Summer is on its way! Longer days, warm weather and spending time outside are just around the corner. One of my favorite things about summer is that it is grilling season. I love getting family or friends around the grill, relaxing and enjoying good food and good conversation. Grilling is not only a great way to cook some delicious food, but is also one of the healthiest ways as well. I love to grill chicken, steaks, burgers, seafood and vegetables. The possibilities are endless. There is nothing better than the wonderful smell of something delicious cooking on the grill.
Grilling is healthier than some other cooking methods because it uses less oil and melts the fats from the meat being cooked. This means less fat on your plate. This will help with managing your weight, and help reduce the risk of certain diseases, like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and obesity. Grilling keeps meat and vegetables tender and flavorful without the need for a lot of added sauces or condiments.
Chicken is one of the most popular foods to grill. In fact, grilled chicken is a summer staple for many families. It is relatively inexpensive and easy to cook. But you might get tired of the same boring, bland chicken breast for dinner all the time.
Well, there’s no reason for that. I want to share some seriously good recipes with you for grilled chicken that will spice up your dinner menu this summer. Not only are my recipes absolutely delicious, they are healthy too. In fact, eating healthy never needs to be bland or tasteless. If you just focus on God made foods, as close to their natural state as possible, you can put them together in an infinite amount of ways that not only taste great but leave you feeling great too.
Whole, natural foods are what our bodies crave for fuel. When we avoid overly processed foods that are full of unhealthy fat, sugar and additives that you can’t pronounce, and choose all the delicious natural foods God has given us, then you will see and feel a huge difference in how you not only look, but how you feel. Face it, a diet full of unhealthy foods can drag you down, leave you feeling sluggish and cause brain fog. No one wants that. Now is a great time to start eating healthier. Healthy eating doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming. Let’s dive into five of my favorite recipes for grilled chicken, that also feature some fresh, summer ingredients that will have your dinner guests coming back for more.
GRILLED CHICKEN WITH PEACH SALSA
First, let me tell you about my grilled chicken with peach salsa. This dish is like summertime on a plate. Head to the farmer’s market and get some peaches in season and let’s get this delicious dinner going.
When peaches are in season they are so good! I bought some fresh peaches from Paducah’s Downtown Farmer’s Market and decided to make some peach salsa! Man, was it good on this grilled chicken! I love the combination of a sweet fruit and a little heat from a jalapeno , some red onion, cilantro, and lime juice! It’s just perfect on grilled chicken or fish. In fact, I had a little mango that I threw into this mix, but that is optional. This is an easy, and colorful, delicious summer supper! Hope you will take advantage of the fresh peaches that are available right now!
Here’s what you need:
- 4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 t ancho chili powder
- 1 T olive oil
- Juice of 2 limes, divided
- salt and pepper ( 1/2 t each, divided)
- 2 medium fresh peaches, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 mango peeled and chopped (optional)
- 1/2 jalapeno pepper seeded and minced
- 3 T red onion finely chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper
Preparation
Place uncooked chicken breasts in a shallow dish. Mix the olive oil and juice of one lime and half the salt and pepper in a bowl. Pour this over the chicken to coat. Cover and refrigerate while you make the salsa. To make the salsa. mix all of the rest of the ingredients, including the other half of the salt and pepper and the juice of the other lime. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Sprinkle half the ancho chili powder on one side of the chicken. Place the chicken on hot grill and leave it undisturbed for about 5 minutes, to get good grill marks. Turn, sprinkle the rest of the ancho chili powder on the other side and cook another 7-9 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165. Serve with the salsa. I served this with sliced avocado. Another easy taste of summer!!
SUMMER STRAWBERRY SALAD
Next let’s pick some fresh strawberries and create this unforgettable salad. Try this summer strawberry salad with grilled chicken for a flavor-packed lunch or dinner.
When you have fresh strawberries, juicy grilled chicken, and bacon it can never be a bad thing! This salad screams summer! It is super easy to put together as well. While the strawberries are in season, you need to make this!
Here’s what you need: (for two salads)
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 t olive oil
- Paprika, salt and pepper to taste
- 4-6 cups of baby spring mix salad greens
- About 3/4 cup sliced fresh strawberries
- 2 pieces of bacon, cooked , drained and crumbled
- About 1/4 cup sliced roasted almonds
- About 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles, or your choice of cheese
Preparation
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Brush the olive oil on the chicken breasts. Sprinkle each side of the chicken with paprika, salt and pepper to taste. Grill until it reaches an internal temperature of 165. Allow to cool a couple of minutes, then cut into one-inch pieces.
Assemble the salads by placing the spring mix evenly into two large salad bowls or plates. Top evenly with pieces of warm chicken pieces, strawberry slices, bacon crumbles, and sliced almonds. Top with your choice of dressing. I like poppyseed dressing with this salad. It doesn’t need much dressing as this salad is bursting with flavor on its own! Enjoy!
Zucchini Pesto with Grilled Chicken
Are you craving a bowl of pasta but are trying to avoid unhealthy carbs? Try this zucchini pesto with grilled chicken. Zucchini are in abundance in the summer. This is a fantastic way to serve them…as noodles.
Oh my! This zucchini pesto certainly satisfied my craving for a big bowl of pasta! This dish is packed full of flavor and is so very satisfying! I spiralized the zucchini myself with the help of my simple soiralizer I got on Amazon… but in a pinch, you can buy the zucchini noodles already in spirals at most grocery stores. Also, I’m including my recipe for pesto or you can buy pre-made pesto sauce on the spaghetti sauce aisle at the store for a shortcut!
Here‘s what you need:
- 1 lb chicken tenders
- 2 T olive oil (divided)
- 1 t Italian seasoning
- 2 medium zucchinis
- 8 oz fresh mushrooms, sliced
- 1 cup pesto sauce ( bought or homemade. See recipe below)
- 1 15 oz can petite diced tomatoes, drained
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- shredded Parmesan to garnish
- fresh basil leaves torn to garnish
- crushed red pepper flakes to garnish (optional)
Preparation:
**First, prepare the pesto sauce if you are making homemade. Blend the following ingredients together in a food processor, except the oil. Pour the oil in slowly while it is mixing to blend.
3 cups fresh basil leaves, 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts, 4 cloves garlic, peeled, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, 1 cup olive oil, salt and pepper to taste
Next, place the raw chicken tenders in a large bowl. Drizzle one T of the oil onto the chicken and sprinkle on the Italian seasoning. Stir well to coat each piece. Grill on medium high heat until they reach a safe internal temperature of at least 165 or more. Keep them warm. In a large skillet, heat the remaining T of olive oil and sauté the mushrooms until they are cooked. Add the spiralized zucchini noodles and saute, lightly salting them until they are softened. Just a few minutes will do. Drain off the liquid. Add the cup of pesto sauce and stir to coat the zucchini noodles and mushrooms. Stir in the drained tomatoes and cream. Slice the grilled chicken tenders and toss into the noodle mixture. Serve immediately with grated or shredded Parmesan and fresh basil to garnish. Enjoy!
Grilled Pineapple Pepper Chicken
In the summer, my garden is full of green bell peppers. I created this dish with fresh bell peppers and pineapple for a dinner that is popping with flavor. Check out my grilled pineapple pepper chicken.
All the yumminess of pineapple, lime, jalapeno, and cilantro come together for a party in your mouth with this one! This is a perfect combination of bold flavors! If you are looking for something different to do with chicken, try this! It was delicious!
Here’s what you need:
- 2 lb or so boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 pineapple, peeled, cored and sliced into 1/4 -1/2 inch thick slices
- 1 red onion sliced in 1/4-1/2 inch thick slices
- 1 T olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Lime wedges and fresh cilantro to garnish
For Marinade:
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 3/4 cup pineapple juice
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
- 2 T honey
- Juice of one lime
- 1/2 t salt
- 1/4 t pepper
Place all the ingredients for the marinade in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Reserve out about 1/3 to 1/2 cup for serving. Place the remaining marinade in a bowl and add chicken. Turn to coat and allow to marinate about 10 minutes, (but no more than 10 minutes). Meanwhile, preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Brush the pineapple and onion slices with olive oil and salt the onion to taste. Set this aside.
Remove the chicken from the marinade and salt each piece to taste. Place on the grill and allow to grill on one side for about 3 minutes or so to get good grill marks. Turn and continue to grill until it reaches an internal temperature of 165. Halfway through cooking time, place the pineapple and onion slices on the grill until they are softened. Serve all together with fresh cilantro, reserved marinade drizzled on top, and lime wedges. Enjoy!
Honey Lemon Grilled Chicken
Last but most certainly not least, is my fresh and tasty honey lemon grilled chicken. This one is a real crowd pleaser. The brightness of the lemon and the sweetness of the honey are a match made in culinary heaven.
It’s summer which means it’s time to put that grill to use! There’s hardly a better way to serve up a healthy meal than something yummy cooked on the grill! Tonight I made this Honey Lemon Grilled Chicken and it was fantastic! I let the chicken marinate in a delicious mixture of honey, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic. I used both boneless, skinless chicken breasts and thighs. They were both absolutely wonderful, so either will work!
Here’s what you need:
About 3 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
Seasoning mix:
- 1 t paprika
- 1 t dried ginger
- 1 t dried oregano
- 2 t salt
Marinade:
- 1/2 cup honey
- Juice of one lemon
- 1 t minced garlic
- 1/3 cup olive oil
Mix up all the ingredients for the marinade. Mix up the ingredients for the seasoning mix. Place the chicken in a long dish. Season the chicken on all sides with the seasoning mix. Now pour the marinade over the chicken and flip the pieces of chicken to coat both sides. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or up to about 6 hours. Grill the chicken on medium-high heat until it reaches an internal temperature of 165. Enjoy!
I hope you enjoy these healthy and mouth-watering grilled chicken dishes this summer. Fire up the grill and try something different that will not only taste great but will be something you can feel good about too. Happy grilling.
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