Q1: What is the absolute secret to a juicy, not dry, grilled chicken breast?

The number one, game-changing secret is to pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness . Chicken breasts are naturally thicker on one end than the other. Pounding them to a uniform thickness (about 1/2-inch) ensures that the entire piece of chicken cooks evenly and quickly, which prevents the thinner parts from drying out before the thicker part is cooked through. The second secret is to use an instant-read thermometer and pull the chicken from the grill the moment it reaches 165°F.

Q2: Is it safe to use a marinade as a serving sauce?

No, it is never safe to eat a used marinade that has been in contact with raw meat or poultry without boiling it first. This recipe brilliantly and safely solves this problem by having you divide the fresh marinade at the very beginning . You use one portion for the marinade (which you discard), and the other, completely clean and untouched portion is reserved for serving as your delicious, fresh sauce.

Q3: Can I make this dish ahead of time?

This dish is at its absolute best when the chicken is served fresh and hot from the grill. However, for a fantastic time-saving trick, you can prepare the entire tomato-balsamic marinade and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This makes the final meal a very quick process of just marinating and grilling.

Q4: What are the best tomatoes to use for a fresh, blended sauce like this one?

Plum tomatoes (also known as Roma tomatoes) are the perfect choice for this recipe. They have a wonderfully rich, sweet flavor, a lower water content, and fewer seeds than other varieties, which means they will create a beautiful, thick, and flavorful sauce without being watery.

Q5: Can I use dried basil instead of fresh?

For this specific recipe, which relies on the vibrant, fresh flavor of the no-cook sauce, it is very, very highly recommended to use fresh basil . Dried basil has a much more muted and earthy flavor and will not give you that same bright, fresh,

The Best Juicy Grilled Basil Chicken

The Best Juicy Grilled Basil Chicken (with Tomato-Balsamic Marinade!)

A simple and healthy recipe for grilled basil chicken and tomatoes. The dish features a fresh, flavorful marinade made in a blender with balsamic vinegar, fresh basil, olive oil, garlic, and fresh plum tomatoes. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are marinated in this mixture and then grilled until cooked through. Additional tomato halves are also grilled alongside the chicken. The finished dish is served with the reserved, unused marinade as a sauce.

Author: Evelyn

Ingredients

3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup tightly packed fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 plum tomatoes
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each)

Instructions

To make the marinade, place the balsamic vinegar, fresh basil, olive oil, minced garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a blender.
Cut 4 of the tomatoes into quarters and add them to the blender. Cover and process until the mixture is blended.
In a bowl or resealable bag, combine the chicken and 2/3 cup of the prepared marinade. Refrigerate, covered, for 1 hour, turning the chicken occasionally. Reserve the remaining marinade for serving.
Drain the chicken, discarding the used marinade from the bowl/bag.
Preheat a grill to medium heat and oil the grates.
Place the chicken on the grill rack. Grill, covered, for 4-6 minutes on each side, until a thermometer inserted into the chicken reads 165°F.
Halve the remaining 4 tomatoes. Grill the tomatoes, covered, for 2-4 minutes per side, until they are lightly browned.
Serve the grilled chicken and tomatoes with the reserved, unused marinade on the side.

Notes

This is a healthy, low-fat meal perfect for summer grilling.
The marinade is made with fresh tomatoes blended in, which adds body and a unique flavor.
For food safety, the marinade used on the raw chicken is discarded, and the separate, reserved portion is used for serving.

Find it online: https://cookupjoy.com/grilled-basil-chicken/