California Grilled Chicken

By Laurel Perry

Published Jun 15, 2024

This fresh and healthy California Grilled Chicken recipe features honey balsamic marinated chicken breasts topped with mozzarella, avocado, tomatoes, and basil. I love how simple the ingredients are, marinating time is quick, and grilling chicken makes it deliciously juicy. I could eat this avocado chicken for dinner every night of the week, and considering how easy it is to cook, I just might!

California grilled chicken breasts topped with avocado, mozzarella, tomatoes, and balsamic glaze. - 5

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I’m a little bit obsessed with caprese flavors like mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and balsamic, so this California grilled chicken recipe really hits the spot. I love how fresh and healthy it is, with creamy avocado as the perfect topping for this cheesy honey balsamic chicken.

Ingredients for California Avocado Chicken

Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are best for this recipe, but thighs can be used as well.
Honey Balsamic Marinade: A combination of balsamic vinegar, honey, olive oil, Italian seasoning , garlic powder, and salt and pepper.
Mozzarella: Mozzarella works best, but Swiss, provolone, and gruyere make good substitutes.
Avocado: Fresh, diced avocado adds a creamy topping.
Cherry Tomatoes: Use cherry or grape tomatoes for the topping.
Balsamic Glaze : This adds a sweet and tangy finish. Use store-bought or make your own!
Basil: Garnish with fresh basil to serve.

Make it Easy

When I’m struggling to find ripe avocados at the store, I just grab a container of guacamole for the topping. Chunky guacamole with diced tomatoes is the perfect convenience swap for this California grilled chicken! It also tastes great with a fresh Pico de Gallo instead of just tomatoes.

How to Store and Reheat

Store California chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I recommend storing the grilled chicken and avocado/tomato salsa separately for best results. The chicken can also be frozen for 3 months, but I don’t recommend freezing the avocado.

Reheat the chicken on the stovetop until warmed through, then top with the avocado and tomato.

Grilled California chicken breast with avocado tomato salsa on a white plate. - 7

Serving Suggestions

Serve grilled California chicken on a bed of white rice , cilantro lime rice , or salad greens for a beautiful healthy meal. Even though this chicken recipe already features plenty of avocado, I love to start with lots of chips and guac , and it’s a great way to use up those ripe avocados. It also pairs well with this Green Goddess salad on the side!

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ ¾ cup balsamic vinegar
▢ 2 tablespoons honey
▢ 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
▢ 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
▢ ½ teaspoon salt
▢ ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
▢ 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
▢ 4 slices mozzarella cheese
▢ 2 avocados diced
▢ 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes quartered
▢ 2 tablespoons sliced basil
▢ balsamic glaze for drizzling

Video

Instructions

In a medium bowl, whisk the balsamic vinegar, honey, olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. ¾ cup balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Place the chicken breasts in a large zip top bag and pour the marinade over the top. Seal the bag and massage the bag until all the chicken is coated in the sauce. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours. 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
While the chicken marinates and just before grilling, combine the avocado and cherry tomatoes in a bowl. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper and toss to combine. Refrigerate until ready to use. 2 avocados, 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Oil the grates as needed. Grill the chicken until cooked through, about 6-8 minutes per side. Top each breast with a slice of mozzarella, cover and cook until melted, about 1-2 minutes 4 slices mozzarella cheese
Transfer the chicken to a serving platter and top each breast with ¼ of the avocado tomato mixture, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Serve immediately. 2 tablespoons sliced basil, balsamic glaze

Becky’s Tips

This can be made using a grill pan or outdoor grill.
To make your own balsamic glaze, combine 2 cups balsamic vinegar and ½ cup brown sugar in a medium saucepan. Simmer for 20 minutes or until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Cool before using.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

How to Make Grilled California Chicken Step by Step

Make the Marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together ¾ cup of balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper.

Honey balsamic marinade in a glass mixing bowl. - 8

Marinate the Chicken: Place 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts in a large resealable bag, then pour the marinade over the chicken. Seal the bag and massage it until all of the chicken is fully coated in the sauce. Place the bag in the refrigerator to marinate, for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.

Chicken breasts marinating in a resealable bag. - 9

Make the Avocado Salsa: While the chicken is marinating (just before grilling), combine 2 diced avocados and 1 pint of cherry tomatoes (cut into quarters) in a bowl. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper and toss to combine. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Chopped tomato and avocado salsa in a glass mixing bowl. - 10

Grill the Chicken: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat and oil the grates as needed. Grill the marinated chicken until cooked through, about 6-8 minutes per side.

Balsamic marinated chicken breasts grilling in a pan. - 11

Melt the Cheese: Top each breast with a slice of mozzarella, then cover and cook until melted, about 1-2 minutes.

Chicken breasts topped with mozzarella, cooking in a grill pan. - 12

Finish and Serve: Transfer the chicken to a serving platter, then top each chicken breast with ¼ of the avocado tomato mixture, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Serve California grilled chicken immediately, while fresh!

California avocado grilled chicken breasts arranged on a white serving platter. - 13

More Grilled Chicken Recipes To Try

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken Caprese
Yogurt Marinated Chicken Thighs
Grilled Chicken Wings
Fiesta Lime Chicken
More Grilled Chicken Ideas

California Grilled Chicken

Ingredients

¾ cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 slices mozzarella cheese
2 avocados diced
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes quartered
2 tablespoons sliced basil
balsamic glaze for drizzling

Instructions

In a medium bowl, whisk the balsamic vinegar, honey, olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. ¾ cup balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Place the chicken breasts in a large zip top bag and pour the marinade over the top. Seal the bag and massage the bag until all the chicken is coated in the sauce. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours. 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
While the chicken marinates and just before grilling, combine the avocado and cherry tomatoes in a bowl. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper and toss to combine. Refrigerate until ready to use. 2 avocados, 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Oil the grates as needed. Grill the chicken until cooked through, about 6-8 minutes per side. Top each breast with a slice of mozzarella, cover and cook until melted, about 1-2 minutes 4 slices mozzarella cheese
Transfer the chicken to a serving platter and top each breast with ¼ of the avocado tomato mixture, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Serve immediately. 2 tablespoons sliced basil, balsamic glaze

Video

Notes

This can be made using a grill pan or outdoor grill.
To make your own balsamic glaze, combine 2 cups balsamic vinegar and ½ cup brown sugar in a medium saucepan. Simmer for 20 minutes or until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Cool before using.

Nutrition

By Becky Hardin

Published Jul 12, 2017

This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.

Essential Grocery List

It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!

It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.

However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.

In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.

I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.

Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List

What to Buy at the Grocery Store

This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.

When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.

So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!