Lemon Basil Chicken with Balsamic Strawberries

You can make this Lemon Basil Grilled Chicken with or without the Balsamic Strawberries but I highly recommend you don’t skip them because this combination is incredibly delicious. The chicken is so flavorful from the marinade and the strawberries add a burst of tangy sweetness that completes this dish. I like to serve it over fresh arugula and pile on extra Balsamic Strawberries because why not!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

When the bright flavors of strawberries and balsamic combine its pure magic! Lemony chicken grilled to perfection in a matter of minutes and served with the strawberries on top is the perfect and easy dinner that the whole family will love!

Ingredients You Will Need

Chicken Breast: Chicken breast is a lean cut of meat from the chicken that can be baked, grilled or poached and is so versatile. We really enjoy all the meats from Grass Roots Coop and you can get a discount from my link page.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil stands out as an excellent choice for grilling chicken, adding richness and enhancing the natural flavors of foods with its versatility. My favorite olive oil is from Garcia de la Cruz Olive You

Lemon Juice: Lemon juice adds a fresh, bright, and tangy element, which can help balance the richness of the other ingredients.

Garlic: Fresh is best for obtaining a little stronger touch of garlic flavor than the sweeter touch you would obtain from powder.

Basil: Opt for fresh basil over dried for this dish, as the freshness complements the other bright flavors from the fresh strawberries and balsamic.

Strawberries: They are sweet fruits rich in vitamin C and are commonly eaten fresh as a dessert, in pie filling or preserved.

Balsamic Vinegar: It has many potential health benefits including lowering cholesterol and improving skin complexion. It also adds a distinctive bold, tart and complex flavor to the strawberries.

Medjool Date Syrup: Incorporating Medjool date syrup into this dish provides a natural sweetness, as these fresh fruits impart a rich, caramel-like flavor.

Salt and Pepper: Salt enhances and balances flavors, while ground black pepper adds a gentle heat, improving the overall flavor of a dish.

Instructions

Prepare the chicken: Cut chicken breast in half lengthwise if thick and place in a zip lock bag.

Prepare the marinade: Whisk together oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt & pepper.

Combine marinade with chicken: Pour over chicken, zip bag closed squeezing out air and massage chicken well. Refrigerate at least 3 hours.

Prepare the Balsamic Strawberries: Combine all of the Balsamic Strawberries ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Set aside.

Prepare the grill: Heat your grill up.

Grill the chicken: Cook chicken 4-6 minutes per side depending how thick they are or till thickest part reaches 165 degrees.

Plate the chicken: Remove from grill, cover with foil and let rest for 5 minutes.

Garnish: Spoon the Balsamic Strawberries over the chicken and garnish with fresh basil if desired. Be sure to serve the extra strawberries on the side!

Enjoy!

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Make the Balsamic Strawberries ahead of time: Go ahead and make the Balsamic Strawberries a day ahead as the flavor will be even better the second day!

Marinating the chicken: Lemon juice, like other acidic ingredients, can tenderize meat, but prolonged marinating can cause the meat to have a mushy texture. For this reason I recommend marinating 3-4 hours tops.

Recipe Variations

Chicken Thighs: You can use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast. Just adjust your grill time accordingly.

Peaches: Sweet peaches make an amazing swap for the strawberries in this recipe too.

Storage Tips

This Lemon Basil Chicken with Balsamic Strawberries can be stored in the fridge for 4-5 days when placed in a sealed airtight glass container though I recommend keeping the chicken separate from the strawberries.

FAQs About Lemon Basil Chicken with Balsamic Strawberries

What to serve with Lemon Basil Chicken?

I love serving this with my Balsamic Strawberries over a bed of fresh arugula. It would also be delicious with grilled asparagus or any other vegetables you love! Rice is also a delicious side.

What rice goes good with lemon chicken?

Jasmine rice or long grain white rice would be a nice accompaniment to this dish as would cauliflower rice if you want to keep it Paleo or Whole30 friendly.

What does balsamic vinegar do to strawberries?

Balsamic vinegar brings out the berries beautiful color and truly enhances their flavor.