Herb Marinated Chicken Breasts

I heard on the radio today that Americans purchase 700 million pounds of chicken in the week leading up to July 4th.  That's a lot of chicken!  Since America loves it so much I thought I would share a really yummy chicken recipe to grill up this Independence Day (If you don't have a grill, don't worry, you can totally bake this in the oven).  This recipe makes 4-6 servings but it's really easy to double or triple if you're feeding a crowd.




HERB MARINATED CHICKEN BREASTS

1 handful each of basil, parsley and green onions (any herbs will do)
1/4 cup canola oil
2 TBS vinegar (red wine, white wine, whatever you have)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp honey (or sugar)
4-6 boneless chicken breasts (I like to use cutlets, they're cut thinner and cook faster)

Chop the herbs.

Mix oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and honey with a whisk until well combined.

Add the herbs and stir well.

Place the chicken in a large zip top bag and add the marinade.  Close the bag and turn to coat all the chicken.

Let the chicken sit on the counter for 30 minutes (you can also do this the night before and let it sit in the fridge over night.  Just be sure to remove it from the fridge and let it sit on the counter long enough to take the chill off.  Putting ice cold meat on a hot grill makes it tough!).

If you are grilling, place the chicken on a hot grill and cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes, depending on the thickness of your chicken, you may need to cook a few minutes longer.  When they are ready to flip, the meat will easily release from the grill.  If it's sticking, it's not ready to flip.

Flip and continue to grill for 5 more minutes or until cooked through.

If you don't have a grill, you can bake in a 400 degree oven for 20-30 minutes, again, depending on the thickness of your chicken.

This marinade is easy and super flavorful!  It's a nice change from the usual chicken dripping with barbecue sauce (not there's anything wrong with that).  This recipe is healthy, too.  There is very little sugar compared to what's in barbecue sauce.  I hope you'll give this chicken recipe a try this July 4th.  Enjoy your holiday and God Bless America!