Italian Marinated Grilled Chicken
This Italian marinated grilled chicken is easy to make with a quick marinade of olive oil, fresh rosemary and thyme! It’s flavorful, juicy and can be served in a variety of ways for dinner.
For the perfect light summer dinner, this Italian marinated chicken is a family favorite! We love to serve it with breaded grilled tomatoes but you can serve it in a variety of ways from making it into a grilled chicken salad or serving with grilled eggplant.
The chicken is marinated in some of my favorite Italian herbs and spices including fresh rosemary and thyme with a splash of olive oil. It adds the best flavor profile to the chicken!
Grilled to juicy and tender perfection, a fresh squeeze of lemon juice is added right before serving to brighten the flavors and it’s so delicious!
Why You’ll Love This Grilled Chicken
- Simple and flavorful: You only need a handful of ingredients for this marinated grilled chicken recipe and the results are tasty every time!
- Versatile: This grilled chicken tastes great whether marinated for 30 minutes or 12 hours plus you can serve it in so many ways from using it for meal prep or serving it for lunch or dinner.
Italian Marinated Chicken Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken: 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts that have been trimmed and pounded to even thickness.
- Italian marinade: All you need for this Italian dressing chicken marinade is fresh rosemary, olive oil, salt, pepper and thyme.
- Grilled tomatoes: 2 large tomatoes, cracker crumbs and Parmesan cheese.
- Garnish: Fresh lemon juice, fresh basil and fresh thyme.
Substitutions And Variations
- Other protein: Use thin turkey breasts or cutlets. Boneless skinless chicken thighs or pork chops would also work great with these simple ingredients.
- Fresh garlic: Fresh garlic and plenty of it is always great in an Italian chicken marinade recipe!
- Spice: Add some red pepper flakes if you like a little heat in your seasoning.
- Herbs: In addition to fresh rosemary, try fresh basil, parsley or fresh thyme. Add some dried Italian seasoning if you would like.
- Add a splash of vinegar: This can help balance the oil in the marinade and add additional flavor! Try red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, white wine vinegar or even apple cider vinegar.
- Creamy: Add a Tablespoon or two of Greek yogurt to the marinade, it really helps make the chicken tender!
How To Make Italian Marinated Grilled Chicken
To start, marinate the chicken. In a medium bowl add the chicken, toss with rosemary, salt, pepper, thyme and olive oil. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
If making the grilled tomatoes, wash and cut tomatoes into three thick slices. On a medium-size plate mix together the cracker crumbs and Parmesan cheese, dredge the tomato slices one at a time in the crumb mixture and grill, then move to a clean plate.
Remove chicken from the marinade and shake off excess marinade. Grill the chicken on a hot grill for a few minutes on each side until no longer pink.
Assemble your grilled chicken with the tomatoes by placing a slice or two of chicken on top of the tomato slice. Drizzle with lemon juice and garnish with fresh basil and thyme.
Expert Tips
- Firm yet ripe tomatoes are best. Otherwise they will turn out mushy or fall apart while grilling.
- More flavorful chicken. If you have time, marinate the chicken for an hour up to 12 hours. The longer the marinade sits on the chicken the more flavorful it will be.
- Pound chicken to even thickness: This not only helps them cook at the same time, but tenderizes them as well.
- Prevent chicken sticking to the grill: Once the chicken is added to the grill, avoid moving or flipping it until it releases naturally after a few minutes of grilling.
- How to know when chicken is done: Chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F degrees. You can use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
- Let the chicken rest. For the best tender and juicy Italian grilled chicken, remove it from the grill and let it rest covered so the juices redistribute back into the meat.
How To Serve This Chicken?
We love to serve it over the grilled tomatoes but it would also be great in a lettuce wrap or on top of a salad!
You could also serve it with some delicious sides like Italian roasted vegetables or oven roasted rosemary potatoes. During the summer, it goes great with this creamy Italian pasta salad and when my kids were younger, they always requested this easy tiramisu recipe for kids!
More Chicken Recipes
- Skillet Chicken Cacciatore
- Italian Chicken Boscaiola
- Italian Skillet Chicken and Peppers
- Flavorful Italian Chicken
- Baked Chicken Parmesan
I’m pretty sure this Marinated Grilled Chicken dish was eaten faster than I could get it on the table. So here’s to summer grilling and barbecuing! Buon Appetito!
Italian Marinated Grilled Chicken
Ingredients
FOR THE CHICKEN
- ½ pound chicken 6 slices (not too thin) 400 grams
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil 30 grams
- 2 pinches salt
- 2-3 dashes pepper
- 1-2 dashes thyme
GRILLED TOMATOES
- 2 large round tomatoes (not too ripe but firm)
- ¾ cup cracker crumbs 80 grams
- 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
TOPPING
- 3-4 fresh fresh basil
- 1-2 sprigs fresh thyme
Instructions
FOR THE CHICKEN
- In a medium bowl add the chicken slices, toss with rosemary, salt, pepper, thyme and olive oil. Cover with plastic and refrigerate for approximately 15-20 minutes.
GRILLED TOMATOES
- Meanwhile, wash and cut thick slices of tomato (3 slices per tomato), on a medium-size plate mix together the cracker crumbs and Parmesan cheese, dredge the tomato slices one at a time in the crumb mixture and grill. Grill on a hot pan-grill or barbecue, on both sides until golden, approximately 2 minutes each side, move to a clean plate.
- Grill the chicken in the same manner until no longer pink inside.
- Place a slice or 2 (if they are small slices) of chicken on top of 1 tomato slice, drizzle with lemon juice, top with chopped fresh basil and thyme if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Can I Make This Chicken On The Stove Top?
Yes, but it will need to be cooked a bit differently than my pan fried chicken. Pan-sear in a skillet coated with olive oil over medium 5 to 7 minutes per side or until golden brown. Chicken may brown quickly so you may need to lower the heat.Can I Bake This Chicken In The Oven?
Yes! Marinate chicken in the herb mixture then place in an olive oil coated baking dish in a single layer. Oven bake at 350°F for 25-40 minutes, similar to my herb roasted chicken pieces. The time will depend on how thick your chicken pieces are, so adjust accordingly.How To Store Leftover Grilled Chicken?
Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, it’s great for meal prep! You can also freeze leftover chicken in a freezer bag or airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.Nutrition
Updated from June 23, 2015.
I have never driiled tomatto like this. i,m going to maje this recipe, it must be great!
Hi Miska, I hope you enjoy it. Take care!
The best and easiest chicken recipe. Thank you!
Hi Lana, thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it. Have a wonderful Sunday.
I print the recipes I plan to make. I’ve now had to start a folder just for your great recipes. Thank you.
Wow Ann, what a wonderful complement, thank you.
I think our tomatoes need a good kick in the rear to give them a boost. First we had cold weather then too wet of weather then hot now cool. Tomatoes may not be overly sensitive but I believe they like consistency. Your light dinner looks great!! Be patient your tomatoes may surpass your MIL.
Hi Marisa, we have had pretty well the same weather here, unfortunately I think the heat is upon us! So there is hope for my tomatoes. Good luck to yours too Marisa, have a great day!
I’m cheering my tomato plants, too – so worried about them as I’m not sure I planted them in the ideal place, so fingers crossed. I hope to pick some of my own so I can try grilling them – love that idea, so perfect for summer.