An Easy Juicy Grilled Chicken Recipe

Written by Indy Patchske

My dad is the best cook I have ever met in my life, which you might think is a good thing, but do not get me wrong, he has spoiled me greatly. He is the best when it comes to any sort of meat: steak, fish, chicken, beef, etc. He has a sous vide machine that has the meat sit in warm water and tons of seasoning to marinate it for hours, sometimes days. After the meat is done marinating, it is then cooked in the oven or on the grill. This process results in the juiciest and most delicious meats you will ever have in your life. 

As an unwealthy college student, I don't have a fancy-shmancy sous vide machine, but I do have plastic bags and lots of sauce and seasonings. My dad showed me how to marinate chicken, and he taught me his recipe without using the machine. It is so simple to concoct, and it takes your chicken to the next level.

When buying chicken, you might get frozen chicken that’s already cooked, a rotisserie chicken, or one of the many other options your local grocery store has. And then you might just cook it in your pan or in your oven, throw some seasonings on it, and call it a day. Next time you go to the store, pick up some fresh chicken tenderloins, Italian dressing, and Worcestershire sauce to upgrade your chicken. 

When I first had this chicken, I was in love! The flavors and seasonings blend in a way that will make your mouth water. The chicken is so juicy that eating any other chicken will make you cringe because it is not as juicy as this chicken. The Italian dressing gives the chicken a slight Italian flavor, the pepper gives it a bit of a kick, and the rosemary gives it a fresher taste. Everything works together to make the chicken taste wonderful. 

I make this chicken very frequently because it's so incredibly tasty, and it is a healthy, protein-filled meal. I love it when I can make things that are healthy and palatable, because, let’s be honest, a lot of healthy foods don't taste their best. If you pair the chicken with a vegetable and a carb, hey, you’re hitting 3 food groups and eating a well-balanced full meal, which I know college students can struggle to do. Plus, if you're making this recipe just for yourself, you've just meal-prepped your next 4-5 dinners or lunches! Try this chicken next time you are looking for a simple, healthy, and well-balanced meal. 

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Ready in: 4-12 hours, depending on preferred time

Serves: 4-6 people

Equipment:

• Food thermometer to check the chicken temperature

Ingredients

• Fresh chicken cutlets: use about 10-12 tenderloins for these measurements 

  • Reduce the recipe of the sauce if you make less chicken

• ½ cup to 1 cup of Italian salad dressing

• ~1 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce

• Pepper

• Rosemary (optional)

Instructions:

1. Wash your chicken and cut out the fat. The fat is white and is harder than the chicken.

2. Grab a 1-gallon bag and fill it with the chicken cutlets. I like to use tenderloins, but you can use whatever you prefer as long as it's cut into portion-sized pieces. 

3. Pour in ½ - 1 cup of Italian dressing. You can eyeball this. 

4. Add about 1 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce.

5. Add pepper. There isn’t a specific measurement for this, but I used about 1 tsp to 1 tbsp.

6. Shake well. You can also massage the mixture into the chicken through the bag. 

7. Let it sit for a couple of hours or overnight. This depends on how juicy you want the chicken and how much time you have. Make sure to refrigerate so as not to spoil!

8. Fire up the grill or pan/stovetop.

9. Take the chicken out of the bag and place it on your grill or pan.

10. Cook until you start to see charred spots on the edges or grill lines. 

11. Use a food thermometer to make sure the chicken is cooked all the way through (165 degrees is recommended) to avoid salmonella. 

12. Top with rosemary to add a bit more flavor.

13. Enjoy!

Tips

• This recipe is best paired with a green vegetable such as broccoli or green beans. As well as a carb, such as a slice of sourdough bread, mashed potatoes, or tater tots.

• You can also play with the measurements of sauce and add more seasonings if you prefer a milder or spicier level of chicken. 

Thumbnail Credit:

Indy Patchske