Tomato Basil Baked Chicken is fresh and light and so easy to make! Marinated chicken breasts are topped with mozzarella cheese and baked to perfection. Fresh or canned tomatoes can be used in this easy chicken breast recipe that is packed with flavor!

Love chicken recipes? Try my easy Chicken Salad, Chicken and Rice Casserole, and Cashew Chicken!

There is nothing better than an easy dinner recipe that tastes fabulous. This easy chicken breast recipe is perfect all year long. It’s light, fresh, and delicious on it’s own or served with a simple side salad or with some pasta.

Fresh or Canned Tomatoes

This recipe is lovely in the summer because you can take advantage of the plethora of garden fresh tomatoes at your disposal. We love to use a variety of tomatoes in this dish: cherry, grape, heirloom. With all those bright colors, this easy baked chicken recipe is hard to resist.

The fresh tomatoes roast along with the chicken and release their juices creating amazing flavor.

If you don’t have access to fresh tomatoes, no problem! Use canned tomatoes instead! Super delicious and I give alternate instructions in the Notes section of the recipe card below.

I used cherry tomatoes in this recipe but larger tomatoes can also be used. Just quarter them to get them roughly the same size.

What to Serve with Baked Chicken

There is no wrong way to go when it comes to side dishes for this chicken bake. You can always serve as is, of course, but one of these side dishes listed below would be delicious served with this baked chicken recipe:

Creamy Cucumber Salad
Twice Baked Potatoes or Twice Baked Potato Casserole
Broccoli Salad with Bacon
Pea Salad
Loaded Scalloped Potatoes
Creamed Corn
Nana’s Famous Green Bean Recipe

What You’ll Need

For the chicken:

boneless skinless chicken breasts – 2 to 3 pounds (about 4 regular breasts or 3 large breasts cut in half lengthwise)
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
garlic powder
Italian seasoning
red pepper flakes – totally optional but this ingredient adds a nice little kick

For the tomato layer:

cherry tomatoes or canned tomatoes
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
fresh basil
honey
garlic powder
fresh thyme leaves

To finish it off:

mozzarella cheese
thyme
basil
Salt and pepper, to taste

How To Make this Tomato Basil Baked Chicken

In a large bowl or ziploc bag, mix the chicken and chicken ingredients together to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (or overnight, if preparing ahead).
Pour olive oil into the bottom of your baking dish. Place the tomatoes ingredients into the bottom of your dish and toss to combine. Lay the chicken across the bed of tomatoes.
Top the chicken with the shredded mozzarella cheese and season with salt and pepper to your liking.
Place the thyme sprigs on top of the cheese and bake in the oven for 35-38 minutes (or until the internal temperature of your chicken reaches 165 degrees).
Once the chicken is cooked through, remove from the oven and top with fresh sliced basil before serving. Enjoy!

How Long To Bake Chicken

There is no right answer to this question except until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C) when the thermometer is inserted in the thickest part of the breast.

Chicken breasts vary so wildly in size that it’s important for you to monitor the internal temperature. If you have really small chicken breasts, start checking early. If your breasts are on the large size, considering cutting in half lengthwise before baking.

You will want to have a meat thermometer on hand to get an accurate temperature.

More Chicken Breast Recipes

How To Make Tomato Basil Baked Chicken

baked chicken with tomatoes and basil in baking dish square

Print Pin

5 from 6 votes

Tomato Basil Baked Chicken

Tomato Basil Baked Chicken is fresh and light and so easy to make! Marinated chicken breasts are topped with mozzarella cheese and baked to perfection. Fresh or canned tomatoes can be used in this easy chicken breast recipe that is packed with flavor!

Course Dinner, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword baked chicken, chicken breast, tomato basil baked chicken

Servings

Calories 499kcal

Author Trish - Mom On Timeout

Ingredients

For the chicken:

3 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast 4 regular breasts or 3 large breasts cut in half lengthwise
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional

For the tomatoes:

24 oz cherry tomatoes about 4 cups (I used cherry tomatoes in this recipe but larger tomatoes can also be used. Just quarter them to get them roughly the same size.)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

For the top:

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
4-5 fresh thyme sprigs
2-3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

In a large bowl or ziploc bag, mix the chicken and chicken ingredients together to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (or overnight, if preparing ahead).
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
Pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil into the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Place the cherry tomato ingredients into the bottom of your dish and toss to combine. Lay the chicken across the bed of tomatoes. ).
Top the chicken with the shredded mozzarella cheese and season with salt and pepper to your liking.
Place the thyme sprigs on top of the cheese and bake in the oven for 35-38 minutes (or until the internal temperature of your chicken reaches 165 degrees.
Once the chicken is cooked through, remove from the oven and top with fresh sliced basil before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

To use canned tomatoes, simple substitute an equal amount of diced or even crushed tomatoes. Stir the tomato ingredients in with the canned tomatoes (olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, basil, garlic powder, and thyme).

Spread on the bottom of the baking dish before continuing on to the next step.