This grilled California Chicken is a simple yet flavorful dish to add your recipe repertoire. It includes the best chicken marinade with a blend of fresh ingredients and is easy to prepare.
California Chicken is a delicious and healthy meal that is perfect for outdoor barbecues and summer gatherings.
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Best California Chicken Recipe
Whether you're hosting a summer barbecue or want to switch up your regular dinner routine, this grilled California Chicken recipe is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
It's got juicy chicken breast, pepper jack cheese, sliced avocado, and fresh tomatoes. The secret to making the chicken tender and juicy is all in the prep work and marinade. Follow along, fire up the grill, and get ready to impress your crew with this amazing grilled chicken.
Key Ingredients
- Chicken Breast: Use a high-quality chicken breast. The organic ones from Costco are my favorite, and the fresh chicken breasts are $3 per pound. (be sure to tenderize any chicken breast you decide to use.
- Chicken Marinade: The recipe for the chicken marinade includes avocado oil, lemon juice, and the good seasonings Italian Dressing.
- Avocados: choose ripe avocados.
- Tomatoes: Any tomato variety will do. If you only have cherry tomatoes on hand, you can cut them in half an also chunk up the avocado into bite-sized pieces and then put the cheese on top to hold it all together.
- Pepper Jack Cheese: We love pepper jack cheese on this grilled chicken. It adds just a little of the tartness we love and has just a little kick. If your family isn't in love with pepper jack, you can certainly use mozzarella cheese, swiss or provolone cheese for this California Chicken Recipe.
California Grilled Chicken Video Tutorial
How to Make Grilled California Chicken
- Tenderize the chicken. Place chicken breasts in a large freezer bag. Use a rolling pin, mason jar, or the flat side of a meat tenderizer, pound the thickest part of the chicken breast until it is about ¾" thick and even with the rest of the chicken.
- Marinate the chicken. Open the bag and add the oil, lemon juice, and Italian seasoning. Seal then roll the bag around gently to combine. Marinate in the fridge for 2-24 hours.
- Grill. Remove the chicken from the marinade and place on a grill preheated to medium. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until the chicken gets golden brown and is easy to lift. Flip the chicken and continue to cook until almost golden brown.
- Add the cheese, avocado, and tomatoes. Once the chicken is almost completely cooked (has almost reached 165 degrees F), add 3-4 slices of avocado, 2-3 slices of tomato, and a couple of slices of pepper jack cheese. Close the grill for 2 more minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Serve. Remove cooked chicken from the grill and cover with foil for 5 minutes while the chicken breast cools down a little. Serve warm and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
Grilled California Chicken is a delicious and healthy meal that is perfect for outdoor barbecues and summer gatherings. But did you know that there are many different ways to prepare this tasty dish?
- If you love a little heat, add some cayenne pepper or hot sauce to your marinade or rub. You can also serve your chicken with a side of candied jalapeño peppers or spicy salsa.
- Give your chicken a tropical twist by adding some pineapple or mango to your marinade or rub. You can also serve it with a side of coconut rice or grilled vegetables.
- Coat your chicken in a balsamic vinegar and olive oil marinade for a tangy and flavorful dish. Serve with a side of roasted vegetables or a balsamic glaze.
- Spice up your chicken with some chili powder, cumin, and garlic for a Tex-Mex twist. You can also serve it with a side of black beans, salsa, and guacamole.
Frequently Asked Questions
California Chicken gets its name from the concept of West Coast cooking being fresh and healthy. This particular recipe includes avocadoes which are a very popular item that grows in the state.
For this grilled California Chicken recipe, I recommend marinating for a minimum of 2 hours but ideally up to 24 hours. You don't want to marinate much past that or you will risk the chicken breaking down too much.
The cooking time for chicken breasts all depends on how thick they are, how hot the grill is, and how many you are cooking at once. Over medium heat, an average sized chicken breast will take about 5-8 minutes to cook completely. The chicken is cooked once the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
This may seem like a task that doesn't really need to be completed but let me tell you, if you don't tenderize your chicken, you're missing out. Tenderizing your chicken breast does a couple of things. First, it flattens the chicken breast out so it will cook more evenly. Second, it breaks down the meat's fibers and makes the meat more tender.
Grilled California Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 3-4 large Chicken Breasts plan on 4-6 ounces of chicken per person
- 3 Tablespoons Avocado Oil
- 3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
- 1 pkg Good Seasons Italian Seasonings Packet
Toppings for California Chicken
- 1 large Avocado
- 2 large Tomatoes
- 8 slices Pepper Jack Cheese
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts in a large freezer bag. Use a rolling pin, mason jar, or the flat side of a meat tenderizer, pound the thickest part of the chicken breast until it is about ¾" thick and even with the rest of the chicken.
- Open the bag and add the oil, lemon juice, and Italian seasoning. Seal then roll the bag around gently to combine. Marinate in the fridge for 2-24 hours.
- Meanwhile, preheat the grill to medium high heat.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and place on the preheated grill. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until the chicken gets golden brown and is easy to lift (Note: if the chicken sticks, let it cook longer). Flip the chicken over using tongs and continue to cook until almost golden brown.
- Once the chicken is almost completely cooked (has almost reached 165 degrees F), add 3-4 slices of avocado, 2-3 slices of tomato, and a couple of slices of pepper jack cheese. Close the grill for 2 more minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Remove cooked chicken from the grill and cover with foil for 5 minutes while the chicken breast cools down a little. Serve warm and enjoy!
Nutrition
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This grilled California Chicken includes the best chicken marinade and is an easy chicken and avocado recipe. It's the perfect grilled chicken recipe!
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