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Caprese pasta can be made into a lasagna or mixed with noodles. Add burrata to your caprese if you are feeling fancy! Personally a caprese salad inspired dish is the perfect dinner or summer holiday picnic dish.
This is my new favorite summer dish! If you come from an Italian family, pasta makes an appearance regularly. My favorite pasta option we make in my family is lasagna- both the classic red sauce meat lasagna and a white sauce vegetable lasagna. My mom, sisters, and I all prefer the veggie lasagna option but the rest of the fam prefers classic. I decided to create something that would help bridge the gap- use some fresh veggies and a lighter protein source. And that’s how the caprese chicken pasta was born, inspired by my trip to Italy.
Traditional caprese salad includes fresh tomato, fresh basil, mozzarella, and balsamic vinegar. All these ingredients make an appearance in the caprese pasta as well, just with the addition of noodles, ricotta, and chicken. If you prefer to keep the caprese pasta vegetarian the chicken can easily be omitted. I’m looking forward to creating a vegan version with no chicken and tofu ricotta. I personally feel like lasagnas and casserole dishes are made for winter, I love having leftovers to eat again and again. Save the fresh basil to use just before eating as it does not heat well. You can add the balsamic vinegar and store or use it before eating as well- I’ve tried both.
Caprese Chicken Lasagna
- 1.5-2 lbs chicken breast
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 15 oz ricotta
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 egg
- 2 cups pesto
- 5 roma tomatoes or 15 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 8 oz ball mozzarella
- 1 bunch fresh basil
- 12 lasagna noodles
- Balsamic vinegar to taste
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Preheat oven to 375
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Season both sides of chicken breasts with salt and pepper
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Bake chicken for 30 minutes
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While chicken is cooking combine ricotta, Parmesan, and egg
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Chop tomatoes and thinly slice mozzarella and fresh basil
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Once chicken is cooked shred in stand mixer or use two forks
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Begin to layer the lasagna as follows: pesto, noodle, ricotta, chicken, tomato
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Repeat x3, last later top with sliced mozzarella and bake in oven at 375 for 30 minutes covered with foil
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Take off foil and cook for 5 more minutes to melt cheese
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Top with fresh basil and balsamic vinegar
If you like basil, pasta, tomatoes etc. try these recipes: Caprese Turkey Burgers, Polenta Vegetable Lasagna, Mediterranean Pasta
Here’s a look at each of the Caprese Chicken Lasagna layers! I did pesto, noodles, ricotta, chicken, tomatoes but you can mix it up however you want.
Do you have a traditional family recipe you enjoyed for special occasions/holidays/etc. With Memorial Day approaching anything with tomatoes and herbs is a winning dish in my opinion.
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