Light Margarita Chicken

This recipe caught my eye recently while scrolling through Facebook. Jennifer Ball (Folger) shared this fresh and satisfying recipe for her favorite Margarita Chicken dish, and I just had to try it out for dinner! You’ll want to try this one – a perfect comforting dish, without the “comfort food” guilt.

INGREDIENTS:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded to less than 1 inch thickness

salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (OR ½ teaspoon dried oregano + ¼ teaspoon dried basil + ¼ teaspoon dried thyme)

4 slices mozzarella cheese

½ cup basil pesto

½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

¼ cup packed basil leaves, very thinly sliced

cracked black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a large bowl combine chicken, salt and pepper, olive oil, garlic power, and Italian seasoning. Toss to combine.

Grill chicken over medium-high heat for about 6-8 minutes on each side until cooked through. Top each piece of chicken with a slice of mozzarella cheese and cook another minute or so until melted.

Toss tomatoes, lemon juice, and basil together. Top each chicken breast with about 3 tablespoons pesto, a scoop of tomatoes, and some freshly cracked black pepper. Serve immediately.