Simply Grilled Chicken Breasts Recipe

For perfect grilled chicken breasts, Melissa uses a meat mallet to even out the thickness of the breasts, so they cook more evenly. Then she lets the chicken come to room temperature and brushes it with garlic-infused oil before cooking it on a hot grill.

Recipe courtesy of Melissa d'Arabian
Show: Ten Dollar Dinners
Episode: Simply Summer

Total:52 min
Prep: 15 min
Inactive: 25 min
Cook: 12 min

Yield: 4 servings

Level: Easy

Ingredients

1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, smashed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
Roasted Tomato and Onion Dipping Sauce, recipe follows, optional
Roasted Tomato and Onion Dipping Sauce:
5 Roma tomatoes, halved (about 1 pound)*
1 yellow or white onion, quartered
3 cloves garlic, unpeeled
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 to 2 tablespoons water
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

In a small bowl, mix the vegetable oil with the smashed garlic, using a fork to help release the garlic flavor into the oil. Season the garlic mixture with salt, and pepper, to taste. Let sit for at least 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, prep the chicken breasts. Rinse and dry the chicken thoroughly. Find the ridge along the side of the chicken breast, and carefully pull off the tender. Take each breast and pound gently to an even thickness. Do not pound too thin; the breast will not be completely uniform. If there is a skinny little triangular tip, go ahead and cut off and discard. Prep the tenders by slicing off any jagged edges. Liberally salt and pepper the chicken and allow to sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes.

Preheat the grill to hot.

Once the chicken has rested, brush liberally with the garlic-infused vegetable oil. Place the chicken breasts on the hot grill, with the thicker portion facing the hotter part of your grill (usually the back). Allow the chicken breasts to cook undisturbed until char marks are made, about 4 minutes. Flip the chicken, keeping the thick part of the chicken toward the hot part of the flame, and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the chicken reads 155 degrees F, about 3 more minutes. Place the chicken tenders on the grill and cook for 3 to 4 minutes total, turning halfway through. Allow the grilled chicken to rest for 5 minutes, covered, before serving.

Serve with Roasted Onion Tomato and Onion Dipping Sauce, if using.

Roasted Tomato and Onion Dipping Sauce:

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.

Place the halved tomatoes, onions, and garlic cloves on a baking sheet. Drizzle with half the olive oil and sprinkle with thyme, salt and pepper. Toss to coat well. Place the tomatoes cut-side down, and cook for 2 hours turning the tomatoes after 1 hour. After the second hour, remove the baking sheet, and set aside the unpeeled garlic. Place the rest of the vegetables and the pan juices in a food processor or blender. Add a tablespoon or two of water to the pan to scrape up any bits of flavor stuck onto the baking sheet and add to the food processor. Squeeze out the soft flesh of the roasted garlic into the food processor and add the remaining olive oil. Pulse the mixture until chunky, or puree until smooth, depending on desired consistency. Taste the sauce and season with salt, and pepper, if necessary.

Yield: about 1 1/4 cups

*Cook's Note: The tomatoes do not have to be "good" tomatoes.