Easy Sheet Pan Caprese Chicken & Gnocchi – Quick Recipe
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Juicy, tender chicken breast, roasted cherry tomatoes, crispy gnocchi, and melty cheese covered in fresh basil with a sweet balsamic glaze–what could be better? This sheet pan caprese chicken is super quick and easy to make with tons of fresh flavors the whole family will love!
This sheet pan chicken caprese hits the spot! This simple dish looks elegant and tastes fresh, cheesy, and healthy–what’s not to love?
I love a quick throw-together sheet pan meal. They’re perfect after a long day when you need to get dinner on the table fast.
Easy Sheet Pan Caprese Chicken
The hands-on prep time for this recipe is minimal! In just 5-10 minutes, you have dinner going in the oven with a quick 20-minute bake time.
While I do include some marinating time to tenderize the chicken, it doesn’t need to be long. You can get it marinating and just let it sit as long as it takes to prep the other ingredients and pre-heat the oven.
This meal has it all–lean protein from chicken, healthy fat from the olive oil, carbs from the gnocchi, and veggies from the tomatoes, garlic, and basil.
The baked gnocchi gets a slight crisp which is one of the best things about this dish. It’s a perfectly light and balanced meal that everyone will love.
Chicken Caprese Ingredients
To make this delicious caprese chicken sheet pan dinner, you need the following basic ingredients:
Boneless skinless chicken breast – Anywhere from 1-2 lbs is fine.
Olive Oil – Choose extra virgin olive oil for the best quality.
Lemon Juice & Italian Seasoning – Combined with some olive oil, these ingredients make a quick throw-together marinade to tenderize the chicken.
Refrigerated Gnocchi – We loved the texture of refrigerated gnocchi best in this recipe, but shelf-stable gnocchi will also work if that’s all you can find.
Fresh Tomatoes, Cherry or Grape – Choose whatever kind looks freshest and sweetest at the grocery store!
Garlic Cloves – I recommend whole cloves, not minced garlic, but minced garlic will work in a pinch.
Fresh Sliced Mozzarella – Fresh sliced mozzarella is so worth it! It adds a deliciously fresh & rich flavor to this dish.
Basil – Fresh, healthy basil leaves give the best flavor.
Balsamic Glaze – I use a bottled balsamic glaze (not balsamic vinegar!) from the grocery store with natural ingredients, but you can also easily make your own. See the Recipe Notes section.
Baked Caprese Chicken Instructions
Follow the step-by-step instructions below to make this super easy sheet pan caprese chicken & gnocchi!
1. Marinate Chicken
Trim any fat off of your boneless skinless chicken breasts. If they are very large, cut in half. Add chicken breasts to a marinating container or ziplock bag. Pour 2 tbsp olive oil, lemon juice, and half of the Italian seasoning over the chicken. Place chicken in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 30 minutes. Toward the end of the marinating time, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Prep Gnocchi, Garlic, & Tomatoes
Roughly chop the garlic cloves into large pieces (2-3 pieces per clove). Toss the cherry tomatoes, chopped garlic, and gnocchi into a bowl. Drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil and the other half tbsp of Italian seasoning. Toss or stir to evenly coat.
3. Assemble Sheet Pan
Cover a rimmed baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper to keep things from sticking and to make for easy clean up. Arrange the chicken breasts on the sheet pan evenly spaced apart, and then pour the bowl of gnocchi, garlic, and tomato mixture around the chicken in a single layer. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the biggest chicken breast.
4. Bake
Bake the sheet pan at 400 degrees F. You will bake for a total of 20-22 minutes cooking time, but after the first 10 minutes of the cooking process, remove the sheet pan from the oven briefly to lay the slices of fresh mozzarella evenly across. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Put back in the oven for another 10-12 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165F.
5. Slice Basil
While the sheet pan is baking, thinly slice the basil into ribbons.
6. Drizzle with Balsamic Glaze
When the chicken comes to the proper temperature and the cheese is sufficiently melted, remove the pan from the oven. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and sprinkle the ribbons of basil evenly across. Serve immediately.
There you have it! This easy chicken caprese recipe is an easy way to get a delicious dinner on the table any night of the week. It really shines on those busy weeknights when you want something quick & healthy.
Tips for Making Sheet Pan Chicken Meals
If you love this recipe and want to try some flavor twists and variations, you can try:
- Chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts.
- If you want to skip the marinating time, then I recommend switching to chicken thighs if possible). Cook thigh meat to an interior temp of 170-175F.
- Baby potatoes instead of gnocchi.
- Dice the potatoes into half-inch cubes so they cook all the way through in the 20-minute bake time.
- Make your own balsamic glaze for this chicken caprese sheet pan with a simple balsamic reduction on the stove top.
- Simmer 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar over medium-low heat in a small pot until it reduces by half.
- Tips for Reheating Chicken: Slice into bite size pieces first, then microwave in small increments to prevent the meat from getting rubbery.
Storage Notes
FDA food regulations recommend eating leftovers within 3-4 days. Keep leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container.
I do not recommend freezing leftovers–the tomatoes will not hold up well.
Side Dish Suggestions
Serve this delicious one-pan baked caprese chicken meal with a green salad if desired. You may also wish to serve with my Turkish Red Cabbage Salad or Kale Crunch Salad.
Other Chicken Recipes
Want more easy sheet pan dinners? Make sure you also try my Moroccan-inspired sheet pan chicken or my balsamic chicken & veggie sheet pan!
Leave a Comment & Review!
If you love this sheet pan caprese chicken and gnocchi, please leave a comment and review! It means the world!
Sheet Pan Caprese Chicken & Gnocchi
Equipment
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Sharp Knife
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs chicken breasts
- 3 tbsp olive oil divided
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning divided
- 18 oz gnocchi
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 10 cloves garlic
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- 16 oz fresh mozzarella
- 10 basil leaves
- 6-8 tsp balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Trim any fat off of your chicken breasts. If they are very large, cut in half. Add chicken breasts to a marinating container or ziplock bag. Pour 2 tbsp olive oil, lemon juice, and 1/2 tbsp of Italian seasoning over the chicken. Place chicken in the refrigerator to marinate for 30 minutes up to 2 hours. Toward the end of the marinating time, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Toss the gnocchi and cherry tomatoes into a mixing bowl. Roughly chop the garlic and add it to the bowl. Drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil and the rest of the Italian seasoning. Toss to evenly coat.
- Cover a sheet pan with a piece of parchment paper. Arrange the chicken breasts on the sheet pan evenly spaced apart, then pour the bowl of tomatoes, gnocchi, and garlic around the chicken in a single layer.
- Bake the sheet pan at 400 degrees F. You will bake for a total of 20-22 minutes cooking time, but after the first 10 minutes of the cooking process, remove the sheet pan from the oven briefly to lay the slices of fresh mozzarella evenly across. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Put back in the oven for another 10-12 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165F.
- Thinly slice the basil into ribbons.
- When the chicken comes to the proper temperature and the cheese is sufficiently melted, remove the pan from the oven. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and sprinkle the ribbons of basil evenly across. Serve immediately.
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