Chicken breasts marinated in balsamic vinaigrette, then baked or grilled to perfection. This easy chicken recipe is sure to become a family favorite!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I’m always looking for quick and easy chicken dishes (aren’t we all?), and dinner does not get any easier than this Balsamic Chicken.
I’m a college student and this recipe is perfect for a quick dinner! The balsamic vinaigrette is delicious on the chicken. Thanks!
Alexis
This is one of the very first recipes I shared here at Let’s Dish, and although I’ve updated the photos since then, this recipe is still a family favorite to this day.
The chicken always comes out tender and juicy, whether I bake it or cook it on the grill (my preferred method), and there are rarely any leftovers.
If you don’t have any prepared balsamic vinaigrette dressing handy, you can always mix up some olive oil and balsamic vinegar–not only is this recipe easy, it’s versatile!
I have a similar recipe that uses Italian dressing, but I prefer this balsamic vinaigrette version.
This chicken is full of flavor, and it’s a great all-purpose recipe to use for things like salads, wraps or tacos.
I usually serve the chicken alongside a green salad with some crusty bread or a rice side dish. It’s a simple, light meal that’s so easy to make, and perfect any season of the year.
The hardest part for me is remembering to marinate the chicken ahead of time. As long as you don’t forget to do that, you’ll have this Balsamic Chicken on the table in no time.
Made this tonight, delicious.
Kali
What Should I Serve With Balsamic Chicken?
This simple but delicious chicken goes with just about anything, including rice, pasta, salads, roasted veggies and more.
Here are some of our favorite sides to serve with this chicken.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t overcook your chicken. The best way to check for doneness is to use an instant read thermometer. The chicken should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- For juicier chicken, let it rest for about 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
- This is a great way to cook chicken for meal prep. It’s great in salads, wraps, grain bowls, soups and more.
Ingredients
- Chicken – I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but thighs and legs work too
- Balsamic vinaigrette – bottled or homemade
- Garlic – minced
- Spices: crushed red pepper, salt and pepper
FAQs
Can I use chicken thighs or legs in this recipe?Yes, but you may need to adjust the cooking time depending on which part of the chicken you’re using, and whether it is bone-in or boneless.
How do I make sure my chicken is moist?Don’t overcook your chicken! Cutting into the chicken during cooking to check doneness will cause it to lose moisture and dry out. The best way to ensure good results when cooking chicken (or any meat) is to use an instant read thermometer.
Can I add different seasonings to this recipe?Definitely! This is a very basic–but delicious–method for cooking chicken breast. Feel free to experiment with different herbs and spices.
Be sure to save this recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Balsamic Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts in a zip-top plastic bag.
- Combine 1 cup balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing, 3 cloves minced garlic and 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper and pour over chicken.
- Seal bag and refrigerate for 1-4 hours (the longer, the better).
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees, or grill to medium high heat.
- Remove chicken from bag and place in a baking dish.
- Pour remaining marinade over chicken. Season with salt and pepper.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until juices run clear and chicken reaches and internal temperature of 165°F (73.9 °C) on an instant read thermometer. Alternately, grill chicken over medium heat for 5-7 minutes per side.
Notes
Nutrition
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22 comments
Patricia Singh
Is it ok to marinade overnight?
Danelle
Definitely!
Lucas V
Super bomb! Will make again soon thank you!!
Jessica
Mmmm! This looks so amazing! Thank you so much for letting me feature this recipe on my favorite chicken breast recipes blog post!! (Jessica from Mediavine FB group!)