Grilled Chicken Margherita—A Fresh, Flavor-Packed Dinner
Fire up the grill and get ready to make your new favorite chicken breast recipe! Juicy grilled chicken is topped with melted mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, and basil pesto, then drizzled with a tangy balsamic glaze for the ultimate summer-inspired dish. Think margherita pizza on top of grilled chicken!
This fresh, vibrant, and restaurant-worthy meal comes together in just 30 minutes. It’s light yet satisfying, making it a go-to meal for busy weeknights, cookouts, or when you want a little Olive Garden magic at home.
I spent last summer perfecting the art of grilling chicken breasts. I’m sharing a few tips and an option to pan-sear it inside.
The side dish options for this are endless! Try it with strawberry quinoa salad, tomato peach burrata salad, or Caesar pasta salad.
Need another chicken dish? Try baked pesto chicken or Boursin chicken next time.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Chicken breasts: We’re using boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe.
- Italian seasoning: You can make your own at home with equal parts dried oregano, dried basil, dried thyme, and dried thyme. Or add garlic powder and red pepper flakes.
- Mozzarella cheese: Use a fresh slice of mozzarella cheese for best results, just like in baked pesto chicken.
- Basil pesto: A really good homemade pesto is ideal, but store bought works. Use any leftovers for salmon pesto pasta or orzo pasta salad.
- Cherry tomatoes: Grape tomatoes or any fresh tomatoes would work.
- Balsamic vinegar: Introduces a tangy, sweetness.
- Basil: Nothing beats the Italian flavors in fresh basil, just like in burrata pasta.
How to Make Grilled Chicken Margherita
- Season the chicken: Mix together the olive oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken and turn to coat.
- Grill the chicken: Add the chicken to the grill, close the lid, and grill over medium-high heat (400-425°F) for 5-6 minutes.
- Top with cheese: Flip the chicken, wait 2 minutes, then add the mozzarella. Close the lid and cook until the cheese melts and the internal temp reaches 165°F.
- Tomato basil topping: While the chicken cooks, toss tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and basil in a large bowl. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt.
- Top with pesto: Top each piece of chicken with 2 Tbsp of pesto and spread it out.
- Serve and enjoy! Spoon the tomato basil on top and finish with fresh cracked black pepper. Serve right away!
Recipe Tips + Variations
- Brush and oil the grill grates before you turn it on. I saw a trick on TikTok to rub them with a sliced russet potato to prevent sticking!
- If your chicken breasts are on the larger side, slice them in half lengthwise or pound them to an even thickness.
- Use a meat thermometer to tell when the chicken is perfectly cooked to 165.
- Close the grill lid after adding the mozzarella cheese to help it melt.
- Swap the Italian seasoning for Herbs de Provence.
- Brine the chicken in salt water for 30 minutes prior to grilling.
- Sear the chicken in a large skillet instead of on the grill (see recipe notes).
What to Serve with Margherita Chicken
- Roasted veggies: garlic-roasted mini peppers, roasted broccoli and carrots, or any vegetable side dish.
- Fresh salads: grilled peach salad, strawberry spinach salad, or grilled zucchini salad.
- Serve it alongside Italian pasta salad.
- With pasta: Layer it over cooked spaghetti noodles, orzo, spaghetti squash, or rigatoni coated in more fresh pesto.
- Store-bought fresh or frozen garlic bread takes no effort.
How to Store
Allow the dish to cool to room temperature then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can warm leftover grilled chicken breast in the oven to keep it juicy.Warm at 350°F for about 15 minutes or until heated all the way through.
My favorite way to reheat chicken breasts is in the air fryer with a splash of water in the bottom. I reheated this recipe at 375°F for 6-8 minutes and served it over rice with sauteed italian veggies.
Grilled Chicken Margherita
Grilled Chicken Margherita is a fresh, Olive Garden inspired dish featuring juicy grilled chicken topped with melty mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and basil. Finished with a balsamic drizzle, this easy, 30-minute recipe is perfect for a light summer meal or an impressive dinner any night of the week!I
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Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 oz fresh mozzarella cheese sliced
- 1/2 cup basil pesto homemade or store bought
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves thinly sliced
Instructions
- Brush the grill grates clean the brush them with oil. Preheat the grill to medium-high (400-425°F).
- Mix together the olive oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Add the chicken breasts and turn to coat.4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, 2 Tablespoons olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, 3 teaspoons Italian seasoning, Salt and pepper to taste
- Add the chicken to the hot grill, close the lid, and grill the chicken for 5-6 minutes on the first side. Flip the chicken, cook for 2 more minutes, then add the mozzarella cheese. Close the lid and continue cooking until the cheese melts and the internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C. Remove to a clean plate or cutting board to rest.4 oz fresh mozzarella cheese
- While the chicken is cooking, toss together the diced tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and fresh sliced basil. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt.1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
- Make a quick homemade pesto if you haven't already. Top each chicken breast with 1-2 Tablespoons of pesto and spread it out.1/2 cup basil pesto
- Spoon the tomato basil on top and finish with fresh cracked black pepper. Serve right away!
- Store leftover margherita chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days. I like to reheat it in the airy fryer at 375 for 6-8 minutes (oven works too).
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review letting us know how it was!
Notes
Pan Sear: Drizzle oil in a large saucepan or skillet over medium-high heat. Once it’s hot and shimmering, add the seasoned chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes on the first side. Flip, cook for 1-2 minutes, then add the cheese, close the lid, and finish cooking for another 2-3 minutes, until the cheese melts and the chicken reaches 165°F.
Storage. Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350 until heated through (15 minutes) or air fry at 350 with a splash of water in the bottom to keep it juicy.
Equipment
- Indoor or outdoor grill
Nutrition
Serving: 14 ounce chicken breast with toppings | Calories: 500kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 549mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1046IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 232mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Molly, I made this recipe for dinner and it was very delicious. I will definitely be making again. Thanks for such a wonderful recipe.
Awesome! Thank you!
Simple dinner for a summer night. Good right off the grill, and at room temp. I served mine over orzo
#WhatWEMade
This looks amazing! Do you have a suggestion on anything we could use as a substitute for the pesto? We have a pine nut and nut allergy in the family. Thanks!!
Hi Angela, we haven’t tried a nut-free pesto, so I can’t confirm, but would suggest trying sunflower seeds. Let me know if you try it and what you think!
I love how simple this recipe was! I don’t believe many recipes that say under 30 minutes, but I think this one truly was. I love how the measurements are under each step of the recipe. Very handy! 3 out of the 4 kids liked it (the last one is a 3 year old)! We will be making this again!
It was amazing 🤩 made it for lunch today. It came together fast and love all the level of flavors – chicken, pesto, mozzarella and tomato 🍅 Basil 🌿 so yummy 😋
Thanks, Agnes!
Soo good! I will be remaking this recipe. We used all fresh ingredients from our garden and it was perfect. This was such a great summer dinner! I can’t wait to have the leftovers. Agree with the other comment about having the measurements in each step. That is a game changer!!
#WhatWEMade
Easy and delicious! Amazing how a few ingredients can pack so much flavor! We followed author’s advice and made homemade pesto! Yum! Will make this one again!
#whatmollymade
We made this as part of the monthly challenge and we are so glad we did. This meal had so much flavor and was so easy. It was also the perfect meal to use my garden grown tomatoes and basil. We will be adding this to our meal rotation.
I also love that you added the measurements to the steps. Saves me from having to scroll back up while I cooked.
So glad you liked it Emmy! And thanks for the feedback on the measurements! Something I’m testing because I also hate scrolling back up:)
This was delicious! I took the tip of making the homemade pesto and I’m so glad I did, it was easy and delicious! I’ll definitely be making this again! I didn’t use the grill, but I did the pan method. I did have to cook it longer on the stovetop than it said, but I think my chicken breasts were just really thick. Thank you for starting this challenge, it is so fun!
Thank you so much, Jessica!! I’m so glad you liked it. I have that happen to me with chicken breasts. You can always pound them thinner next time! Thanks for joining the challenge!
This was delicious! I’m glad I did the July challenge. My husband thoroughly I’m enjoyed it and I served it was pesto pasta. Thanks for the recipe!
Sounds amazing!!! Thanks for joining the challenge!
I made this for the What WE Made Monthly Cooking Challenge – very good and summery! I love the flavors of tomato, mozzarella and balsamic in a salad, so this was a nice variation for a summer grill meal. I think I’ll try with chicken thighs next time since those stay nice and tender on the grill. Thanks for sharing!
Love grilled chicken thighs! Thanks for making it, Emiley!
My whole family loved this chicken recipe! So good!!
Thank you!!
Made this tonight in the air fryer. It was delicious! Next time I’d go a little lighter on the Italian seasoning and I probably should have pounded the chicken thinner. My husband and I loved it. Great summer dinner!
Thanks!
This truly is a 5 star recipe!! So fresh, flavorful, and healthy. Love it and will make again!
So glad, Brooke! Thanks!
Excellent recipe. I prepared pesto and tomatoes earlier to save time. Had to resort to cast iron skillet when storm blew through at dinner time. Will make again!
So smart to do the pesto in advance! This would be amazing in cast iron!
Delicious and so easy!
Thanks, Jenifer!
I love finding recipes that use fresh ingredients and it’s not a salad. This was easy to put together and fit in with everyone’s health “want’s”, I did leave some without pesto for my kiddo, but he had some on the side to dip it in. I did add a little Greek seasoning to my chicken to amp a little more flavor, but it would have been just as good without it. P.S. I love how you list the measurements of each item after each step!! I always have to scroll back a bit to see how much of each I’m adding, so thank you! I should probably measure my ingredients out before I start, but sometimes I don’t want to add that step!
Sounds amazing, Kristy!! Thanks for taking the time to share.
This recipe is a new staple in our home. Not only was it super simple and quick to make, but my husband and daughter all but licked their plates clean. I served with rice and an italian salad. Thankful to have another dish that is fresh and healthy in our meal rotation. Delicious!
You’re so welcome, Olivia! Thanks for commenting!
As a first time mom cooking has become stressful and I never know what to make that is easy and nutritious. This recipe was super delicious and I made it in 30 minutes. The longest part was waiting for the chicken to cook. To make things even more simple, I used the jar pesto you can find at CostCo and instead of classic balsamic vinegar I topped it with a balsamic glaze drizzle adding a little sweetness and it was amazing. Definitely recommend to all the busy moms out there.
Thanks, Sydney!!
This was amazing! Thank you Molly for the recipe and for the pro-tip to make your own pesto! First time ever doing that. Absolutely delicious! I had it with pan fried zucchini and a salad. My husband was blown away.
Thanks, Melissa! This sounds amazing!
Great flavour and simple to make. I paired it with Parmesan Herb Orzo and a salad. Will definitely make again.
Hey Faye! Thanks for sharing! Parmesan herb orzo sounds incredible! So glad you’ll make it again.
This recipe was delish!!! My whole family loved it. I ended up doing half with mozzerella cheese and half with brie cheese, they were soo good. Thanks for sharing!
Sounds amazing, Jessica! Thanks!
Easy to make. Great from the grill. Use fresh ingredients, like the tomatoes and mozzarella. Tasty. Eat it while warm.
Thanks, Steven!!
I really like a good chicken pesto and balsamic tomato salad. I served this with a simple Cacio e Pepe on the side for my kids and with extra tomatoes for me. Only downside for me isthe high fat content from cheese and oil but that could easily be modified.
Thanks, Sara! yes, you can totally do less cheese in this. Thanks!
Excellent dish! Did it in the oven as pouring outside. Great combo of flavours. Kids devoured it! Definitely making again.
Thanks, Caroline! Our kids loved this one too!
Yummy with some grilled flatbreads and a side salad!
Sounds amazing! Thanks!
Wow, absolutely delicious!!! Made it for me and my boyfriend and it couldn’t have turned out better!!!
Thanks, Becca!
It will be my go to recipe for the summer dinner parties 🙂
What a compliment! Thank you!
Fabulous and easy!!! Will definitely be having thus again!
Love that, Cyndie! Thanks!
My new favorite way to grill chicken!