If you haven’t tried grilled blackberry balsamic chicken yet, you are seriously missing out. This on a bed of greens plus all the toppings = new favorite healthy dinner.
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I have this super random memory from high school where I was over at a friend’s house for dinner. I don’t think it was a special occasion or anything, but I remember the parents were grilling a berry marinated chicken.
As we sat down for dinner I exclaimed how much I loved the chicken. I feel like I said something like “This is the best chicken I’ve ever had!” I remember the mom kind of chuckling at me because in her eyes it wasn’t anything special. It was simply chicken marinated in a berry vinaigrette salad dressing, then grilled. But actually, it was likely my first time having anything like it and I remember loving it so much. I was probably 17.
Sometimes I think back to those high school years and even earlier when I was such a picky eater. I missed out on so much goodness! But at the same time if kind of gives me an appreciation for how far I’ve come. I’ve only been eating a wide variety of healthy foods for the past 10 years. For the most part, I had to learn all of this stuff (healthy eating, cooking homemade meals, etc.) on my own. Trial and error, and just being open to trying new things. Which Mr. FMK will take some credit for because he’ll eat anything 😉
And also thanks to my friend’s parents for feeding me fun meals I wouldn’t have had at home and broadening my palette in my teen years 😀 Did any of you have friend’s houses like that?
Obviously not to say my parents didn’t feed me; you can read more about what I ate when I was younger here.
Grilled Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Salad
But that brings me to this Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Salad. It’s totally delicious and the perfect dinner salad for grilling season.
I think my teenage self would approve.
My Pal texted me the other week about having an amazing blackberry chicken at a restaurant and thought it’d be a great idea for the blog. I agreed and got to work.
what you need
- chicken breast
- balsamic vinegar
- blackberries
- avocado or olive oil
- stoneground mustard
- mined garlic
- salad greens
- various toppings
The grilled blackberry balsamic chicken will really go great with any meal, but I always love making satisfying dinner salads with flavorful chicken like this.
How to make the grilled blackberry balsamic chicken
- Mix together mashed blackberries, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, minced garlic and mustard to create the marinade; coat the chicken with the marinade and chill for at least 30 minutes, or overnight.
- Grill the marinated chicken, brushing more of the marinade on before placing on the grill grates.
- Cook until internal temperature reaches 165ºF.
The Blackberry Balsamic Glaze
I wanted just a little something extra special for the chicken once it was done grilling, so I opted for a simple blackberry balsamic glaze. We’re talking two ingredients: blackberries and balsamic vinegar. All you do is mash the blackberries as they cook down in the balsamic vinegar. The mixture will thicken and reduce after about 20 minutes, but you can also add one teaspoon of tapioca flour to help thicken it quicker.
Add some toppings to your salad greens for the best dinner salad
Load up on the toppings including grilled asparagus, avocado, walnuts and feta <– my favorite salad cheese.
I have a feeling this blackberry balsamic chicken will be on repeat this summer season. Whether you put it on salad greens or enjoy on it’s own with your favorite sides, this is definitely a winner!
Oh, did I mention it’s paleo and actually Whole30 compliant too? YESSIR.
Grilled Blackberry Balsamic Grilled Chicken Salad
Ingredients
grilled blackberry balsamic chicken:
- 1.5 lbs chicken breast
- 1 cup blackberries, mashed with fork
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/3 cup avocado or olive oil, something high heat
- 1/2 TBSP stoneground mustard
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp salt and pepper, or to taste
blackberry balsamic glaze:
- 1 cup blackberries
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp tapioca starch, optional; see recipe
for the salad:
- salad greens
- 1 ripe medium avocado, removed from flesh and sliced
- 4 oz feta, crumbled
- 1 lb asparagus, grilled or roasted in oil and garlic salt
- walnuts
- blackberries
Instructions
- marinate the chicken: in a medium bowl combine mashed blackberries, balsamic vinegar, oil, mustard, garlic, and salt & pepper. Transfer to shallow dish or container (or silicone bag) and place chicken in dish with marinade, flipping to coat. Transfer to fridge and marinate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight.
- grill the chicken: on preheated grill, carefully take marinated chicken breast out of dish and place directly on grill grates. Reserve some of the marinade for the first flip. Cook about 4-5 minutes on each side, depending on how thick each chicken breast is. When you turn the chicken first time, coat with some marinade. Toss remaining marinade. Cook chicken until internal temperature reaches 165ºF. Transfer chicken to clean tray or plate.
- Make the blackberry balsamic glaze: In a small pot over medium-high heat, combine blackberries with balsamic vinegar. Mash blackberries as pot heats up. Simmer for about 15-20 minutes and remove from heat. Mixture will thicken slightly upon standing, or option to add 1 tsp tapioca starch after 10 minutes of simmering for quicker glaze.
- Prepare the salad: Evenly disperse salad greens onto 4 plates. Top with blackberries, feta, sliced avocado, roasted asparagus and walnuts. Place chicken on top and cover with blackberry glaze. Drizzle on a balsamic dressing if desired. Enjoy!
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