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Grilled Chicken Margherita

Dinner 🍽️Lunch 🥪 Italian 🇮🇹 High-Protein 💪Low-CarbSugar-FreeDiabetic-FriendlyGluten-FreePaleo 🦴Halal 🕌Anabolic Diet

Grilled Chicken Margherita features juicy, evenly cooked chicken breasts marinated with olive oil, balsamic, garlic, and Italian herbs, then finished with melty mozzarella, basil pesto, and a bright cherry tomato–basil topping. The contrast of smoky grill notes, rich cheese and pesto, and fresh, tangy tomatoes makes it a standout for warm-weather dinners and casual entertaining.

  • Prep20 mins
  • Cook10 mins
  • Serves4
  • DifficultyEasy
Grilled Chicken Margherita

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Grilled Chicken Margherita, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

34 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
49 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
0 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityFair
45 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
2 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

5
Heart Health
59
Metabolic
16
Digestive
26
Inflammatory
46
Performance
28
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Using the smooth side of a meat mallet, gently pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness, about 1/2 inch. Place the chicken in a resealable plastic bag.

  2. 2

    In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt. Pour over the chicken, coat evenly, and marinate for 4 to 8 hours.

  3. 3

    In a small bowl, mix the cherry tomatoes, basil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

  4. 4

    Preheat an outdoor grill to medium heat; lightly oil the grate.

  5. 5

    Remove the chicken from the marinade and grill with the lid closed for 4 minutes. Flip the chicken and grill for 3 to 4 minutes more. Place a slice of mozzarella cheese and 1 tablespoon of pesto on each breast, then add the cherry tomatoes. Close the grill lid and continue grilling until the cheese melts and the chicken is no longer pink inside, about 3 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted in the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Using a spatula, carefully transfer the chicken to a serving platter.

About This Recipe

Grilled Chicken Margherita is an Italian dinner recipe made with 12 ingredients. It takes about 30 mins, serves 4, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Balsamic Vinegar, Basil Pesto, Cherry Tomato, and Fresh Basil. Each serving provides about 904.18 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Grilled Chicken Margherita?
It is an Italian recipe made with 12 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
What is Grilled Chicken Margherita made of?
The main ingredients are Balsamic Vinegar, Basil Pesto, Cherry Tomato, Fresh Basil, Garlic. The full list of 12 is above.
What goes well with Grilled Chicken Margherita?
Explore these Italian side-dish recipes.
How long does it take to make Grilled Chicken Margherita?
About 30 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 10 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 904.18 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Grilled Chicken Margherita easy to make?
This recipe is rated easy, with 12 ingredients and 5 steps.
Is Grilled Chicken Margherita healthy?
Grilled Chicken Margherita has an easyChef Pro health score of 34/100. Per serving, it provides 904.18 calories and 61.37 g of protein, or 123% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of calcium. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1763.2 mg (77% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 24.73 g (124% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Tomatoes, Garlic and Alcohol, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

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