Balsamic Dill Chicken

This Balsamic Dill Chicken makes weeknight dinners easy. It’s quick and easy to prepare and makes for delicious leftovers or meal prep!

In hopes of holding on to summer as long as possible, I wanted to create this grilled chicken recipe. I know I’m not the only one who doesn’t want to spend time in their busy day coming up with dinner ideas. If you have been following me on Instagram in the last couple of years, you may have noticed I share a weekly meal plan every Sunday. This started at the beginning of the pandemic as Matt and I were having fun with new recipes. At first, we took it to the extreme, making a brand new recipe about 4 nights out of the week. Needless to say, we (and our grocery bill) got a bit exhausted by this.

I have continued to share a weekly meal plan but have encouraged whoever uses it to approach it with some flexibility. Even picking one or two meals from the list can make life easier and save time in the evenings.

You best believe that this Balsamic Dill Chicken will end up in the meal plan very soon! If you’re interested in receiving the links to the recipes I share, subscribe here!

Ingredients for Balsamic Dill Chicken

This Balsamic Dill Chicken is unbelievably easy to prepare and requires ingredients that are quite common in most kitchens!

• Chicken breasts
  • The size of chicken breasts will vary greatly, depending on where you purchase them. This recipe makes 4-5 chicken breasts but can be adjusted for more. If you prefer chicken thighs, you could use them instead, likely doubling the number of thighs for the same amounts of marinade.
• Olive oil
  • The olive oil that I use has a very light and mild flavour with a smoke point of 410ºF (so okay to use in this recipe). If you prefer another neutral oil, like avocado oil for example, feel free to use this instead.
• Dijon mustard
  • The dijon mustard gives a perfectly tangy flavour to the chicken. If you don’t have this available, you can use the same amount of regular yellow mustard.
• Balsamic vinegar
  • I was originally going to make this ingredient optional, but after tasting the version with it, it had to be included. When the balsamic vinegar is cooked it adds a delicious sweet afternote to the chicken that shouldn’t be missed. If you don’t have this available, try using the same amount of red wine vinegar and add a touch of maple syrup or honey to achieve a similar flavour profile.
• Dill
  • I used dried dill in this recipe because you need less to achieve the same flavour and it’s less likely to go bad in the fridge! I have the hardest time making fresh herbs last until I get through them so I often use the dried version. But if you’re looking for a recipe to use up your remaining fresh dill, use 1 tbsp of fresh for every 1 tsp of dried dill that’s recommended.
• Garlic
  • What is a meal without garlic? This recipe calls for 3-4 cloves of fresh garlic but if you prefer more, go for it! Alternatively, you can use garlic powder. One garlic clove is equivalent to 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder.

Cooking Methods

Cooking chicken can be intimidating to some because of the risk of undercooking it. Thankfully, with a variety of options, it’s not as daunting as you may think. Bonus! If you can get your hands on a meat thermometer, you can be even more confident that your chicken is cooked to the correct and safe temperature.

Here are your options for this recipe:

Air Fryer

We have been using our air fryer a lot this summer, since it’s way too hot to turn on the oven! It cooks foods so quickly, saving a huge amount of time when you’re hungry and in a rush. The chicken cooks through in 12-15 minutes, broccoli in less than 5 and potatoes in about 10-15 minutes. It’s a game changer!

If you’re looking to purchase one, this is the air fryer we currently use. The only thing I don’t like about it is that it’s a pain to clean the grill insert. That being said, I haven’t tried other more traditional air fryers so I can’t really compare.

BBQ/Grill

There’s something about BBQ’d chicken that just feels like summer. Maybe because most people only use BBQs in the summer months, but I do know a few brave souls who grill all year round in Canada. Kudos to you! If you’re comfortable with grilling, you could also use this cooking method for this recipe. Preheat the grill to 400ºF, make sure any leftover food is scraped off well and then cook the chicken for 6-8 minutes each side, depending on the thickness of the meat.

Oven

If you want to keep it simple and bake the chicken, preheat your oven to 400°F. Place the chicken breasts on a lined or greased baking sheet and into the oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F and it is cooked through.

Serving Balsamic Dill Chicken

One of the many great things about this recipe is that it’s very versatile. Here are some of my recommended ways to enjoy it.

1. Traditional: Serve as a part of a balanced plate of protein, starch and vegetables. This chicken goes well with roasted potatoes, a side of rice or some cooked grains like quinoa, couscous or barley. Add a side of your favourite grilled or roasted vegetable like broccoli, asparagus, zucchini or bell pepper. Don’t forget to finish it off with a side of tzatziki. Yum!
2. Salad: Adding this grilled chicken to a fresh summer salad is a great way to boost the protein content. To the salad pictured in this post, I have included a mix of spinach and lettuce, cherry tomatoes, garden cucumber and fresh dill. I drizzled on some olive oil and balsamic vinegar as a dressing and topped with a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
3. Handheld: This would also be delicious in a wrap or sandwich! May I suggest filling it up with your choice of greens, tomato, cheese, dijon mustard, mayonnaise and fresh dill?! I’m ready for lunch now…
4. Leafy handheld: Lettuce wraps could be a great way to mix up the dinner variety. Have some fun in the kitchen by slicing the chicken into strips or bite sized pieces and add them to a leaf of romaine, iceberg or boston lettuce. Top with some water chestnuts, green onions, fresh dill and some cooked grains for extra satisfaction. Spread a dollop of tzatziki on top and enjoy!

I hope this 20-Minute Balsamic Dill Chicken is the saving grace for your weeknight meals. Don’t forget to check out some of these other chicken recipes for more dinner inspiration:

• Sheet Pan Dijon Chicken and Rosemary Potatoes
• Peanut Lime Chicken with Zesty Rice Noodles
• Garlic Chicken Lettuce Wraps
• Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

 

If you make this Balsamic Dill Chicken, I would love to see your comment and rating below. It also makes my day seeing your creations of my recipes on Instagram- don’t forget to tag @allnutrition.rd!