There’s nothing like Grilled California Hen at a summer season barbecue! We used the BEST chicken marinade for the hen, giving it a ton of taste.
Prime them with juicy tomatoes, recent mozzarella, creamy avocado, onions, and greens for an irresistibly recent style everybody will rave about.
This time of 12 months, all I need is to be exterior, absorbing the sunshine and having fun with good meals with family and friends. Grilling is at all times on the menu… and certainly one of my absolute favourite issues to grill is California Hen! It’s easy, delish, and tastes like summer season on a plate.
All it takes to make this grilled California hen is a straightforward marinade adopted by a fast journey to the grill. Whereas the chicken is cooking, prep your toppings after which assemble every part collectively for one wonderful dish.
What’s In Grilled California Hen
- Balsamic vinegar: The bottom of our balsamic marinade, this provides a tangy and barely candy taste to the hen.
- Dijon mustard: This ingredient helps to emulsify the marinade, making it keep on with the hen and infuse it with taste.
- Honey: Provides a contact of sweetness to the marinade, balancing out the tanginess of the vinegar.
- Italian seasoning: A traditional seasoning mix for a pop of taste within the marinade.
- Contemporary lemon juice: Provides a shiny, citrusy taste to the marinade.
- Hen breast: Ensure you get hen breasts which can be comparatively the identical dimension.
- Contemporary mozzarella: We put a thick slice of mozzarella cheese on our hen to provide it a creamy, tacky taste.
- Roma tomatoes: Use ripe Roma tomatoes for the most effective taste and texture.
- Avocado: Creamy and scrumptious, avocado is a should on grilled California hen!
- Contemporary basil leaves: So as to add a burst of freshness to the dish, we high it off with some recent basil leaves.
- Purple onion: Sliced thinly, pink onion provides a slight crunch and a pop of shade to the dish.
- Microgreens: These tiny, flavorful greens are optionally available however add a pleasant contact to the general presentation and style of the dish. They’re additionally extremely nutritious!
Don’t have mozzarella?
Change up the kind of cheese and use one other melty cheese like provolone or cheddar. You may as well add some cooked bacon for a smoky twist.
Don’t have balsamic?
Use pink wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar as an alternative.
Ideas for the BEST Grilled California Hen
Hen breasts can differ by dimension and weight. To make sure even cooking, pound the chicken breasts to a fair thickness earlier than marinating.
To stop sticking, be certain that your grill is well-oiled earlier than including the hen. You may as well use a non-stick cooking spray on the hen itself.
You’ve gotten quite a lot of management over what number of recent toppings go in your hen breasts. If you happen to’re making an attempt to maintain it on the more healthy facet, use a light-weight hand with the toppings. However in case you’re all about that loaded hen life (identical), go loopy and pile them excessive!
Don’t have a grill? Listed below are the oven instructions:
Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Place a grill pan or forged iron skillet into the oven, and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Let the pan warmth for 5 minutes.
Add the hen to the skillet and prepare dinner the hen for 8 minutes on the primary facet. Flip the hen and place 2-3 slices of tomato on high, adopted by mozzarella slices.
Prepare dinner the hen for an extra 6-8 minutes or till the interior temperature of the hen is 165ºF. Take away the hen from the grill and let it relaxation for 5 minutes. Prime the hen with recent avocado, basil, and micro greens. Serve instantly.
Find out how to Retailer
For optimum freshness, retailer the hen and its toppings individually. You may preserve the grilled hen in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days within the fridge. Retailer the toppings individually in small containers or baggage and add them when able to eat.
If you happen to’re planning on meal-prepping this dish, wait till you’re able to serve earlier than including the avocado and micro greens. These elements are greatest when added recent.
What to Serve with Grilled California Hen
Take your summer season BBQ to the highest by serving this Grilled California Hen with quite a lot of sides. Listed below are some choices:
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Grilled California Chicken Recipe
This grilled California chicken is a flavorful summer meal featuring perfectly marinated chicken breasts topped with juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and healthy greens.
Prep:45 minutes
Cook:16 minutes
Ingredients
Other Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs. chicken breast 3-4 breasts
- 8 oz. fresh mozzarella sliced
- 3-4 Roma tomatoes sliced
- 1 large avocado sliced
- 4-5 fresh basil leaves julienned
- ¼ medium red onion thinly sliced
- 2-3 tablespoons micro greens
- ½ teaspoon flakey sea salt
Instructions
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Add all of the ingredients for the marinade to a bowl and whisk until combined. Set aside.
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Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board and cover them with plastic wrap. Pound the chicken with a meat tenderizer until they are the same thickness, about 1.5-2 inches thick.
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Transfer the chicken to a pan or a gallon-sized bag and pour the marinade over the chicken. Massage the marinade into the chicken and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or longer for more flavorful chicken.
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Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let it rest at room temperature for 10 minutes. Preheat the grill to 425ºF.
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Transfer to the grill and cook the chicken for 8 minutes on the first side. Flip the chicken and place 2-3 slices of tomato on top, followed by mozzarella slices. Grill the chicken for an additional 6-8 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165ºF.
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Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes.
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Top the chicken with fresh avocado, basil, onion, micro greens, and flakey salt. Serve immediately.
Tips & Notes
- Chicken breasts can vary by size and weight.
- You have a lot of control over how much of the fresh toppings go on top of each chicken breast.
- Oven Directions: Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Place a grill pan or cast iron skillet into the oven, and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Let the pan heat for 5 minutes. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook the chicken for 8 minutes on the first side. Flip the chicken and place 2-3 slices of tomato on top, followed by mozzarella slices. Cook the chicken for an additional 6-8 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165ºF. Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes. Top the chicken with fresh avocado, basil, and micro greens. Serve immediately.