I have a new favorite chicken recipe.
The family even demanded an encore!
Chicken feels boring to me. I’m forever looking for new ways to prepare it. This Italian-inspired grilled Balsamic Marinated Chicken recipe was inspired by a pre-made version I used to buy in Atlanta. It was one of the few meals I didn’t tire of while competing, thanks to the tangy, sweet balsamic marinade.
I don’t know what made me think of it, but I suddenly decided that I HAD to bring back balsamic chicken. It was successful on the first try… but I was in such a hurry to make it that I didn’t bother to measure or write anything down. #fail
Luckily, Vegas and my baby sis requested that I make it again ASAP. (It should be noted that my baby sister barely eats meat, so this is especially impressive.)
The second time I did manage to slow down enough to measure and write down the ingredients. I even took a picture!
Vegas (a.k.a. The Grillmaster) was in charge of the grilling. I love the way she handles meat (TWSS). She’s much more patient than I am, taking time to slowly cook it rather than burn char the outside. The meat thermometer with a handy temperature chart also helps. I don’t know what I did before my mom gifted me with this!
I added liquid smoke to the recipe because our grill is gas. It’s optional – especially if you have a charcoal grill – but I love the subtly smoky flavor it adds.
The balsamic is what really makes this recipe. Half a cup seems like a lot, but I promise it’s the perfect amount. This isn’t the place for the expensive, almost syrupy balsamic. Buy the giant bottle of the cheaper stuff; it’s rich enough to give you a fabulously flavored dish.
Any veggie pairs well with this. Eat it over pasta if you’re feeling extra-Italian! We served it once with grilled veggies and again over salad (pictured below in today’s WIAW line up). And once standing in the fridge door eating it with fingers.
[Tweet “Chicken doesn’t have to be boring – try this grilled Balsamic Marinated #recipe!”]
[tasty-recipe id=”18091″]
Read on for my whole day of eats (including the aforementioned chicken), and link up to Jenn’s WIAW baby over at Arman’s today (ok, so the link up is really tomorrow at the time of publishing… I got excited…).
Breakfast:
The usual morning cocktail followed by my big kid gummies.
For breakfast, we had a repeat of Cocoa-cado Waffles… strange but good! It was a multi-grain Van’s waffle with cocoa-avocado pudding, strawberries, and hemp hearts.
Lunch:
We were headed out of town so this was an “eat all the random things in the fridge” meal. Turkey with roasted salsa, cucumbers, red bell peppers, mushrooms, pico hummus, and spinach greek yogurt dip. Plus some unpictured tortilla chips. It actually hit the spot!
Dinner:
Balsamic chicken over a salad. With wine. Duh.
Dessert:
It’s been forever since I’ve made my 150 calorie protein mug cake. I first posted the recipe in 2012 (?!), and it remains one of my all-time favorite recipes on this blog.
This one was topped with TruWhip, trashy sugar-free caramel, and sprinkles.
One note: in the original, I blended in spinach – I rarely bother with that anymore. I eat a lot of veggies. One less serving of spinach isn’t going to kill me. Plus getting out the blender is so much effort. #sorryimnotsorry
[Tweet “Balsamic Marinated Chicken recipe and other #WIAW eats!”]
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As you read this, I’m in Kansas City playing in the first day of the softball world series. Vegas and I still play with our Atlanta team every year. That team is how we met. Because we’re a stereotype. 😉
Do you ever tire of chicken? Or tofu/beans/other “plain” vegan protein?
Have you ever made a mug cake?
I’m drooling over that chicken!
I have never seen garlic infused coconut oil. I’ll be on the lookout.
OMG i know! i think I would drink that. plus, it makes chicken SO MUCH better I am sure. Right laura? YUM!
I almost do every time I get it out! I first tried it at the Now Foods immersion trip… it’s like crack!
This recipe is so similar to how I marinade my chicken – isn’t the balsamic just fantastic!? I swear it’s the key to keeping all the moisture in the chicken!
Good luck at the softball series – look forward to hearing how you get on!
Good luck! Don’t hurt yourself, please! I put balsamic on errrrrything.
You jinxed it. Totally pulled my hamstring.
Feed. ME>
When shall I expect you?
Good luck in the World Series! I love balsamic Chicken on salads, adding liquid smoke to the marinade is a great idea.
That chicken sounds amazing! I am totally gonna try that 🙂
Thanks! Let me know what you think if you do try it!
That chicken looks awesome—and I love liquid smoke. Used to buy it all the time and fell out of the habit.
This is an easy recipe that I could make for my son on a week night. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks! I’ve been meaning to try it as a marinated tofu recipe… kind of like at Whole Foods.
Balsamic makes everything better.
Maybe we should have had Vegas grill the veggie burgers so she felt a sense of ownership.
Actually… that’s not a bad idea. I’m going to try those sweet potato burgers on her.
How did you get that mug cake out of the mug? Did you grease it? It’s SO tall! And I love grilling; though I’m not the best grill master.
I spray coconut oil in it first. Works like a charm! I also use one of those tall mugs. It has Tinkerbell on it. 🙂
Now this is my kind of chicken! And I think I need someone like Vegas because I, like you always over cook my protein. But I have zero patience.
The only thing I’ll cook slowly is bacon. I’m super picky about it – it has to be perfectly crisp.
Chicken can get super boring; I need to spice it up and play with different flavors to get excited about chicken nowadays. I’m a huge fan of adding liquid smoke to recipes; it smells so good 🙂
Grilled chicken is all over my menu this week. We had it over salad, tonight as sandwiches, and later this week as kebobs and over pasta!
Kebobs are a great idea! I need to make those more!
This chick wants some of that chick. Oh wow. Did I just come clean about something?
YEEERRRPPPP! I WANT SOME FU–IN’ CHICKEN!!
This chicken is making me want a grill in my life. Maybe some day.
It’s so cool that a recipe from 4 years ago is still one of your favorites!
You can totally do it on a grill pan too! This is the first time in my life I’ve had a grill… it’s pretty awesome. 🙂
Yummmm. I love balsamic everything. Growing up, my mom would make us salads with balsamic dressing and she always poured way too much on hers so she could drink the balsamic right out of the bowl afterwards. I used to think it was disgusting until I grew up and started doing it too. We all turn into our mothers eventually…..
OMG – that cracks me up about your mom! I would totally do that with a good balsamic. My mom used to slice cucumbers a toss them with balsamic and cucumbers. So good!
The chicken looks great! I’m totally obsessed with liquid smoke I put that **it in everything from rice and chicken to pasta sauces and homemade marinades and burgers/meatballs. so damn good.
Thanks! Liquid smoke in meatball is such a good idea. I’m trying that next!
I like balsamic vinegar so I’m sure that will be very tasty when It is marinated into chicken. Yum!
That mug cake sounds delicious!