Save points and money by making your own Olive Garden Copycat Margherita Chicken!
When I searched “Olive Garden Margherita Chicken” on the WW app it said it was 9 points. My lightened up version is only 4 points per serving.
Click here to track the points on your WW app.
How I Lightened It Up:
Olive Garden describes this recipe as “Grilled chicken breasts topped with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil pesto, and a lemon garlic sauce.”
To make the lemon garlic sauce they use quite a bit of butter. Instead of using all the butter I used 1 tablespoon of light butter and 1/4 cup of chicken broth.
I used a food scale to weigh the fresh mozzarella, using only .5 oz. per slice.
Pesto tends to be high in points, so I only used 1/2 tablespoon of pesto per chicken breast. It’s so full of flavor that a little can go a long way.
Chicken breast is 0 points so I didn’t have to make any changes there. Since the weather has been chilly I used a grill pan to cook the chicken.
How to Make Olive Garden Copycat Margherita Chicken:
Start by preheating your grill pan over medium heat. While that’s warming up, season your chicken breast with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Spray the grill pan with nonstick cooking spray and add the chicken breasts. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
While the chicken is cooking you can get the sauce going. Melt the butter in a small frying pan and sauté the garlic for about a minute.
Stir in the chicken broth and lemon juice, then heat through.
Pour the sauce into a baking dish, then add the chicken and top it with fresh mozzarella. I also added the tomatoes to the baking dish, then placed it under the broiler.
Since the chicken is fully cooked you only have to leave it under the broiler until the cheese is melted.
Once the cheese was melted I topped it with the pesto. It’s an easy and delicious chicken dish.
Serving Suggestions:
For an ultra healthy meal you can pair your Margherita Chicken with a fresh green salad or steamed vegetables.
If you’re feeling adventurous, why not serve it alongside a side of pasta or crusty bread to soak up that delicious sauce?
To elevate the flavors even more, consider adding a drizzle of balsamic glaze or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a hint of spice, or you can top it with fresh herbs.
Here are some things I used for this recipe:
Yield: 4 servings
Click here to track the points on your WW app.
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 1 tablespoon light butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 oz. fresh mozzarella
- 2 tablespoons pesto
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- Salt, pepper, and garlic powder, to taste
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Preheat a grill pan over medium heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
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Spray the grill pan with nonstick cooking spray and add the chicken breasts. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
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Melt the butter in a small frying pan and sauté the garlic for about a minute. Stir in the chicken broth and lemon juice, then heat through.
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Pour the sauce into a baking dish, then add the chicken and top it with fresh mozzarella. Add the tomatoes to the baking dish.
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Place under the broiler until the cheese has melted then top each chicken breast with 1/2 tablespoon of pesto.
Here are some more WW friendly recipes:
French Onion Chicken Noodle Casserole
If you’re looking for some zero point recipes, check out my post 20 Zero Point Recipes or my post 20 (More) Zero Point Recipes. Both are filled with delicious recipes that won’t cost you a single point! They’re perfect for days when you’re running low on points, or trying to save up points for a night out.
If you’re looking for dessert recipes you can visit 50 Weight Watchers Freestyle Desserts. It’s filled with delicious desserts perfect for Weight Watchers!
Are you looking for a meal plan that’s Weight Watchers friendly? I have over 100 meal plans that you can choose from and I post a new one each week. Click here to check them out!
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