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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Chicken

    Tomato, Chilli and Basil Marinated Chicken

    Published: May 17, 2012 · Modified: Jun 27, 2022 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 19 Comments

    536 shares
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    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Gluten Free / Low Carb
    Tomato, Chili and Basil Marinated Chicken title picture
    Marinated Chicken Breasts with a text title overlay.

    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.

    Coated chicken on a plate with rice and slaw.

    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.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients needed
    • Step by step
    • What to serve with marinated chicken
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Extra tips
    • More chicken recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Ingredients needed

    • 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.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    Step by step

    One: Make the marinade by mixing together the olive oil, tomato puree, chilli, salt and pepper, red wine vinegar, garlic and basil.

    Tomato, Chili and Basil Marinade in a small bowl.

    Two: Put the chicken breasts in a pan and pour the marinade over them. Leave for 30 minutes to let the flavours infuse.

    Chicken breasts covered in a tomato marinade.

    Three: Put in the oven at 200°C/400°F/Gas 7 for 25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.

    Cooked chicken covered in a tomato marinade.

    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.

    Marinated chicken. rice and slaw on a purple plate.

    What to serve with marinated chicken

    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:

    • Roasted Brussels Sprouts
    • Paprika Chips
    • Air Fryer Potato Wedges
    • Cheesy Cauliflower Nuggets
    • Roasted New Potatoes
    • Oven Cooked Rice
    • Skin on Fries
    • Grilled Corn with Herb Butter
    A plate of chicken, rice and slaw.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can this be made in advance?

    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.

    Is this marinated chicken gluten free?

    Yes, as long as you make sure there is no cross contamination, then this can be gluten free.

    How do I know when the chicken is cooked?

    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.

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    Extra 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.

    More chicken recipes

    • Creamy Chicken Spinach Pasta
    • Thai Chicken Noodles
    • Greek Chicken Skewers
    • Parmesan Chicken Bites

    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

    Marinated Chicken Breasts on a plate with rice and slaw.

    Tomato, Chilli and Basil Marinated Chicken

    This Tomato, Chilli and Basil Marinated Chicken is perfect for throwing on the BBQ, or grilling to put on a salad.
    A circular logo saying GF.
    Gluten Free
    The words low carb in a white circle.
    Low Carb
    4.96 from 21 votes
    Author: Dannii
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a cow's head.
    Meat
    An illustration of a wine glass.
    Sulphites
    Servings: 2 people
    Calories: 348kcal
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    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 400 g Chicken breast
    • 2 tablespoon Olive oil
    • 0.5 teaspoon Chilli - minced
    • 2 tablespoon Tomato puree
    • 2 tablespoon Red wine vinegar
    • Sea salt and black pepper
    • 2 tablespoon 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.
    • Put in the oven at gas mark 6/200 C for 25 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. To cook on the BBQ, cook for 10 minutes, flipping half way.

    Notes

    • 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

    Serving: 1Chicken breast | Calories: 348kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 211mg | Potassium: 20mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    DisclaimerThe 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.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shanna Jones

      May 24, 2018 at 5:24 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
    2. Celeste

      May 24, 2018 at 5:05 pm

      Looks so tasty and great for the upcoming holiday weekend.

      Reply
    3. Elizabeth

      May 24, 2018 at 4:36 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my goodness, this marinade sounds amazing! I love anything with a hefty chilli bite to it, so I know I'll love this.

      Reply
    4. Pearl Rodrigues

      May 24, 2018 at 4:33 pm

      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..

      Reply
    5. Courtney

      May 24, 2018 at 4:11 pm

      5 stars
      I love the fresh flavour of tomato and basil! The colours on this dish are stunning!

      Reply
    6. Sues

      May 24, 2018 at 3:24 pm

      5 stars
      Sometimes I think chicken breasts are boring, but these are incredibly fun and flavorful chicken breasts! Perfect for a nice summer dinner :)

      Reply
    7. Jyothi(Jo)

      May 23, 2018 at 6:49 am

      5 stars
      You had me at chili. Looks very tempting.

      Reply
    8. Lane Patten

      May 22, 2018 at 8:07 pm

      5 stars
      I love grilled chicken and chicken with any kind of tomato accompaniment. This sounds delicious!

      Reply
    9. Angela

      May 22, 2018 at 7:25 pm

      5 stars
      Love the flavors in this marinade! A great summer recipe! So glad I found a new way to grill up chicken!

      Reply
    10. Pam

      May 22, 2018 at 7:02 pm

      5 stars
      Looks great! We already have a bumper crop of basil this year, so the timing is perfect.

      Reply
    11. Caroline

      May 22, 2018 at 6:49 pm

      5 stars
      I love marinading chicken before we eat it but have never tried a marinade with tomatoes - looks tasty!

      Reply
    12. Cindy Gordon

      May 22, 2018 at 6:44 pm

      5 stars
      This sounds like a delicious chicken recipe! I love to marinate things for dinner! Can't wait to make this for my mom!

      Reply
    13. Jenn

      May 22, 2018 at 5:36 pm

      5 stars
      The marinade totally makes it! Fantastic Dish

      Reply
    14. Charlotte

      May 22, 2018 at 5:35 pm

      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.

      Reply
    15. Matt @ Plating Pixels

      May 17, 2018 at 9:35 pm

      5 stars
      Such a beautiful dish! Healthy is a plus too.

      Reply
    16. Jessica Formicola

      May 17, 2018 at 9:31 pm

      5 stars
      Oh, wow! This chicken sounds so delicious and flavorful!

      Reply
    17. georgie

      May 17, 2018 at 8:51 pm

      5 stars
      mmm yummy! that marinade looks absolutely divine!!! so flavourful, this would be great for summer entertaining!

      Reply
    18. Monica | Nourish & Fete

      May 17, 2018 at 8:37 pm

      5 stars
      I am always happy to find new ways to dress up chicken, and the tomato-basil combo is SO GOOD for summer! Lovely recipe!

      Reply
    19. Roxana

      May 17, 2018 at 8:09 pm

      5 stars
      Tomato, basil and chili is such a great combo. Such an easy recipe too. I might try apple cider vinegar.

      Reply

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    My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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