easy one-pan basil halloumi chicken with tomatoes!
You seriously need to make this easy one-pan basil halloumi chicken!
have you ever had halloumi?
If you’ve never had halloumi before, you NEED to – I think it may be my new favorite cheese!
If you’ve never tried it before, the best way I can describe halloumi is as a cross between feta and mozzarella.
Need I say more?
It also has a very high melting point so you can actually grill or broil it, which is where the flavor of this delicious cheese really shines (check out this much loved salad!).
this one-pan delicious meal is “dinner irl” at its very best!
We all rely on chicken recipes – they are the VIP for a busy weeknight dinner. But it can be hard to find chicken recipes that are something a little different than the usual, while checking all the boxes:
- one pan
- minimal fuss
- simple-yet-festive enough for a weeknight OR special guests
It truly does not get any easier than this basil halloumi chicken!
what ingredients do you need?
You need just a handful of ingredients for this recipe:
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or chicken thighs if you prefer)
- heirloom or red cherry tomatoes
- olive oil
- kosher salt
- black pepper
- fresh basil
- halloumi cheese
- garlic
- lemon
how do you make it?
Place the chicken tomatoes, oil, salt and pepper into a large plastic bag.
Smush everything together to coat, then pour it all onto a baking sheet. Cover the chicken with the large basil leaves from your bunch and then cover that with slices of halloumi.
Bake the chicken and then turn the oven to the broil setting, broiling till the halloumi is golden brown.
In the meantime prepare the basil dressing by combining the remaining basil leaves, garlic cloves, lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper in a small blender and blend till smooth.
Transfer the chicken and tomatoes to a serving platter, drizzle with the dressing and serve!
I love that this dressing is a little different from traditional pesto!
While I love a good pesto, this dressing is lighter and even faster. You don’t need pine nuts or parmesan cheese, and the consistency of pesto is a bit thicker than this dressing. That said, if you’ve got some pesto in your freezer by all means use it!
I think you’re going to LOVE this dish. It’s one of those easy recipes that never fails, can be easily scaled up or down, and is family friendly while being special enough to serve guests for dinner.
And while we typically just enjoy this dish “as is”, you can round it out with your favorite side dishes. Rice, a salad or some fresh corn in season would all be perfect accompaniments.
Let me know if you try it!
Basil Halloumi Chicken with Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 2/3 cup olive oil, divided
- 3 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 3 teaspoons black pepper, divided
- 1 large bunch basil
- 8- ounce block of halloumi cheese
- 2 garlic cloves
- large lemon, juiced
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the chicken, tomatoes, 1/3 cup olive oil and 2 teaspoons each salt and pepper into a large ziploc bag. Toss till everything is evenly coated and pour onto a baking sheet. Slice the halloumi and set aside.
- Place the largest of your basil leaves in a single layer atop the chicken and top with the halloumi. Bake for 15 minutes; turn the oven to broil and cook till the cheese is golden brown (start watching carefully after 2 minutes). Turn the oven back to 350 degrees and transfer chicken to a serving plate covered loosely with foil. Cook the tomatoes for 10 more minutes; remove from oven and add to plate with chicken.
- Meanwhile place the remaining 1/3 cup olive oil and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper, along with the garlic and the lemon juice in a blender or food processor and blend for 30 seconds. Add the rest of the basil leaves and process till smooth. Spoon over chicken and tomatoes and serve immediately.
Nutrition
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Hi! I'm Sheri!
Welcome to my little corner of the web where you’ll find easy, delicious recipes, the best kitchen hacks and simple tips for turning your home into a clean haven that is free of toxins. So glad you’re here!
