Grilled Balsamic Soy Chicken with Lemon Honey Green Beans
This grilled balsamic soy chicken with lemon honey green beans is a weeknight win! The chicken marinade is slightly sweet and super flavorful. This meal comes together very quickly making it perfect for a busy weeknight or a laidback Sunday. The chicken is tender, juicy and lip-smacking delicious. Paired with the bright, grilled green beans you’re going to love this combination.
Ingredients Needed for Balsamic Soy Chicken with Lemon Honey Green Beans
Chicken – For this recipe, you’ll need 2 pounds of chicken breasts. Or four Smart Chicken chicken breasts. Butterfly the chicken breasts so you have eight thin cutlets. Add the cutlets to a sealable bag (two at a time) and pound them thin. Add the pounded cutlets to a sealable container and pour in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. No longer than 4-6 hours.
Chicken Marinade – Combine low sodium soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, light brown sugar, avocado oil, diced garlic, salt and black pepper. Whisk well and pour over the prepared cutlets.
Green Beans – You’ll need 12 ounces of washed and trimmed green beans for this recipe. Once they are marinated, cover and marinate for 30 minutes.
Green Bean Marinade – Combine olive oil, fresh squeezed lemon juice, honey, salt, diced garlic and black pepper. Whisk well and pour over the beans.
Mozzarella Cheese – Add a thin slice of mozzarella cheese to each piece of chicken two minutes before you plan to remove it from the grill. This will give the cheese time to melt over the grilled chicken.
Garnishes – Top the dish with shaved parmesan cheese and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
How to Make Grilled Balsamic Soy Chicken with Lemon Honey Green Beans
Prepare the Chicken
Combine avocado oil, low sodium soy sauce, light brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, diced garlic, salt and black pepper. Whisk until well combined.
Butterfly four chicken breasts which will yield eight thin cutlets. Add them to an airtight bag two pieces at a time and pound them thin. You’ll want the chicken to be about ¼ inch thick. Add the cutlets to a sealable container and cover the chicken in the marinade. Gently toss until all the chicken is well coated. Seal the container closed and place the chicken in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to marinate. You can marinate up to 4-6 hours.
Prepare the Green Beans
Next, combine the olive oil, honey, fresh squeezed lemon juice, diced garlic, salt and black pepper. Whisk well. Add the washed and trimmed beans. Toss until well coated. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Start the Grill
Preheat the grill to 400 degrees. Be sure to brush the grates with avocado oil before you add the chicken. This step is very important as it allows the chicken to easily release from the grill.
Once hot, add a grilling basket to the grill and add the green beans to the basket. The beans will need to cook for 10-11 minutes, shaking occasionally.
Next, add the marinated chicken cutlets to the hot grill. They will need 3-4 minutes per side. Or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Option to add sliced mozzarella to the chicken two minutes before you plan to remove it from the grill. Cooking time will vary based on the thickness of your cutlets.
Once cooked, remove everything from the grill. Add the chicken and beans to a platter. Top with freshly shaved parmesan cheese and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Serve hot and enjoy.
How to Marinate Chicken (pro tips)
When a marinade calls for vinegar, you should never marinate chicken longer than 4-6 hours. Vinegar breaks down the proteins in the chicken and if left too long, the chicken will begin to get mushy. This recipe only needs 30 minutes to marinate.
Be sure to use a nonreactive bowl or sealable bag. Sealable glass or plastic containers are best for marinating. You can also use a sturdy Ziplock bag. However, you should never use metal. Metal can change the flavor of the meat as it marinates.
Always refrigerate your protein in a sealable container while it is marinating. Do not leave it out on the counter to marinate. Bacteria can grow very quickly, causing food borne illness.
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days. Reheat in the microwave. Looking for more recipes?
Grilled Balsamic Soy Chicken with Lemon Honey Green Beans
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 lbs. chicken breasts, butterflied into 8 thin cutlets
- ¼ cup avocado oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon garlic, diced small
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Green Beans
- 12 ounces green beans, washed and trimmed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh squeezed
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1-2 teaspoons garlic, diced small
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Pinch black pepper
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, shaved thin
- drizzle balsamic glaze
Equipment
- 1 sealable container glass or plastic – not metal
- 2 mixing bowls
- 1 ziplock bag to pound chicken
- 1 mallet to pound chicken
- 1 grilling basket for green beans
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken
- Combine avocado oil, low sodium soy sauce, light brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, diced garlic, salt and black pepper. Whisk until well combined.
- Butterfly 4 chicken breasts which will yield 8 thin cutlets. Add them to an airtight bag 2 pieces at a time and pound them thin. You’ll want the chicken to be about ¼ inch thick. Add the cutlets to a sealable container and cover the chicken in the marinade. Gently toss until all the chicken is well coated. Seal the container closed and place the chicken in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to marinate. You can marinate up to 4-6 hours.
Prepare the Green Beans
- Next, combine the olive oil, honey, fresh squeezed lemon juice, diced garlic, salt and black pepper. Whisk well. Add the washed and trimmed beans. Toss until well coated. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Start the Grill
- Preheat the grill to 400 degrees. Be sure to brush the grates with avocado oil before you add the chicken. This step is very important as it allows the chicken to easily release from the grill.
- Once hot, add a grilling basket to the grill and add the green beans to the basket. The beans will need to cook for 10-11 minutes, shaking occasionally.
- Next, add the marinated chicken cutlets to the hot grill. They will need 3-4 minutes per side.
- Option to add thinly sliced mozzarella to each piece of chicken 2 minutes before you plan to remove it from the grill. Cooking time will vary based on the thickness of your cutlets.
- Once cooked, remove everything from the grill. Add the chicken and beans to a platter. Top with freshly shaved parmesan cheese and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Serve hot and enjoy.
One Comment on “Grilled Balsamic Soy Chicken with Lemon Honey Green Beans ”
This chicken had amazing flavor – savory and sweet!! Even my two picky teenagers loved it! Thanks for a great recipe!