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This post is sponsored by Typhur. However, all opinions expressed are my own.
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Grilled chicken is such a staple for me. I’ll be honest with you and share that I actually usually don’t think about grilling my chicken when it comes to meals. I usually opt for baked chicken, such as for Juicy Chicken Shawarmas or Chicken Tikka, or pan-frying my chicken, as I do for Hot & Spicy Cajun Chicken Spaghetti. I like to treat grilling chicken as a treat. As I mention in my free motivational guide to explore your potential in the kitchen, Make Cooking Fun!!, going out to eat can inspire you to cook up your restaurant favorites from home! Those of us who love chicken all know of a time where we’ve had some incredible grilled chicken, so there’s no reason not to bring this to your everyday cooking!
I’m not sure why I do that, though, because grilling chicken is quite simple and it’s well worth it! It may seem intimidating, but there’s no need to be worried about getting your grilling game on! For a full in-depth tutorial on making the perfect grilled chicken with tips and tricks, I recommend you read my blog post about Mastering the Art of a Juicy Grilled Chicken.
Seriously, though. There’s something about making some grilled chicken that really hits the spot. You can have it alone or use it in pasta, sandwiches, or burgers. I’ll list some serving suggestions later on in this post, so be sure to keep reading! Grilled chicken is so versatile!
If chicken breast is a pesky protein for you then this Italian Herb marinade for grilled chicken will definitely change that! Be sure to try out this easy and flavorful grilled chicken breast recipe as part of your Live to Cook one-month challenge! You can get started for free today by signing up to my email newsletter, plus all of my latest recipes will be sent right to your inbox so that you never have dinner dilemmas again!
Don’t forget to watch the video recipe for all the tips and tricks and concepts explained in this post visually! If you’re not already, I would really appreciate it if you could please subscribe to my YouTube channel and be sure to hit the bell button so you get notified when my video recipes go live with the written ones! Let’s get grilling!
Why Make Italian Grilled Chicken Breast?
- Everyday marinade: Apart from a simple grilled chicken as I show in my grilling tutorial, this easy Italian chicken marinade is my favourite marinade for a grilled chicken! It’s really easy to make and really takes the classic grilled chicken up a notch! You just need a few spices and other ingredients to really transform your grilled chicken. Furthermore, what makes this Italian Herb Marinade an everyday chicken breast marinade that you can make whenever you want is that it’s a quick marinade. You only need to marinate your chicken for about 10 minutes to get all the deliciousness this marinade has to offer!
- Juicy chicken breast: This Italian marinade will deliver tons of flavor and no dry chicken breast will be the outcome of this recipe! Follow my tips and tricks to guarantee the best chicken breast you’ve ever had!
- Stovetop grilling: If you have a grill pan, then this Italian marinated chicken breast is accessible to everyone! I don’t have an outdoor bbq, but I can still enjoy the satisfaction of some great grill marks and tasty grilled chicken!
- Healthy: We all know that chicken breast is deemed as an ultra healthy choice! Chicken breast is high in protein and low in fat. We’ve got some added healthy fats from the olive oil in the marinade that will promote heart health - and of course tastiness! You can use this Italian Marinated Grilled Chicken Breast as a protein staple to pair with veggies, pasta, sandwiches, or potatoes for a balanced and satisfying meal.
Making some grilled chicken to meal prep is a fabulous idea too to save you time during the week! Because it’s so versatile, you can easily cook up extra chicken breasts and save them for later in the refrigerator, then reheat when you’re ready to enjoy! If you’re looking to meal prep some chicken breasts, then keep on reading because I’ve got storage and reheating instructions are laid out at the bottom of this post. You’ll always have tasty protein on hand when you’re in a pinch for time!
How Do I KNow that the Italian Style Herb Grilled Chicken Breast Is Cooked?▼
The technical way to ensure that your chicken breasts are cooked is to use a meat thermometer. I used the one that was sent to me by Typhur. It is a smart meat thermometer that comes with two probes, and you can monitor the temperature from the smart display, your smart watch, or your smart phone!
When the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165° F, it has reached a safe internal temperature, making it safe for consumption. If using the Typhur Smart Thermometer, you don’t need to stress about wondering if your chicken has been cooked properly. On the flip side, you also don’t have to worry about your chicken overcooking either since the thermometer will send out an alert. For instance, I put my chicken in the oven. I’ve honestly been guilty about leaving it in there and getting distracted with some other tasks, and my chicken has overcooked! While still edible, when you overcook chicken, it certainly is not as juicy as it could be had you cooked it for the perfect amount of time.
The Typhur meat thermometer will give a quite loud beeping sound to let you know that the chicken has finished cooking on the device, on your watch, and on your phone, so it’s super hard to miss it! With that being said, you really can go about your day and prepare other components of your meal without babying the chicken, or you can just relax on the couch if you want!
While you certainly don’t have to use the Typhur thermometer to check if your chicken has reached the safe internal temperature of 165° F, the mobile app and the digital aspect certainly make it easier for you and saves you time rather than constantly checking the temperature with a traditional meat thermometer! If using a traditional meat thermometer, just check whether the thickest part measures at 165° F.
If you don’t have a meat thermometer, you can check if the chicken breast is cooked by slicing it in half and ensuring it’s not pink. Another handy method is to poke the thickest part of the chicken breast. If it bounces back like touching the tip of your nose and the juices run clear, your chicken is fully cooked.
Tools Needed to Make Italian Herb Grilled Chicken
- Meat thermometer
- Salt crock
- Cutting board
- Chef’s knife
- Plastic wrap
- Mixing bowls
- Garlic press
- Rolling pin
- Gloves
- Pepper mill
- Tongs
- Olive oil dispenser
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Grill pan
Ingredients for Italian Herb Grilled Chicken
The marinade will only require a few ingredients that are pantry staples. Check out what you’ll need for this fabulous juicy grilled chicken. Remember, you can scroll to the bottom of this post for the FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD or press the “Jump to Recipe” button to see all ingredient quantities and to save the recipe for later. You can also scale the recipe so that you know how much marinade you need based on how many chicken breasts you want to cook. By default, the marinade is for one medium chicken breast.
- Olive oil: Oil in the marinade will penetrate through the meat, enhancing all the other amazing flavors in it! It’s really important to use a sufficient amount here, as this really helps the chicken to get tender. You can also use the leftover marinade to add to the grill pan!
- Lemon juice: Adds a nice zest to the marinade.
- Oregano: This is what’s going to make our Italian Herb marinade a success! You can use an Italian seasoning blend as well, but oregano is easy because you probably already have it in your pantry!
- Chili flakes: Adds a bit of heat to the marinade.
- Salt and pepper: To taste.
- White vinegar: A few drops will go a long way here. Don’t overdo it! You just want a bit extra acidity to the marinade.
- Garlic: Minced cloves.
Tips for Italian Herb Grilled Chicken Breast
- Make sure to pound/tenderize the chicken evenly to ensure it cooks evenly and quickly. Alternatively, you can butterfly the chicken instead of pounding it thin.
- While 10-15 minutes to marinate helps add flavour to the chicken, if time permits, marinating for at least 30 minutes will help with developing a deeper flavor.
- Make sure to perform the water droplet test on the grill pan before cooking the chicken. If a drop of water dances around the pan before evaporating, the pan is hot enough.
- Don’t move the chicken for the first 3-4 minutes to allow for the chicken to get a good sear and grill marks. Once the chicken is ready to flip, it should release very easily.
How to Make Juicy Italian Marinated Grilled Chicken Breast
Portioning the Chicken
Chicken Breast (Grill Pan only): Place the chicken breasts in a Ziploc bag or between two sheets of plastic wrap. Pound the chicken to about 1/4 inch thickness using a meat tenderizer or a heavy object (like a rolling pin or pan).
Chicken Breast (Grill Pan + Oven): Marinate the chicken breast whole without pounding.
For sandwich portions: If using a large chicken breast (>150 g), cut it diagonally into two equal halves. Place the portions in a Ziploc bag or between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound to about 1/4 inch thickness.
For the Easy Italian Marinade for Chicken
Combine all marinade ingredients (olive oil to salt and pepper) in a bowl and whisk well. Add the chicken and marinate for at least 10-15 minutes.
How to Grill the Chicken
Cooking on a Grill Pan
Place a grill pan on medium heat until hot. Test readiness by sprinkling water on the pan; if droplets dance and evaporate, the pan is ready.
Place the marinated chicken on the hot grill, letting any excess marinade drip back into the bowl.
Cook for 3-4 minutes on one side until lightly charred. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes on low heat, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) at its thickest point.
Finish Cooking in the Oven
For the whole unpounded chicken breast flip the chicken and transfer it to an oven preheated to 350°F (175°C).
Cook for 8-12 minutes or until the internal temperature at the thickest point is 165°F (74°C).
Resting
Let the chicken rest for 2-4 minutes before slicing or serving.
What to Serve with Italian Marinated Grilled Chicken
Here are some recipes I have that feature Italian Grilled Chicken!
You can also serve it with salads, such as:
- Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese and Almonds, Gurkensalat - German Cucumber Salad or replace the Simple Grilled Chicken Breast that’s in my Chicken Caesar Salad recipe!
With vegetable side dishes, such as:
- Easy Baked Greek Lemon Potatoes
- Crispy Patatas Bravas
- Butter Garlic-Herb Mashed Potatoes
- Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
- Super Easy Butter & Garlic-Herb Sautéed Baby Potatoes
- Air Fryer Waffles Fries from Scratch
- Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Air Fryer Feta Fries
Soup:
- Pita Bread, where you can use the chicken breast as a wrap with some greens, Toum Garlic Sauce or Spicy Mayo, and veggies of your choice!
- White paratha, if you want to make some chicken wraps using homemade bread! You could also use Rumali Roti for a luxurious experience!
Can I Make Italian Herb Grilled Chicken in Advance?▼
Yes, you can! While your Italian Herb Grilled Chicken Breast will be the most juiciest and flavourful fresh off the pan, you can definitely cook it in advance and use it as a protein source for bulk meal prep.
Storing Italian Marinated Grilled Chicken Breast in the Fridge
Allow the cooked Italian Herb Chicken Breasts to completely cool down, then transfer them into an airtight container. Cooked chicken breast will stay fresh for 3 to 4 days. If you will not eat it within that timeframe, then the good news is that cooked Italian Herb Chicken Breast is freezer-friendly!
Storing Italian Marinated Grilled Chicken Breast in the Freezer
Yes, you can store your cooked chicken breast in the freezer! To prevent freezer-burn, keep the cooked Italian Herb Grilled Chicken for no longer than 4 months.
Reheating Italian Herb Grilled Chicken
The best way to reheat the chicken while trying to preserve its moistness would be in the oven. Just preheat the oven to 350F and place the chicken in an oven-safe dish with some chicken broth or water. Then cover and heat for 15-20 minutes, the extra splash of liquid will help with keeping the chicken moist. You can technically do the same on a pan, and use a lid to gently heat the chicken with a splash of water or broth.
The quickest way to reheat your Italian Herb Grilled Chicken is to microwave it for about 30 seconds to a minute, depending on the thickness of the chicken breast and how much you are reheating at once. Be careful though since over-heating in the microwave will cause the chicken to turn rubbery.
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