Grilled Chicken Breasts with Tomato-Basil Salsa

Looking for a way to jazz up chicken breasts? Then these grilled chicken breasts with tomato-basil salsa are for you! Prepared with marinated chicken breasts simply grilled then topped with a quick and delicious tomato-basil salsa, this scrumptious recipe is loaded with juicy flavor and a pop of color!

Chicken breasts get a flavorful makeover

With the return of the sunshine and the warmer days here in Southern California, I find myself thinking about lighter, healthier, and fresher recipes to whip up for lunch and dinner.

Chicken always comes to mind as an easy favorite.

For convenience, chicken breasts are incredibly quick to prepare, which makes them all the more desirable. They soak up a tasty marinade like nobody's business. Plus, they go from plain to gourmet (and a-maz-ing!) in no time flat, and with minimal effort.

This recipe is perfect for spring and summer. It offers a deliciously light, vibrant, and juicy twist, and can be prepped and on the table in 30 minutes!

My recipe for grilled chicken breasts with tomato-basil salsa

A simple grilled chicken breasts recipe is a breeze with a little of "this" and a little of "that"—some olive oil, lemon, garlic, and herbs—to create a quick and delicious marinade.

After just a few minutes, the marinated chicken is ready for the grill. Then comes a finishing touch of something a little fresh, like my sweet and savory tomato-basil salsa I love to spoon over top—it's the perfect partner.

The entire preparation typically takes me no longer than twenty-five to thirty minutes from start to finish (and this includes marination). With fewer than ten ingredients, I almost feel a little guilty about just how easy and how tasty this recipe is…almost!

This delicious recipe makes terrific use of the beautiful and flavor-packed ingredients of the season. It hits all the right flavor notes when "easy gourmet" is what you crave!

Here's a glance at my recipe for grilled chicken breasts with tomato-basil salsa: (or just jump to the full recipe...)

1. To get started, I marinate my chicken breasts for at least 10 minutes, even overnight if prepping the recipe ahead.
2. While I allow the chicken to marinate, I prep my easy tomato-basil salsa, and keep that chilled in the fridge until ready to serve.
3. Once the chicken breasts have marinated, I grill each of them for a few minutes per side.
4. To serve, I spoon over each grilled chicken breast some of the tomato-basil salsa, sprinkle over a few basil leaves, and serve on their own, or with pasta, potatoes, or garlic toast.

Recipe

Grilled Chicken Breasts with Tomato-Basil Salsa

by Ingrid Beer

Print Recipe

These mouthwatering grilled chicken breasts with tomato-basil salsa are bursting with fresh, juicy flavor, ready in under 30 minutes!

Category: Entree
Cuisine: American

Yield: Serves 4

Nutrition Info: 303 calories (per serving)

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes

Grilled Chicken Breasts Ingredients:

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (if large, cut in half length-wise to create thinner cutlets)
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Zest of 1 small lemon
• Juice of ½ small lemon
• 4 garlic cloves, pressed through garlic press
• Pinch Italian seasoning

Tomato-Basil Salsa Ingredients:

• 2 cups cherry tomatoes (or Roma, or other ripe tomato), finely diced
• 1 garlic clove, pressed through garlic press
• Salt
• Black pepper
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 package (2 ounces) fresh basil, stems removed and leaves julienned (thinly sliced)
• Pinch red pepper flakes, optional

Preparation:

1. Begin by gathering and prepping all of your grilled chicken breasts ingredients according to the ingredient list above to have ready and organized for use.
2. To marinate your chicken breasts, place them into a large bowl and drizzle over about 2 tablespoons of olive oil, a couple of generous pinches of salt and pepper, the lemon zest and juice, the garlic, and the Italian seasoning, and toss to coat. Marinate for at least 10 minutes, or overnight if prepping ahead.
3. While the chicken marinates, gather and prep all of your tomato-basil salsa ingredients according to the ingredient list above to have ready and organized for use.
4. To prepare your tomato-basil salsa, combine the diced tomatoes, the garlic, a couple of pinches of salt and pepper, the lemon zest and lemon juice together in a bowl, and mix together with a spoon. Taste it to see if you need additional salt or pepper, then fold in the julienned fresh basil leaves. Keep chilled until ready to serve.
5. Once the chicken breasts have marinated and you're ready to grill your chicken, place your grill pan over medium-high heat (or prepare your outdoor grill). Once it becomes nice and hot, allow any excess marinade to drip off the chicken, and place the breasts into the hot grill pan (work in batches, if necessary).
6. Allow the chicken to sear on that first side for 5 to 6 minutes, then cook on the other side for about 5 to 6 minutes more, or until the chicken is golden and cooked through.
7. To finish and serve, place the grilled chicken breasts onto a platter, top with the tomato-basil salsa (and extra lemon or basil, if desired), and serve as is, or with pasta, potatoes, or garlic toast.

Tips & Tidbits for my grilled chicken breasts with tomato-basil salsa recipe:

• Make this recipe ahead: Giving the chicken breasts a bit more time in the marinade is always a good thing, so if you can marinate the chicken overnight and grill it off the next day, it'll be extra flavorful.
• Keeping that basil vibrant: You can dice up your tomatoes for the salsa, but wait until you're ready to serve before adding in your basil. Basil can lose its color and vibrancy, so julienne it just before adding it to the salsa when you're ready to serve the chicken.
• Alternatives to grilling the chicken breasts: If you do not have a grill pan (or outdoor grill), or would simply prefer another method for cooking the chicken, you can simply sear it off in a hot cast iron skillet, or any other pan you typically use. Get the pan nice and hot, then add the chicken in, and sear on both sides for a few minutes until golden-brown and cooked through.
• Add leftovers to salad, or make a sandwich: The leftovers from this delicious recipe are terrific when eaten cold as well, so you can slice or dice up the chicken and add it (along with any salsa) to a salad, or even make a tasty sandwich—perhaps a grilled cheese—out of it!

Craving more light and healthy recipes like this one? Check out my recipe for Tilapia with Lemon and Herbs, Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Pesto, Grilled Tuna with Bok Choy Slaw, Grilled Lemon Chicken Flatbread Wraps, Citrus Chicken, or even my recipe for Lemon Chicken Skewers!

Cook's Note: This recipe was originally published in 2018, and has been updated with even more love!