Strawberry Chicken! Strawberry jam, balsamic vinegar and fresh basil turn this simple dish into a unique, spring chicken recipe! Served with a salad or sautéed vegetables, it's a great way to liven up a weeknight chicken dinner.
Note: This recipe was originally published on March 27, 2015 and updated on March 2, 2021.
Just because you're short on time and don't have a pantry stuffed with exotic ingredients doesn't mean you can't make something that tastes really good. This is Strawberry Chicken is proof!
Turn simple chicken breast into a gratifying {even mildly fancy?} dish with this easy-peasy spring chicken recipe. Golden brown, juicy chicken breasts are cooked in a sweet and sticky strawberry balsamic glaze with fresh basil. Who woulda thunk strawberry jam and chicken would make such a lovely pair?
Ingredients Needed
Aside from olive oil for cooking the chicken breasts and sea salt for seasoning and water for thinning the glaze, this simple dish only contains a handful of ingredients:
- Chicken breasts. A quick and easy protein for weeknight dinners and meal prep.
- Strawberry jam. I prefer a seedless, good quality jam for this, especially since it will be one of the main ingredients for the glaze.
- Balsamic vinegar. Tart and tangy, balsamic is always great to have on hand for vinaigrettes and sauces.
- Fresh basil. Gives this flavorful dish a final, aromatic flourish!
Add fresh sliced strawberries and a sprinkle of goat cheese at the end, if desired, for a bit of tartness and creaminess, or serve as is!
How to Make It
One of the reasons Strawberry Chicken makes a great weeknight dinner is because it only takes minutes to cook! The cook time of the chicken breast will depend on the thickness and size, but it shouldn't take long even for larger portions. Here's how to make it:
- Heat about a tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat until the oil is hot and shimmering. Meanwhile, pat the chicken dry (this will help you get a good crust/sear), and season the chicken breasts with a sprinkle of sea salt.
- Place the chicken breasts in the hot skillet and cook about 4-5 minutes until browned, then flip and cook another 4-5 minutes until it is just about cooked through.
- Meanwhile, stir together the strawberry jam, water, and balsamic vinegar until fully combined. If the mixture is too thick, you can add another tablespoon of water.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Pour the mixture over the chicken breasts and nestle the chicken into the glaze. Cook for about 2-3 minutes or until the glaze has reduced and thickened. (Be careful not to scorch it as the high sugar content makes it easy to burn.) The chicken should be completely white and opaque in the thickest part, or register 165°F on a meat thermometer.
- Turn the chicken over in the glaze to fully coat. Add the basil to the pan and allow to simmer for another minute or so.
- Remove from heat and sprinkle with goat cheese if desired.
Tips for This Recipe
- Don't skip the browning. The better the crust on the chicken, the better the flavor. The key is to make sure your chicken breast is dry {give it a pat down with a paper towel if needed}, then add to the hot oil and let it be. Avoid the urge to move it until you're ready to flip. As a general rule, the chicken will unstick from the pan easily when it develops a nice brown crust and is ready to be turned over.
- You could really use any type of jam here. Some other ideas that might work well are apricot jam {maybe try a white vinegar so the color isn't funky} or fig jam for a dish with fall flavors.
- Keep an eye on the bubbling once you add the jam as the sugar content can make it easy to scorch
Other Chicken Recipes
Need some other easy chicken recipes for busy weeknights? Here are some great options:
- Easy Chicken Philly Spaghetti Squash Boats
- Plantain Chip Crusted Chicken
- Greek-Style Chicken
- Garlic Parmesan Carrot Spiral Bowls with Chicken
Strawberry Chicken
Strawberry Chicken! Strawberry jam, balsamic vinegar and fresh basil turn this simple dish into a unique, spring chicken recipe! Served with a salad or sautéed vegetables, it’s a great way to liven up a weeknight chicken dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ cup strawberry jam
- 1 tablespoon good quality balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon water extra if mixture is too thick
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, cut into ribbons or finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons crumbled goat cheese optional
- ¼ cup fresh strawberries sliced (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season chicken breasts with a sprinkle of salt on both sides and place in pan. Cook for about 4-5 minutes on one side or until a nice golden crust forms. Flip and cook for another 4-5 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked through. {Cook time will depend on thickness of chicken breasts.}
- Meanwhile, whisk together strawberry jam, balsamic vinegar and water in a small bowl. When chicken is just about finished cooking, pour mixture over the top, nestling the chicken breasts into the sauce and scraping up brown bits on the bottom of the pan.
- Reduce heat and bring sauce to a simmer, letting it bubble for 2-3 more minutes or until it has reduced and thickened a bit. Stir in most of the basil, and simmer for 1 minute. (You may want to save a little for garnish.)
- Remove chicken breasts from pan. Pour sauce over the top of each piece. Sprinkle with a little goat cheese if desired and garnish with remaining basil and sliced strawberries.
[…] Turn a simple chicken breast into a gratifying meal with a jar of strawberry jam. Serve with a salad for a dinner you can make any night of the week. See the recipe. […]