This Olive Garden chicken margherita recipe combines succulent and flavorful grilled chicken with fresh mozzarella cheese, herby basil pesto, and juicy cherry tomatoes for an incredible and elegant dinner that tastes better than the original. You'd never believe this impressive grilled chicken recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make!
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My Take On Grilled Chicken Margherita
If you've never had the grilled chicken margherita at Olive Garden before, it's basically a cross between a margherita pizza and grilled chicken, and it's every bit as delicious as it sounds!
My version features tender chicken breasts marinated in garlicky Italian seasoning, topped with melted mozzarella cheese, seasoned fresh tomatoes, and basil pesto sauce. Every bite is bursting with flavor, and I just can't get enough of it!
And while it is a copycat recipe of the best seller from Olive Garden's menu, I honestly think this homemade grilled chicken margherita is leagues better than what you can get at the restaurant. I love eating it with these sauteed potatoes or sauteed broccoli.
Why This Recipe Works
Easy to make. All you have to do is grill the chicken, whip up a quick tomato basil topping, and assemble everything on the plate!
Restaurant quality. This grilled chicken is simple to make but looks and tastes just like something you could order off the menu of a fancy restaurant.
Balanced flavors. The juicy chicken breasts and rich mozzarella cheese are complemented by the freshness of the basil pesto and the citrusy tomato basil topping. I think it's a meal that's decadent and satisfying without being too heavy.
Ingredients
Believe it or not, the ingredients for this recipe are actually pretty simple! And anything you don't already have at home will be easy to find at your nearest grocery store.
Anyway, here's what you'll need for the chicken:
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon Italian herbs
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 slices mozzarella cheese
And what to serve it with:
- ¼ cup basil pesto sauce
- ¼ cup halved cherry tomatoes
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Oh, and once you've got all your ingredients, you'll have most of what you need to make this chicken parmesan recipe too. I definitely recommend trying that one out next!
How To Make Grilled Chicken Margherita
1. Pound the chicken breasts: Use a meat mallet to pound the chicken breasts until they're evenly flattened and less than 1 inch thick.
2. Make the marinade: take a large bowl and combine the olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to make the marinade. Evenly coat your chicken breasts and let them marinate for 30 minutes.
3. Grill the chicken: While the meat is marinating, prepare your charcoal grill. Once the chicken is ready, add the chicken breasts to the grill and cook for 6-7 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Add a slice of mozzarella over each chicken breast and cook until the cheese melts, then remove chicken from the grill.
4. Make the topping: In a bowl, toss the halved cherry tomatoes with lemon juice, sliced basil leaves, salt, and pepper.
5. Garnish chicken and serve: Plate the grilled chicken breasts and top each one with basil pesto sauce and cherry tomato topping. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Tips To Make the Best Recipe
- If you're substituting cherry tomatoes with grape tomatoes, add the tiniest touch of sugar to achieve the same taste.
- Make the garlic lemon butter sauce from this mahi mahi recipe to pour on top of the chicken for even more flavor.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the doneness of the grilled chicken. It should read 165°F at the thickest part.
- If an outdoor grill isn't an option, you can also make this recipe on a grill pan over medium-high heat on the stove.
- Serve your chicken with a side of pasta or crusty bread for a more filling meal.
How I Recommend Storing This Recipe
In the fridge: Store the grilled chicken separately from the pesto and cherry tomato topping. Transfer them into airtight containers and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
In the freezer: If you're planning to freeze your chicken, don't add the pesto and tomato toppings yet, as they might change texture in the freezer. Freeze your grilled chicken in a freeze-safe zip bag or shallow airtight container and store for up to 1 month.
Reheating: If you're starting from frozen leftovers, be sure to thaw them in the fridge overnight first. Reheat the chicken breasts in an oven preheated to 200°F for 20 minutes or until warmed through. Let the pesto sauce and tomato topping come to room temperature before adding on top.
More Chicken Recipes To Try
- Baked chicken breast
- KFC famous bowl
- Italian baked chicken
- Yogurt marinated chicken
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Baked thin sliced chicken breasts
- Crispy baked chicken wings
- Chicken enchilada casserole
Grilled Chicken Margherita
This Olive Garden chicken margherita recipe combines succulent and flavorful grilled chicken with fresh mozzarella cheese, herby basil pesto, and juicy cherry tomatoes for an incredible and elegant dinner that tastes better than the original. You'd never believe this impressive grilled chicken recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make!
Ingredients
- 2 boneless and skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon Italian herbs
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 slices mozzarella cheese
To serve with:
- ¼ cup basil pesto
- ¼ cup halved cherry tomatoes
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup basil leaves, thinly sliced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Pound the chicken breasts to less than 1-inch thickness.
- Combine olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add chicken and let it marinate for 30 minutes.
- In the meantime, heat a charcoal grill, gas grill, or grill pan.
- Add the chicken to the grill or grill pan and grill it for 6-7 minutes per side or until cooked through.
- Top each piece of chicken with mozzarella cheese and cook until the cheese is melted.
- Remove the chicken from the grill.
- Make the topping; toss cherry tomatoes, lemon juice, basil, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Top the chicken with pesto and add cherry tomatoes on top. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 1 chicken breastAmount Per Serving: Calories: 0Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
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