Grilled Chicken Margherita

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

Cooking Process

1. In a large bowl combine chicken, salt and pepper, olive oil, garlic power, and Italian seasoning. Toss to combine.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Bon Appetit!