This vibrant chicken dish is bursting with fresh flavors and looks impressive with minimal effort.

• Yields: 4 servings
• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Bake time: 25-35 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6-8 oz each, preferably similar thickness)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 8 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds (or half-moon shapes if large)
• 2 medium Roma tomatoes, sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds (or smaller tomatoes, sliced to fit)
• About 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, washed and patted dry

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven & Prep Pan: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a baking dish or line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
2. Prepare Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Place one chicken breast on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, make 5-7 evenly spaced slices across the top of the chicken breast, cutting about 3/4 of the way through, but not all the way to the bottom. Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts.
   • Tip for even slices: Place a chopstick or two on either side of the chicken breast while slicing to act as a guide and prevent you from cutting all the way through.
3. Season Chicken: Drizzle each chicken breast with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and black pepper, ensuring some gets into the slits.
4. Stuff the Chicken: Gently open each slit in the chicken breast. Carefully insert alternating slices of fresh mozzarella and tomato into each pocket, followed by a fresh basil leaf. Try to tuck the basil in so it doesn’t burn during baking.
5. Bake: Carefully transfer the stuffed chicken breasts to your prepared baking dish or sheet.
6. Cook: Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) at its thickest part. The cheese should be melted and bubbly, and the chicken lightly golden.
7. Rest & Serve: Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. This helps keep it juicy. Serve immediately, perhaps with a drizzle of balsamic glaze if desired for extra flavor.