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Balsamic Brown Sugar Grilled Chicken

Make dinner a whole lot easier with this easy balsamic grilled chicken!  This recipe for balsamic chicken only takes 20 minutes to prepare thanks to a 5-ingredient balsamic marinade!

Is grilled chicken a favorite of your family?  Chicken is something everyone in our family loves and we have it at least once a week.  You can dress up chicken in just about any way you can imagine with sauces, rubs and marinades, making it a great choice for lunch or dinner as well. 

The wonderful Brown Sugar Balsamic Grilled Chicken recipe is an incredibly tasty dinner option that can be prepared on the grill at any time! Each bite of this grilled chicken is bursting with flavor from the balsamic vinegar and brown sugar mixed together.

The balsamic grilled chicken here is not only unbelievably delicious, but it is incredibly easy to prepare as well. You can finish it in just under 20 minutes, so it’s perfect even for the busiest of nights.  Here’s how to make a fantastic grill dinner with this marinade! Balsamic Brown Sugar Grilled Chicken

Step 1: Mix the marinade ingredients

It’s easy to make, doesn’t take long to prepare, and comprises just 5 ingredients (six if you add a little salt to taste).  I use a measuring cup to measure out the olive oil and vinegar for this marinade.

After I add the brown sugar, garlic, and pepper, I continue with the recipe, combine all ingredients.  The marinade should be reserved for brushing on the chicken when it is grilling, and the rest should be poured over the chicken.

Step 2: Spread the balsamic chicken marinade over the chicken and refrigerate

A resealable zip bag is great for marinating the chicken because it’s flexible and easy to coat. However, you can also marinate in a resealable container or deep dish enclosed with plastic wrap.  Following the marinating, I refrigerate the chicken ( at least 30 mins to overnight).  

Depending on your time constraints, you could marinate for 30 minutes to 24 hours.  I often marinate the chicken during the late morning or early afternoon, for dinner later that night.

A marinated chicken is more flavorful once it is cooked, the longer it can be marinated. Ideally, marinating should be limited to 24 hours.

Step 3: Grill the meat and brush it with the marinade

Prepare your grill by heating it to medium.  

When I grill chicken, how do I prevent it from sticking to the grill?

Olive oil or non-stick grilling spray can be used to coat the grill grates. (Be safe when using the spray and turn off the grill before applying the spray.) Place the chicken in the marinade after being removed from the bag or container.

Step 4: Check for completion

You will have to adjust your grill temperature according to the thickness of your chicken breasts, and this may affect the cooking time considerably.  On my grill, I cook chicken breasts for six minutes per side over medium-high heat since they are thicker.  

Brown-Sugar-Balsamic-Chicken

What is the best way to determine when chicken is cooked?

You can test whether chicken is cooked when it is done in a couple of ways; 1)check its internal temperature with a meat thermometer. A temperature of 165 degrees is recommended for chicken.  3) By cutting through the thickest part of the chicken, you can determine when the chicken is done.  A cooked chicken will be pale white, with no pink remaining on the surface, and the juices will run clear.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy!

A delicious and easy meal can be prepared in less than 20 minutes. 

Brown-Sugar-Balsamic-Chicken

Balsamic Brown Sugar Grilled Chicken

4 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Servings 4 people

Ingredients

  • 1 Kg. Chicken breasts (about 3-4 medium breasts)
  • 1/2 cup Balsamic vinegar     
  • 1/3 cup Olive oil     
  • 3 tbsp Brown sugar     
  • 2 tsp Minced garlic      
  • 1 tsp Ground black pepper      
  • 1/2 tsp Salt (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Mix together equal parts vinegar, oil, brown sugar, garlic, and pepper in a medium bowl. Make sure to reserve about three tablespoons of the marinade.
  • Pour the marinade over the chicken breasts and seal the bag (or container) with a lid. Refrigerate chicken for 30 minutes to 24 hours after coating well.
  • The grill should be heated to medium-high. You can spray nonstick grilling spray or olive oil on grill grates. (In case of spraying, please turn the grill off, spray, and then turn the grill back on.) Over indirect heat, grill the chicken approximately six minutes (per side), then turn it over and brush with balsamic marinade. Cook for an additional six minutes.
  • Transfer the chicken to a serving plate as soon as it comes off of the grill.
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Notes

If you use a meat thermometer, be sure that the chicken reaches 160 degrees internal temperature. If you cut into the chicken, you can tell it’s done when all the meat is white (there’s no pink) and the juices are clear. Other types of chicken parts besides breasts can also be marinated – thighs, legs, and wings are excellent choices.

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