equipment
- pot
Ingredients
- 1 box chickpea pasta 8 oz dry
- 1.5 lbs chicken tenderloins raw, chopped
- 2 cans diced tomatoes garlic & onion flavor, drained, 30 oz
- 8 oz mozzarella pearls
- 3 cloves garlic minced (15 grams)
- ½ teaspoon salt & pepper (each)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- ⅓ cup basil chopped
Instructions
- Gather and prepare ingredients (chop chicken and veggies).
- Cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- While preparing noodles, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in large skillet.
- Add garlic. Cook for about 2 mins.
- Add chopped chicken pieces. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, until cooked through and internal temp reaches 165 degrees. Drain extra liquid from the skillet. Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Cut heat to low. Add diced tomatoes and balsamic vinegar. Simmer for about 5 mins.
- Stir in cooked noodles and mozzarella pearls. Simmer for 5 more mins.
- Top with basil and enjoy.
Notes
- This recipe is gluten-free.
- To make DF: Use a dairy-free mozzarella.
- To meal prep: Make recipe as instructions indicate. Split into 6 air-tight containers. Add basil after heated & when ready to serve.
- To track on MyFitness Pal, search “Jordo’s World Chicken Caprese Pasta”
- 291 grams per serving (about 2 cups / serving)
Al says
Love when we get to make this one!
Kim says
This is my FAVORITE Jordo’s World recipe!! It’s perfect for dinner or lunch! I love that it makes a lot so I can meal prep it for lunches and it’s so quick to put together! I actually crave it, it’s so good!
Samantha says
OMG! This is soooo good! Was hesitant to try this one because I don’t love fresh mozzarella but this has become my new favorite recipe!
Marla says
Quick and easy way to get protein in both the meat and using Bansa pasta.
Nichole says
So easy and so good! Great for meal prep. I layer the tomato/chicken mix with the pasta and cheese on top in a jar so that the pasta doesn’t get too squishy while in the fridge.
Jordan Smith says
Great tip for making this recipe last longer for meal prep! Thanks for sharing!