I am about to introduce you to what might be the best chicken marinade ever - and it only has 6 ingredients. This Tomato, Chilli and Basil Marinated Chicken is perfect for throwing on the BBQ, or grilling to put on a salad. Heavy on the tomato, with a hint of chilli and plenty of herbs, this chicken marinade has it all.
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Chicken breast are a great choice if you want a lean, healthy and filling meal. They are packed full of protein and really versatile, but that doesn't mean that it isn't easy to get stuck in a rut with how we eat them.
We find the easiest way to liven them up is to add a different homemade marinade every time. No need to buy anything fancy, you can just make something up with whatever you have in your cupboard and fridge - which is how we came up with this basil and tomato combination.
You can use any herb you like (to reduce waste), maybe add some finely chopped olives or capers, or add a sprinkle of fajita or Cajun seasoning for spice. You can adapt this in a lot of ways - just use it as a base.
If you are looking for some other ways to use chicken breast, then why not try our Stuffed Chicken Breast, Moroccan Chicken Flatbreads or Pizza Chicken Breasts.
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Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Chicken breasts - You could make this with chicken thighs, which are juicier and have more flavour, but we wanted to keep it lean with chicken breasts.
- Olive oil - Use the best quality olive oil you can, as it makes up the majority of the sauce.
- Red chilli - You can make it as spicy or as mild as you like.
- Tomato puree - This is where all the tomato flavour comes from. It's called tomato paste if you are in the US.
- Red wine vinegar - This balances out the sweetness from the tomatoes.
- Sea salt and black pepper - Generously season.
- Fresh basil - The perfect herb to go with the tomato flavour.
- Garlic - Freshly crushed is best, but you can use frozen to save some time.
More ingredient substitutions and variations can be found in the recipe card.
Step by Step Instructions
Prep: Preheat you oven to 200°C/180°C(fan)/400°F/Gas 7.
- Step 1: Make the marinade by mixing together the olive oil, tomato puree, chilli, salt and pepper, red wine vinegar, garlic and basil.
- Step 2: Put the chicken breasts in a pan and pour the marinade over them. Leave for 30 minutes to let the flavours infuse.
- Step 3: Put in the oven for 25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
There is nothing better than firing up the grill on a nice Spring/Summer day and cooking your food outside.
The best part about it is all the different sauces and marinades you can make to flavour your meat, fish and vegetables. They can change the flavour without adding loads of calories, which means a healthy BBQ.
It can be done healthily, and I will be bringing you lots of recipes in the coming months that will prove that. Think marinades, burger sauces, dips and chutneys.
You can use this marinade on chicken breasts to put on the BBQ, but you could also use it on fish and vegetables. It's a really versatile sauce. Tomato, Chilli and Basil Chicken is a must at any BBQ.
It's so easy to make a huge batch of it to feed a crowd. So, if you are looking for a healthy BBQ chicken recipe, give this one a try.
Serving Suggestions
The option here are pretty endless. You could chop it up to add to a taco or kebab, serve over rice like in these photos, stir it through pasta or slice it up to serve on a salad. Next time we are going to chop the chicken into chunks and skewer them with some halloumi and vegetables to put on the BBQ.
We would definitely recommend serving it with some crunchy broccoli slaw though.
Here are some of our other favourite side dishes that would go perfectly with this:
Dannii's Top Tips
- Try chopping the chicken into chunks and mixing with marinade. Then thread it on to skewers with vegetables and halloumi to put on the BBQ.
- You can make this in advance by mixing the chicken with the sauce and putting in the fridge until you are ready to cook.
- Add a bit of a smoky flavour by using some chipotle en adobe rather than minced fresh chilli. You could add some paprika too.
- You could finely chop some olives or capers to mix with the sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
This isn't just a healthy chicken marinade, but it's a quick and easy one that can be made in advance too. You just mix all the ingredients in a bowl and slather it over the chicken and put in the fridge until you are ready to cook.
Yes, as long as you make sure there is no cross contamination, then this can be gluten free.
We always like to use a food thermometer to check. The cooked temperature of chicken is 75°C/165°F. However, if you don't have a food thermometer, then it is best to use your judgement and stick a knife in it. It shouldn't be pink inside.
More Chicken Recipes
If you've tried this marinated chicken recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Tomato, Chilli and Basil Marinated Chicken
Ingredients
- 400 g (14 oz) of Chicken breast
Marinade:
- 2 tablespoon of Olive oil
- 0.5 teaspoon of Chilli - minced
- 2 tablespoon of Tomato puree
- 2 tablespoon of Red wine vinegar
- Sea salt and ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoon of Fresh basil - chopped
- 2 Garlic clove - crushed
Instructions
- Mix all of the marinade ingredients together and set aside.
- Put the chicken breasts in a pan and pour over the marinade and leave for 30 minutes for the flavours to infuse.
- Preheat your oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6.
- Put in the oven for 25 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. To cook on the BBQ, cook for 10 minutes, flipping half way.
Recipe Tips
- Try chopping the chicken in to chunks and mixing with marinade. Then thread it on to skewers with vegetables and halloumi to put on the BBQ.
- You can make this in advance by mixing the chicken with the sauce and putting in the fridge until you are ready to cook.
- Add a bit of a smoky flavour by using some chipotle en adobe rather than minced fresh chilli. You could add some paprika too.
- You could finely chop some olives or capers to mix with the sauce.
Nutritional Information
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The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Shanna Jones says
What a simple meal idea! As I'm typing this I'm thinking of how many ways I could use this Tomato, Chili and Basil Marinade! So many uses! It's looks fantastic!
Celeste says
Looks so tasty and great for the upcoming holiday weekend.
Pearl Rodrigues says
Tomato, chilli and basil.. This sounds like the perfect mix for marinating any dish. I'm sure it goes well with the chicken. Planning to try it out soon..
Courtney says
I love the fresh flavour of tomato and basil! The colours on this dish are stunning!
Sues says
Sometimes I think chicken breasts are boring, but these are incredibly fun and flavorful chicken breasts! Perfect for a nice summer dinner :)
Angela says
Love the flavors in this marinade! A great summer recipe! So glad I found a new way to grill up chicken!
Caroline says
I love marinading chicken before we eat it but have never tried a marinade with tomatoes - looks tasty!
Jenn says
The marinade totally makes it! Fantastic Dish
Charlotte says
I am going to make this for our bbq at the weekend. I usually just throw some bbq sauce on chicken, but this sounds much better.
Matt @ Plating Pixels says
Such a beautiful dish! Healthy is a plus too.
georgie says
mmm yummy! that marinade looks absolutely divine!!! so flavourful, this would be great for summer entertaining!
Monica | Nourish & Fete says
I am always happy to find new ways to dress up chicken, and the tomato-basil combo is SO GOOD for summer! Lovely recipe!