Like burgers and hot dogs or a rack of ribs, grilled chicken is a regular during the summer months. Whether skewered, flattened, brined, spiced or upended on a beer can, there are lots and lots of ways to cook it. However, just putting a breast or leg on the grill and serving it with a couple of sides can get pretty boring. Having a few recipes for how to make that grilled chicken look like a special dish are good to have in your file. When it is hot or you are busy, you don’t want to have to do a lot of preparation, either. You can even grill extra chicken on the weekend and use it up in a number of different recipes during the week – and it won’t even look like the same grilled chicken.
Panzanella Salad with Grilled Chicken
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 3/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, divided
- 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- One quarter of an Italian loaf of bread, cut in 1’2 inch slices
- 2 medium red peppers, sliced
- 1 medium red onion, sliced
- 1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
- 2 lb. plum tomatoes, diced
- 1/4 cup small fresh basil leaves
Directions
Prepare outdoor gas or charcoal grill for covered, direct grilling on medium. Oil the grill grates.
Prepare vinaigrette:
In a large serving bowl, whisk together wine vinegar, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper and 2 tablespoons olive oil until blended; set aside.
Place bread slices, sliced peppers and sliced onions on a baking pan, brush bread slices, red pepper and onion slices with 2 tablespoons olive oil to lightly coat both sides; sprinkle vegetables with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper.
Brush chicken breasts with the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and sprinkle chicken with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper.
With tongs, place bread slices, red peppers, onion slices and chicken on the hot grill. Cover grill and cook bread about 3 minutes or until lightly toasted, turning over once. Cook peppers and onion about 8 minutes or until lightly browned and tender, turning over once. Cook chicken about 12 minutes or until chicken loses its pink color throughout, turning them over once. As the bread, vegetables and chicken finish cooking, transfer them to a cutting board. Cut bread slices, chicken, peppers, and onions into 1/2-inch pieces.
Add the diced tomatoes, basil, bread, peppers, onion and chicken to the bowl with the vinaigrette; toss to combine. Let rest about 10-15 minutes to allow flavors to blend and serve.
Chicken, Sausage and Pepper Skewers
Serves 6
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 sprig of rosemary, chopped
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 2” pieces
- 2 bell peppers (red and green), cut into 1 1/2″-wide strips
- 1 1/2 lbs. fresh Italian sausage cut into 2” pieces
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Heat an outdoor grill to medium and oil the grates.
On low heat in a small saucepan, heat oil and the chopped rosemary leaves. Once oil and rosemary start to sizzle, remove from the heat and cool to room temperature. This can be done in advance.
Whisk together 1/4 cup of the rosemary oil and the vinegar; add the chicken pieces and marinate for 30 minutes. Reserve balance of oil for grilling.
Remove chicken pieces from the marinade and lightly season with salt and pepper. Alternate the chicken, peppers and sausage on the skewers. Discard the marinade.
Reduce grill temperature to low and cook the skewers over low heat, turning frequently to avoid burning, about 5 minutes on each side. Brush with the remaining rosemary oil during cooking.
Pizza with Grilled Chicken, Kalamata Olives and Fresh Mozzarella
Ingredients
- 1 portion pizza dough
- 1/2 cup quick tomato basil sauce (recipe follows)
- 1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives , thinly sliced
- 2 ounces leftover grilled chicken breast, cut in julienne strips
- 8 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
Quick Tomato Sauce
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh garlic minced
- 8 Roma (plum) tomatoes
- 4 tablespoons basil , chopped
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
Directions
Press pizza dough out in a pizza pan. Lightly spread some of the tomato sauce over the dough. Arrange mozzarella slices, olives and chicken on top.
Bake at 450°F for 15 – 20 minutes or until the dough is crispy.
Quick Tomato Basil Sauce
(Makes about 3 cups)
Heat a medium saucepan and the oil over medium-high heat and sauté onion with garlic until the onion is golden, 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and simmer for about 15 minutes.
Carefully ladle tomato mixture in a blender or use a hand blender and process until smooth. Season sauce with basil, salt, pepper and sugar.
Store any remaining sauce in an airtight container for up to 1 week in the refrigerator or freeze for about 1 month.
Pasta with Grilled Chicken and Spinach
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1 lb. chicken breasts, skin removed
- 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
- 3/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 8 ounces uncooked linguine
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for grilling
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh garlic
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup lower-sodium chicken broth
- 3 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (about 3/4 cup)
- 4 cups fresh baby (small) spinach leaves
Directions
Prepare an outdoor grill for medium-high heat. Oil the grill grates.
Brush the chicken with olive oil and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place the chicken on the grill and cook for 8 minutes on each side or until done. Let stand 10 minutes and thinly slice.
Cook the pasta al dente. Drain well; keep warm.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pan; swirl to coat. Add flour and garlic; cook until garlic is browned (about 2 minutes), stirring constantly.
Slowly, add milk and broth, stirring with a whisk; bring to a simmer, and cook 2 minutes or until thickened. Add cheese, stirring until cheese melts.
Add remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper and spinach; stir until spinach is barely wilted. Add pasta and chicken; toss to combine. Serve immediately.
Warm Chicken Salad
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 pound asparagus
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 8 cups salad greens
- 4 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and quartered
Directions
Prepare an outdoor gas or charcoal grill for covered, direct grilling on medium. Oil the grill grates.
In a serving bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, salt and black pepper. Remove 2 tablespoons of the dressing and set aside.
Break off the woody ends of the asparagus but leave the rest of the stalk whole for grilling.
Brush the chicken and asparagus with the reserved 2 tablespoons of dressing.
Grill the chicken about 12 minutes and the asparagus for 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the asparagus are tender.
Cut the chicken into ½ inch slices. cut the asparagus into thirds.
Add dill and honey to the remaining lemon dressing in the serving bowl..Add the tomatoes, sliced chicken and asparagus. Mix well.
To serve:
Line each plate with 2 cups of salad greens. Equally divide the chicken mixture over the greens. Top with quartered hard-cooked eggs and serve.
Are you bored from eating the same things for dinner week after week? One of the best ways to add variety and interest to your meals is to experiment with ingredients you haven’t used before or use your favorites in a new way. Add different seasonings and herbs to change your old recipes. Try new combinations of ingredients. Hopefully, the recipes below will inspire you.
Mediterranean-Style Snapper
Serve this entrée with cooked orzo pasta or couscous and sautéed green beans.
4 servings
Ingredients
- 8 small cloves garlic
- Half of a 6 1/2 ounce jar oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes (1/3 cup)
- 1/2 cup pitted mixed green olives
- Four 5 ounce red snapper fillets with skin or other firm-flesh white fish
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- Fresh oregano leaves
- 8 whole Pepperoncini (Italian pickled peppers)
Directions
Peel the garlic cloves and with the side of a wide knife smash garlic.
Drain 2 tablespoons of oil from the sun dried tomatoes and heat the oil in extra-large skillet.
Add sun dried tomatoes, olives and garlic to the hot oil. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, until garlic is golden. Use a slotted spoon to the remove the tomato-olive mixture. Leave the oil in the skillet to cook the fish. Set aside the tomato-olive mixture.
Rinse and pat fish dry with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper. Cook fish, skin side down, in the hot oil 5 minutes for each 1/2 inch thickness of fish or until the skin is golden and crisp and the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork, turning once halfway through cooking. Remove skin, if desired.
To serve, top fish with tomato-olive mixture, cheese, chopped fresh oregano and pepperoncini.
Spicy Grilled Steak & Sweet Potatoes
Cook the sweet potatoes and onions in a foil packet alongside the steak on the grill. Serve with steamed fresh spinach.
2 servings
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 8 ounces sirloin, rib-eye or strip steak, trimmed and cut into 2 portions
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and very thinly sliced
- 1 small red onion, halved and very thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
- Cooking spray
Directions
Preheat grill to high and oil the grates.
Combine allspice, cumin, ginger, salt, cinnamon, coriander and cayenne in a medium bowl. Remove 2 1/4 teaspoons for the steak.
Sprinkle the steaks with 2 1/4 teaspoons of the spice mixture.
Add the sliced sweet potato and onion to the bowl with the remaining spice mixture along with the oil and orange zest; toss to coat.
Place two 24-inch sheets of foil on top of each other (the double layers will help protect the ingredients from burning). Generously coat the top piece with cooking spray.
Spread the sweet potato mixture in the center of the foil in a thin layer. Bring the short ends of foil together, fold over and pinch to seal. Pinch the seams together along the sides to seal the packet.
Place the packet on one side of the grill and cook, turning once, about 6 minutes per side.
Cook the steaks on the other side of the grill, turning once, 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer to serving plates and let rest while the foil packets finish cooking.
Open the packets (be careful of steam) and serve alongside the steaks with steamed spinach.
Linguine with Tomatoes, Zucchini and Herbs
Serve this dish with a mixed green salad and crusty Italian bread.
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh ripe tomatoes, cored and chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped basil
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 small red chili pepper, seeded and minced
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 12 ounces linguine
- 3 young, thin zucchini, sliced
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus more for serving
Directions
In a large bowl, mix the tomatoes with the basil, parsley, garlic, salt, chili and olive oil.
In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the linguine until al dente; drain well.
Add the linguine to the bowl with the tomato mixture along with the sliced zucchini and toss.
Add the 1/4 cup of grated cheese, toss again and serve in pasta bowls, passing more cheese at the table.
Lemony Chicken with Cucumber Salad
Serve this dish with warm pita bread
2 servings
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill
- 2 medium tomatoes; chopped
- 1 cup diced cucumber
- 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the chicken:
- 2 boneless and skinless chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil plus more for cooking
- 3 garlic cloves; minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions
For the salad
Whisk lemon juice, olive oil, mustard, honey and dill in a medium bowl. Add tomatoes, cucumber and feta cheese. Toss gently, season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate at least 20 minutes or up to a day.
For the chicken:
Combine lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, dill, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Use the back of a small spoon to press garlic and dill into the other ingredients.
Pour the marinade into a resealable plastic bag or small rimmed dish and add the chicken. Marinate 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator. Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade.
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium frying pan (with lid) over medium-high heat. As soon as the oil is hot, add the chicken. Cook 2 to 3 minutes until golden. Turn, reduce heat to low, then cover the pan with the lid. Cook 10 to 15 minutes or until an instant read thermometer reads 165 degrees F (74C) when inserted into the thickest part of the breast.
Transfer chicken to a plate and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Rest 5 minutes. Serve alongside the salad.
Grilled Pork Kabobs
Serve this dish with your favorite coleslaw or use the recipe below.
4 servings
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup orange marmalade
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 lb sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 4 tablespoons water
- 1 lb pork tenderloin, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 zucchini, cut into 1-inch pieces
Directions
Heat a gas or charcoal grill and oil the grill grates.
In a 1-quart saucepan, heat marmalade, rosemary and salt to boiling, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; set aside.
In a 1-quart microwavable bowl, place sweet potato pieces and water. Cover loosely with a microwavable paper towel. Microwave on High 2 to 3 minutes, stirring once, just until potatoes are tender (do not overcook). Drain sweet potatoes and pat dry with a paper towel.
On each of eight 12 inch long metal skewers, carefully thread pork, sweet potatoes and zucchini, leaving 1/4-inch space between each piece.
Grill kabobs over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes or until the until pork is cooked., turning once and brushing with the marmalade glaze during the last 3 minutes.
Easy Healthy Coleslaw
This coleslaw is very refreshing with BBQ foods. It keeps well, covered in the refrigerator and should be made several hours in advance to allow the flavors to develop and the cabbage to soften.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 16 ounce bag (about 6¼ cups) of supermarket shredded cabbage and carrot slaw
Directions
In a glass measuring cup, combine Greek yogurt, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper and whisk until smooth and thoroughly combined.
Place slaw in a large bowl and pour the dressing mixture over the top. Stir to coat cabbage thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
