A SERIOUSLY Delicious Caprese Chicken recipe with Pasta One Skillet Meal. Pesto, Tomato & Mozzarella are Stuffed into these pan seared chicken thighs before pan searing in the skillet. The pasta cooks in the same pan with an amazing Parmesan Sauce. This dish will quickly become part of your regular dinner rotation. Enjoy!
Table of Contents
Caprese Chicken Recipe with One Pot (Skillet) Pasta
Our amazing caprese chicken comes together with pasta and parmesan sauce all in one skillet. We start with seasoned chicken thighs and then stuff them with pesto, tomato and mozzarella. These ingredients give all the traditional flavors Caprese is known for.
What is Caprese
Caprese is a term used to describe an Italian salad of fresh mozzarella, sliced tomato and fresh basil usually finished with olive oil drizzle. It is not a salad with lettuce and such. The word has come to be used in many recipes for all sorts of preparations. Most commonly the caprese bruschetta, a bread appetizer. In one pot pasta recipe we used pesto instead of just basil to amp it up. It worked!
What Pasta is Used for Caprese Chicken Skillet
For this particular recipe I chose to use the Barilla Pronto pasta. It is specially made to require no pre-boiling and cook perfect in a dish like this. However, I have made plenty of no-boil pasta dishes, including lasagna with regular pasta. The only difference may end up being a longer cook time is needed or larger amount of liquid. If choosing regular pasta, I recommend angel hair, it is smaller and cooks faster.
The dish is loosely based off my chicken pesto caprese bruschetta recipe and parmesan mac and cheese. Instead of using multiple pans and finishing in the oven, additionally this dish is ready in 40 minutes and uses one pan. It is the perfect combination of kid friendly and grown up taste!
Making the Recipe (Full Recipe Card Below)
Serves 3-6 : depending on size of appetite
- 1 jar Barilla Pesto Sauce
- 3 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tomato, sliced
- Fresh mozzarella
- Italian blend seasoning
- Salt & Pepper
- Olive Oil
- Barilla Pronto or Angel Hair Pasta
- Butter
- Flour
- Parmesan cheese
- Garlic
- Full Fat Milk or Half n Half (anything less will curdle)
- Chicken Broth
Stuffing the Chicken
- Slightly pound out each chicken thigh. I usually place them in a zip top bag , use whatever you have on hand to pound them.
- Brush pesto sauce onto the chicken ( however, to avoid cross contamination- add the sauce to a prep bowl, do not brush from the jar).
- Top with a slice of tomato and mozzarella cheese.
Pan Seared Chicken Thighs
After stuffing, roll the chicken thighs secure with toothpick if needed, however mine didn't. Heat a skillet Sear the chicken thighs until sauteed and browning, about 3-5 minutes each side. Cover and let cook until chicken reaches 165 degrees. Remove chicken thighs from skillet, afterward return skillet to heat.
The Pesto Parmesan sauce for this One Pot Pasta
Melt butter in the same skillet over medium heat, add garlic.
Stir in the flour until cooked out.
Whisk in milk or cream, bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer. Add Parmesan cheese. Sauce will begin to thicken.
Add chicken, pasta and a few scoops of Pesto sauce.
Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes or until pasta is al dente. It basically should have a bite, but not stick to your teeth. Stir often.
Finish pan fried chicken thighs and pasta with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil!
More Amazing Dinner Ideas
- Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Casserole
- One Pot Sesame Chicken Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Beef Tips with Gravy (Easy IP Method Too)
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Caprese Chicken One Pot Pasta Skillet
A SERIOUSLY Delicious Caprese Chicken recipe with Pasta One Skillet Meal. Pesto, Tomato & Mozzarella are Stuffed into these pan seared chicken thighs before pan searing in the skillet.
Ingredients
- For the chicken
- 1 jar Barilla Pesto Sauce
- 3 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tomato, sliced
- 6 slices Fresh mozzarella
- 1 teaspoon Italian blend seasoning
- Salt & Pepper
- Olive Oil
- For the Sauce and Pasta
- 6 ounces Barilla Pronto or Angel Hair Pasta
- 2 tablespoons Butter
- 2 tablespoons Flour
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon minced Garlic
- 1 cup full fat milk or half & half.
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Place each chicken thigh between parchment paper, use a meat tenderizer or rolling pin to pound thin.
- Brush pesto sauce onto the chicken (to avoid cross contamination- add the sauce to a prep bowl, do not brush from the jar).
- Top with a slice of tomato and mozzarella cheese.
- Roll the chicken thighs, add to a heated skillet drizzled with Olive oil.
- Sear to brown, 3-5 minutes each side. Cover and simmer until 165 degree is reached internally.
- Remove from pan and let rest.
- To Make the Sauce and Pasta:
- Melt butter in the same skillet over medium heat, add garlic.
- Stir in the flour until cooked out.
- Whisk in milk, water and broth, bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer. Sauce will begin to thicken
- Add chicken back, pasta and scoops of Barilla Pesto sauce.
- Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring often.
- Finish with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 690Total Fat: 35gTrans Fat: 0gCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 2gProtein: 46g
Nutrition facts are auto- populated by the app for this recipe card, numbers may vary. For best results, input your exact brand ingredients into a recipe analyzer like Verywell or MyFitnessPal.
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This looks so good and I can't wait to make it at home. Looks easy and yummy!
Man, those look exceptionally delicious
No kid hungry is a great program. It is terrible that we have kids going hungry. This recipe is going to be a big hit.
Ok, I am sold! This looks like such a great recipe that I want to recreate too!
Wow, your dish looks so delicious and easy to make. I love the way you garnished it to add even more color to the plate.
Wow. That looks amazing. I think this would be a great recipe to make with my daughter over the long weekend.
One pot is my favorite!! I think I'll try this one this weekend! Thanks!
Pinned this! Cant wait to try it! Looks so good!
Delicious recipe! My hubby loves pasta! He would so love this for lunch! Thanks for the recipe!
Quick and easy and oh so good!! I've got to give Pesto Sauce a go. I bet it's really good.
This looks delicious! I love that it's made in one pot- less dishes 🙂
That looks amazing! I must try this out soon. I think it would be a great dinner to make next week. It looks so delicious!
This looks amazing -I cannot wait to try this recipe !
I am always looking for one pot meal ideas. This looks so delicious and easy to make. I am excited to make it for dinner.
My family is going to love this recipe. I will have to get the ingredients I need to make it on the weekend.
I can't even tell you how delicious that looks to me! I'm so excited to try this recipe and stat!
What a delicious looking dish. I love one pot meals. Makes cleanup so much easier.
Wow! It looks so delicious and fresh! I can't wait to try your recipe!
I am so loving the one pot idea! It makes things so much easier on school nights. This looks absolutely amazing!
That looks way better than what I was thinking of making tonight. I pulled out chicken and I was just going to do some on the grill but I think I may do this instead.
Oh this looks so good! Thank you SO much for this idea! (client)