Citrus Grilled Chicken Marinade Recipe

Web Admin 0 18 Article rating: No rating

Citrus Grilled Chicken Marinade Recipe

Whole grilled chicken breast resting beside a sliced half, both coated in citrus marinade and garnished with herbs.

This Citrus Grilled Chicken Marinade recipe makes a juicy, flavorful dinner that tastes like the golden hour on a warm summer evening. Fresh orange juice, garlic, tarragon, and a touch of Dijon mustard come together for such a simple blend of summer flavor!

Marinade for Chicken that Actually Works!

Have you ever felt like a marinade looks and smells amazing but totally disappears once you cook the meat?

This easy healthy citrus grilled chicken recipe marinade is your answer to bold flavor with minimal fuss. It’s juicy, tender, and just looks fancy enough to make a weeknight feel special, even though you barely lifted a finger.

Healthy BBQ Dish that ISN’T a Burger

This is our go-to recipe for summer cookouts when burgers feel a little too expected. The bright citrus, fresh tarragon, and smoky char make this marinated chicken a total crowd-pleaser. With just 10 minutes of prep time and totally make-ahead friendly, it’s your weeknight dinner hero.

This chicken marinade is great served with 5 Minute Grilled Peach Caprese Salad, Lemon Orzo, or Strawberry Cucumber Salad!

Ingredients for Citrus Grilled Chicken Marinade

This easy marinade keeps things simple, using citrus, herbs, and garlic to add fresh, vibrant flavor to any cut of chicken. Low in calories, low in sodium, and lean protein, it’s a great option if you’re trying to eat lighter or stick to a healthy routine!

  • Chicken Breasts: High protein and easy to buy. Chicken thighs work too!
  • Dijon Mustard: Adds zip and helps the marinade stick.
  • Orange Juice: Try lemon juice or lime for an even tangier twist.
  • Orange Zest: Boosts citrus flavor and adds freshness.
  • Olive Oil: Keeps the chicken moist and helps the marinade work its way in.
  • Fresh Tarragon: A soft, slightly sweet herb with a hint of anise – perfect with citrus. (Swap with fresh thyme or basil if needed.)
  • Sugar: Balances the acidity.
  • Garlic Cloves: For that essential savory punch.
  • Salt: Enhances flavor and keeps the chicken juicy.

How to Make Citrus Grilled Chicken 

This easy marinade delivers juicy, flavorful grilled chi

Read more

Crispy Thin Grilled Pesto Chicken (2 Ingredients)

Web Admin 0 38 Article rating: No rating

Crispy Thin Grilled Pesto Chicken (2 Ingredients)

a photo taken over the top of two grilled chicken breasts coated in basil sitting on a cutting board with lemon wedges sitting next to them

Imagine thin chicken cutlets marinated in homemade pesto sizzling over the grill until the edges turn audibly crispy. Grilled pesto chicken is just two pantry-friendly ingredients, yet every bite tastes like you spent the whole afternoon fussing—perfect for busy summer nights!

Take all the stress out of dinner with this easy grilled pesto chicken recipe! It can be prepped in the morning or even the day before and takes less than 10 minutes to cook!

This is one of my favorite go-to meals for a busy weeknight running the kids from soccer and golf and church activities and all the things.

Why I love Pesto!

In college I was asked out on a date and the other couple we ate with made us dinner. It was my first date with this guy, first time hanging out with a married couple and my first time having pesto. In fact, I’d never even heard of pesto!!

Ever since that date I’ve been making different dishes with pesto like our caprese sandwich or 15 Minute Pesto Pasta, but I’ll tell you what, this crispy healthy grilled chicken with pesto is my absolute favorite.

My favorite part about pesto chicken? The cheese in the pesto makes this deliciously crispy, crunch crust on the chicken, oh man it’s good!

How to Make Grilled Pesto Chicken

This recipe is so easy you only need:

Chicken and Pesto!

Let’s jump right into how to make it:

  1. Prep the Chicken: Cover the chicken with pesto on all sides and marinate for at least 30 minutes but ideally overnight.
    • NOTE: I absolutely LOVE our homemade basil pesto recipe, but if you want to save time, you can totally grab a jar at the grocery store. The Kirkland Brand of Pesto at Costco is actually pretty dang good.
  2. Grill the Chicken: Make sure you oil the grates before grilling as that cheese will want to stick!
    • PRO TIP: Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. You’re looking for 165 degrees F for the internal temperature. It really won’t take too long with the chicken being so thin.

If you don’t have a grill, you can cook this chicken in a skillet on the stovetop or bake it in the oven (350℉ in a baking dish for 15-20 minutes).

Carrian’s Notes

Meal Prep Tips

I use our homemade pesto and marinate the chicken up to 1 day ahead of time. I

Read more

Summer Grilled Chicken Salad w/ Creamy Basil Dressing

Web Admin 0 86 Article rating: No rating

Summer Grilled Chicken Salad w/ Creamy Basil Dressing

a photo taken over the top of a large serving bowl full of mixed greens, a sliced grilled chicken breast, corn, halved cherry tomatoes all topped with a creamy basil dressing

During the summer I love to make a big, satisfying salad that packs in a lean protein and is full of flavor without the fuss and mess of the oven. I use grilled chicken with our favorite chicken marinade, charred corn on the cob, crispy bacon, smoky and salty cheeses and of course, our summer basil herb dressing! It’s the best grilled chicken salad recipe on the internet for a reason!

Watch How We Make This Fabulous Summer Salad…

If you’re looking for the most delicious dinner to make on a hot summer day that does not include the oven, this is it! I’m utterly obsessed with the dressing and have been keeping all ingredients on hand to make every version of this summer salad possible.

Sometimes I skip the berries or only add one of the cheeses. Other times I sub out the chicken for another protein or even shove it all in a big fat wrap. No matter how you make it, this is the best summer salad ever. 

Ingredients for the Best Summer Salad

As with most salads, this salad is highly customizable depending on what you have on hand and what your family loves. There are two things I wouldn’t skip…the chicken and the dressing! I can’t say enough about this homemade basil dressing! Most salads use vinaigrettes or ranch dressing, but this unique creamy basil dressing is fresh, light and irresistible!

  • Mixed Greens: You can grab any type of green you want…baby spinach, arugula, spring mix, romaine lettuce, etc.
  • Boneless Skinless Chicken Brea
Read more

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Web Admin 0 206 Article rating: No rating

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

a photo of a large wooden serving bowl full of creamy chicken caesar pasta salad

The best pasta salad recipe must have a delicious dressing and this chicken Caesar pasta salad has exactly that. Juicy chicken breast, crunchy croutons and crisp romaine lettuce are tossed together with spiraled pasta and sharp parmesan cheese making one of my daughter’s favorite pasta salad recipes ever.

Ingredients for Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe

I always like to see a quick overview of the ingredients I’m going to need for a recipe so here is everything you’re going to need:

Salad

  • Chicken Breasts: You will cook these ahead of time and chop into bite-sized pieces.
    • SUBSTITUTION: If you want to skip cooking chicken, you could use a rotisserie chicken.
  • Salt: used to season the water that you boil the pasta in
  • Cavatappi Pasta: Rotini also works great. You want a hearty pasta with lots of nooks and crannies to catch all that yummy dressing!
  • Caesar Croutons: Any store bought brand will work great.
  • Romaine Lettuce: Rinse and dry it before chopping it up.
  • Parmesan Cheese: Grab a block of parmesan that you can shave yourself!

Dressing

  • Mayonnaise: acts as the base for the creamy dressing
  • Plain Greek Yogurt: lightens up the dressing a little and adds good protein
  • Lemon Juice: adds acidity and brightness
  • Champagne Vinegar: If you can’t find champagne vinegar, white wine vinegar will work too.
  • Dijon Mustard: adds flavor
  • Worcestershire Sauce: adds flavor
  • Garlic: You’ll grate it with a microplane or use a garlic press to get it really fine.
  • Parmesan Cheese: You want the powdery kind from the can for the dressing. It gives the dressing that signature Caesar flavor.
  • Salt and Black Pepper: adds flavor

The measurements for all the ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

I know, you’re probably thinking that you’ll just buy a Caesar salad kit from the store and just add pasta and call it good, but I swear to you, this homemade salad dressing will be such a game changer! If you have the time, make this chicken Caesar salad with pasta from scratch. It’s really so simple! Here are the steps:

  1. Cook the Pasta: Get a large pot of salted water boiling over medium-high heat and add the pasta once the water is boiling.
  2. Cook the Chicken: While you are waiting for the water to boil and for the pasta to cook, get the chicken cooking. You can gril
Read more

Berry Avocado Chicken Salad – Healthy Version

Web Admin 0 206 Article rating: No rating

Berry Avocado Chicken Salad – Healthy Version

a photo of a berry avocado salad with chicken and candied pecan topped with a creamy poppyseed dressing

Juicy chicken breast adds a little protein to this simple berry avocado salad with a light poppyseed dressing. Throw on a little gorgonzola, candied nuts and you’ve just made the most perfect dinner salad recipe.

We chose to use Greek yogurt instead of the oil, sour cream or mayonnaise versions. We also found that because of the creaminess of the Greek yogurt there was no need to use an entire cup of sugar like many of the recipes out there. Plus bonus protein from the yogurt! I love when I can make something a little healthier and it still tastes fabulous!

Years ago my friend invited me to a girls night dinner to chat. She had a gift card for us both at a local restaurant and as we were fighting to survive unemployment (link to fighting faith) it was a blessing so I hopped in the car with her. Little did I know she was going to change my whole salad and soup life! She taught me how to turn a “nuts about berries” salad into something incredible, how to take tomato soup and creamy cauliflower soup and combine them with a little orzo on top for the best soup ever and now I’ve been making this berry avocado chicken salad ever since! I think the candied nuts and cheese are essential, but you can do any changes you’d like- feta instead of Mild Blue Cheese or gorgonzola is great too for example. See our entire list of possibilities below!

Ingredients for Chicken Berry Avocado Salad

This berry avocado salad only uses just a few wholesome and fresh ingredients. You’ll only need 4 ingredients for the light poppyseed dressing! Here is everything you will need:

  • Chicken Breasts
  • Brown Sugar BBQ Rub: Salt and pepper would work great too.
  • Butter Lettuce
  • Spinach and Kale Combo
  • Avocado
  • Berries: Raspberries, Strawberries, Blueberries and Blackberries
  • Candied Pecans
  • Crumbled Mild Blue Cheese, or gorgonzola

Poppyseed Dressing

  • Plain Greek Yogurt
  • Sugar
  • Prosecco or Champagne Vinegar
  • Poppy Seeds

The measurements and details for all the ingredients can be found in the recipe at the end of the post so keep scrolling!

How to Make Berry Avocado Salad

This salad recipe is so easy to make, and taking the time to cook the chicken and make the candied pecans is so worth the extra effort! Here are the basic steps!

  1. Cook the Chicken: Season each chicken bread on top and bottom with the BBQ rub and cook over medium-high heat either on the grill or in a pan on the stove top with a drizzle of oil. Then turn the heat d
Read more
RSS
123