Chicken Cutlet Caprese Salad (2024)

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Chicken Cutlet Caprese Salad takes advantage of end-of-summer heirloom tomatoes with lightly pan-fried chicken cutlets, fresh mozzarella, and basil.

Chicken Cutlet Caprese Salad (1)

Chicken Cutlet Caprese Salad

This Chicken Cutlet Caprese Salad is the perfect salad for dinner. It’s hearty and flavorful, and I know you’ll crave it again and again! I love a classic caprese salad, so I’m always coming up with new variations using the same flavors. Plus, it’s an excellent way to use up the last of my tomatoes in my garden. For some of my other favorite caprese recipes, try my Caprese Chicken Skillet and Air Fryer Burst Tomato Burrata Caprese Salad. You may also love this Air Fryer Chicken Milanese!

Chicken Cutlet Caprese Salad (2)

I made this into an Instagram Reels Video a few weeks ago and lots of you asked that I post it here, so here it is. Click here if you want to see the video!

Caprese Salad Ingredients

A traditional caprese salad always has tomatoes and mozzarella drizzled with olive oil, salt, and pepper. For this recipe, I serve everything over baby greens and top it with fresh basil and a simple balsamic vinaigrette. I added the chicken cutlets, coated in breadcrumbs and Parmesan, for extra protein.

How to Make Chicken Cutlets

To keep the breaded chicken cutlets light, I use minimal oil and butter to pan-fry them. I let them brown on one side, and then I spray the top of the cutlets and flip them. One side of the chicken will get crispier than the other, but that’s ok because you can’t tell when you eat it. If you want to make them in the air fryer, follow the temp and time for my air fryer chicken cutlets.

How to Make Ahead

This chicken caprese salad is great to make ahead and can be eaten hot or cold. We love to take it with us on our boat; it’d also be perfect for a picnic or party. To make the salad ahead, put all the caprese ingredients on a big platter and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Bring along plates, utensils, and serving spoons.

Variations:

  • Add extra veggies like avocado, cucumber, or red onion.
  • Swap baby greens for arugula.
  • Make it in the air fryer following the same cook method as these air fryer chicken cutlets.
  • If you’re a vegetarian, omit the chicken and use tofu sliced into cutlets.
  • Instead of serving with a balsamic vinaigrette, use balsamic glaze, which you can purchase or make at home.

Chicken Cutlet Caprese Salad (3)Chicken Cutlet Caprese Salad (4)

More Caprese Recipes You’ll Love:

  • Cheesy Eggplant Gnocchi Caprese
  • French Bread Pizza Caprese
  • Chicken and Zucchini Noodle Caprese
  • White Bean Caprese
  • Watermelon Caprese Salad

Chicken Cutlet Caprese Salad (5)

Chicken Cutlet Caprese Salad

4.93 from 13 votes

Chicken Cutlet Caprese Salad takes advantage of end-of-summer heirloom tomatoes with lightly pan-fried chicken cutlets, fresh mozzarella, and basil.

Course: Dessert, Lunch, Meal Prep, Salad

Cuisine: Italian

Chicken Cutlet Caprese Salad (6)

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Total: 35 minutes mins

Print Rate Pin SaveWW Points

Yield: 4 servings

Serving Size: 1 /4th of recipe

Ingredients

For the Pan Fried Chicken Cutlets

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (16 oz)
  • 2 large eggs or egg whites, beaten
  • 1/2 cup + 2 TBSP seasoned breadcrumbs*, or gluten free crumbs
  • 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • kosher salt and fresh pepper
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil

For the Platter

  • 1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 8 ounces fresh Bocconcini mozzarella halved
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
  • 6 cups mixed baby greens
  • Balsamic Glaze or Simple Balsamic dressing, combine equal parts balsamic and extra virgin olive oil with salt to taste. (extra)

Instructions

For the chicken:

  • Cut chicken breasts in half horizontally so you end up with 4 thin pieces of chicken.

  • Working with 1 piece of chicken at a time, pound chicken until 1/4-inch thick. Set aside and repeat with the remaining 3 pieces.

  • Season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and black pepper, to taste.

  • Combine breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese in a medium bowl. In another bowl beat eggs.

  • Dip cutlets in egg, then breadcrumbs.

  • Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. If cooking in two batches, add half of the butter and olive oil.

  • When butter melts, add the cutlets and cook about 4 to 6 minutes on each side, until golden brown and cooked through. Repeat.

    Chicken Cutlet Caprese Salad (7)

For the Platter (2 servings picture in photos above):

  • Slice the chicken cutlets. Arrange the baby greens in the center of the platter. Place the chicken, tomatoes, mozzarella, basil all round.

    Chicken Cutlet Caprese Salad (8)

  • If making ahead, cover tight with plastic and keep chilled until ready to eat.

  • Or plate them individually if not making a platter, 1 piece chicken, 2 oz cheese and divide the salad.

  • Serve with 1 tablespoon vinaigrette (not included in n.i.).

Last Step:

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Notes

Variations:

  • Add extra veggies like avocado, cucumber, or red onion.
  • Make it in the air fryer following the same cook method as this Air Fryer Chicken Milanese.
  • If you’re a vegetarian, use tofu and slice into thin cutlets.
  • Instead of serving with a balsamic vinaigrette, use balsamic glaze, which you can purchase or make at home.

*2 TBSP get tossed after breading, deducted from n.i.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 /4th of recipe, Calories: 462 kcal, Carbohydrates: 14.5 g, Protein: 45.5 g, Fat: 24 g, Saturated Fat: 12 g, Cholesterol: 231.5 mg, Sodium: 755.5 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 1.5 g

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Categories:

  • Chicken Breast Recipes
  • Chicken Recipes
  • Dinner Ideas
  • Fall
  • Gluten Free
  • Italian Inspired Recipes
  • Lunch
  • Meal Prep Recipes
  • One Pan
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Chicken Cutlet Caprese Salad (2024)

FAQs

What is caprese chicken made of? ›

Caprese Chicken is a one-pot chicken dinner that tastes like the height of summer no matter when you make it. With juicy tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, creamy mozzarella cheese, and punchy balsamic vinegar, this is an easy chicken recipe you'll return to again and again.

Why are chicken cutlets thin? ›

Thinner chicken cutlets cook more rapidly than full-sized breasts and are ideal for searing or breading and frying in dishes like chicken marsala, chicken schnitzel, or chicken Parmesan. The most difficult step is the cutting: It requires a sharp knife and a bit of practice.

Which tomatoes are good for caprese? ›

When selecting tomatoes, choose fragrant ones that smell earthy at the stem end and feel heavy for their size. Avoid any with wrinkled skins. You can also make a caprese with smaller tomato varieties, such as plum, roma, cherry, grape, or sungold.

Is caprese good for you? ›

Caprese salad is not only delicious but also packed with health benefits. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that protects against cancer and heart disease. Mozzarella cheese is a great source of protein, calcium, and vitamin D.

Are chicken cutlets healthy? ›

Are Chicken Cutlets Healthy? Chicken cutlets are simply very thin chicken breasts—and chicken breast is a great source of protein. Without the skin, chicken breast is low in saturated fat. It will also add vitamins and minerals to your nutrition bottom line.

How do you not overcook chicken cutlets? ›

And while this might sound obvious, the best way to avoid overcooking a chicken breast is to cook it for as short a time as possible. When you start with cold chicken breast straight from the fridge, it's going to take longer for the middle to heat all the way through.

What makes chicken cutlets tough? ›

Woody breast is a myopathy/muscle disease in the muscle of chicken. Essentially, it's a disorder where the chicken's muscle fibres don't function properly, leading to a hard, rubbery texture in the meat. The abnormal development of the muscle fibres is what leads to the hard consistency after death.

Why do you put flour on chicken cutlets? ›

You should always start with a layer of flour. This helps absorb moisture on the surface of the chicken, which would keep the breading from sticking and make a mess in the hot oil. The flour also gives the egg something to cling to—otherwise it would slide right off the chicken.

What oil for chicken cutlets? ›

Oils with a high smoking point work best for frying because the oil needs to be at a high temperature yet still below its smoking point when frying. Good frying oils include most vegetable oils, peanut oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, grapeseed oil, and canola oil.

How would you describe caprese? ›

What is caprese? Simply put, it's a simple Italian salad. Caprese is super easy to prepare and made up of only a few fresh ingredients: a generous ball of fresh mozzarella, red ripe tomatoes for slicing, a handful of basil leaves and extra virgin olive oil for drizzling.

Why is it called caprese? ›

The salad is named after the island of Capri, where it is believed to have originated. Two common stories about its origin include it being an homage to the Italian flag or "in the 20th century to appease the palates of vacationing royalty and important politicos".

What does caprese mean in Italian cooking? ›

As it's called in Italian, Insalata caprese, Caprese salad literally means “Salad of Capri.” Although nobody knows whether or not the salad was actually first made on the Italian island, it likely originated from a dish made in Capri from a different type of cheese, cacio, served with tomatoes.

What does caprese mean in a recipe? ›

This Italian classic “Insalata Caprese,” meaning “Salad of Capri,” is named after the famous white-cliffed resort island of Capri in the south of Italy.

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