Description
Transform ordinary chicken into a restaurant-quality dish with this tangy-sweet balsamic marinade. Ready in just 5 minutes using simple pantry ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1–2 tablespoons brown sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced (or more to taste)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste (about 1-1.5 teaspoons salt)
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
Instructions
- Place balsamic vinegar, olive oil, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a measuring jug. Whisk thoroughly until well combined.
- Place chicken breasts in a large zip-lock bag or shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are completely coated.
- Seal the bag or cover the dish tightly. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to overnight for deeper flavor penetration.
- Remove chicken from marinade and discard any excess liquid. Cook using your preferred method until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Notes
- Pound chicken breasts to even thickness for uniform cooking
- Reserve some marinade before adding chicken for finishing sauce
- Can be frozen in marinade for up to 3 months
- Works great with chicken thighs, pork, or vegetables
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling, Pan-Searing, or Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (4 oz chicken)
- Calories: 185
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: chicken marinade recipe, balsamic vinegar marinade, grilled chicken marinade, easy chicken marinade, Italian chicken marinade, quick marinade for chicken, homemade chicken marinade