California Grilled Chicken is a simple and tasty dinner recipe. Marinated chicken breasts are grilled to perfection and topped with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and avocado then drizzled with a balsamic reduction.
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Pin RecipeDon’t put away your grill tongs just yet because I’ve got a recipe for you – California Chicken! The whole family is going to love this one!
For more amazing recipes like this one, try these next! Fettuccini Carbonara, Crock Pot Pulled Pork, One-Pan Smoked Sausage & Pepper Hoagies!
California Grilled Chicken Recipe
YUM! Look at this! Marinated chicken breasts, grilled to perfection and topped with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and avocado!
My mouth is literally watering just looking at these pictures so you can bet what I’m buying the next time we head to the store. I love all the simple ingredients in this recipe and the extra tastes and flavors that it brings to this chicken with avocado recipe are so good!
I am all about recipes that LOOK amazing but are simple to make. If you can grill a chicken breast (or bake one!) you can make this recipe! Here’s how to make this grilled California Avocado Chicken recipe!
(Be sure to try my Grilled Chicken Kabobs and Grilled Vegetables too!)
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Ingredients for California Avocado Chicken
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Balsamic vinegar
- Honey
- Garlic, minced – I like to use fresh cloves of garlic but jarred minced garlic will also work well!
- Olive oil
- Italian seasoning – Italian seasoning is a mix of basil, parsley, and oregano. Make sure you use unsalted Italian seasoning since there is already salt added to this recipe.
- Salt
- Pepper
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Fresh mozzarella cheese – Fresh mozzarella has a completely different taste than bagged, shredded cheese. That fresh taste is part of why this recipe is so incredible!
- Avocados, sliced
- Cherry tomatoes (halved) – Large, chopped tomatoes will also work well. Try to use sweet tomatoes, like beefsteak or any heirloom tomato, if you need to use a larger fruit.
- Fresh chopped basil
- Balsamic reduction vinegar -You can find small bottles of balsamic reduction in most grocery stores that are perfect for drizzling over chicken. You can also make your own by boiling balsamic vinegar until it is thick and drippy. This is a great ingredient to have on hand for many recipes!
Variations
Here are a few ingredient substitutions and variations that you may want to try.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the marinade. This makes a delicious, spicy chicken that goes well with the sweet taste of balsamic vinegar.
- Marinate the chicken overnight to make it even more flavorful. Cover the bowl of chicken in plastic wrap and let it sit in the fridge to really get those flavors into every bite of chicken.
- Make this recipe with smaller chicken tenders. These will grill quickly and are nice and small making them perfect for sandwiches or kebobs.
How To Make California Chicken Recipe
- Marinate: In a Ziploc bag, add the balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken breasts and coat. Marinate for 30 minutes.
- Prepare: Meanwhile, heat the oven to 350. Placed halved tomatoes on a baking sheet and drizzled with olive oil. Roast for 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Grill: Heat the grill to medium-high heat. Grill the chicken on each side for about 6 minutes or until cooked throughout and no longer pink.
- Serve: Top with mozzarella cheese, avocado, tomato, and basil. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and serve immediately.
How to Store Californa Grilled Chicken
If you happen to have extra grilled chicken, let it cool completely and store the marinated grilled chicken in an airtight container in the fridge. The chicken will keep for 4-5 days.
Add the toppings to the chicken right before you are ready to eat. Sliced avocado can start to turn brown after just a day so it is best to slice and serve as needed.
FAQs
The biggest thing to keep in mind when cooking up chicken is that it needs to have an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees to be considered safe to eat. Use a meat thermometer to make certain that it reaches that temperature.
You can! If you want to freeze this dish for later, just add it to an airtight container and store it in your freezer. Then, when you’re ready to eat, just unthaw, reheat, and enjoy.
Marinating the chicken for at least 30 minutes will really help prevent the chicken from drying out. The marinade helps add moisture to the chicken and keep it tender and juicy as it grills over the high heat.
Serving Suggestions
I am IN LOVE with this grilled chicken recipe because it has a ton of flavor, looks like something you’d get from a 4-star restaurant, and is easy enough to make on a weeknight!
I like to pair this California Grilled Chicken with a simple greens salad with a light dressing. Make some sourdough bread to use for grilled chicken sandwiches or try this Mexican corn salad which I love serving with grilled foods. A fruit salad for dessert is the perfect way to round out this summery meal!
Oven Directions for this California Chicken recipe:
Don’t sweat it if you aren’t a big fan of grilling. You can easily make this recipe in the oven. Just Bake for 15-18 minutes at 450 degrees, or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink.
Try using a cooking thermometer to know exactly when it is fully cooked. The thickest part of the breast should be 165°F.
This easy chicken recipe – California Chicken – will quickly become a favorite for sure! I can’t wait to hear what you think!
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California Grilled Chicken
Equipment
- Ziplock bag
- Measuring cup
- measuring spoons
- Tongs
- cutting board
- knife
- Digital thermometer
Ingredients
- 1 cup balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup honey
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 4 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
- 2 avocados sliced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- ¼ cup fresh chopped basil
- salt and pepper
- balsamic reduction vinegar for drizzling
Instructions
- In a ziploc bag, add the balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Add the chicken breasts and coat. Marinate for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat oven to 350. Placed halved tomatoes on a baking sheet and drizzled with olive oil. Roast for 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Heat the grill to medium-high heat. Grill the chicken on each side about 6 minutes or until cooked throughout and no longer pink.
- Top with mozzarella cheese, avocado, tomato, and basil. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Sides to have with grilled chicken
- Zucchini Casserole – this is a MUST for summer!
- Macaroni and Cheese – add bacon for a fun twist or leave it out – totally up to you!
- Pasta Salad – this is a hit every time I make it! And it’s sooooo easy!
- Cheesy Potatoes – cheese, sour cream, potatoes, butter, need I say more??
- Avocado Toast – Such a great healthy fat for any meal!
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this chicken has the BEST flavor!
Should my oven be set to 350 or 450? It says both in your article here I’d like to know which is correct.
You’ll want to roast the tomatoes at 350 and bake the chicken at 450 if you aren’t grilling! Hope this helps. 😊