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Strawberry Chicken with a bruschetta topping is an elegant recipe for special dinners. A mixture of strawberries, basil, and balsamic vinegar is served over chicken. It cooks quickly on the stovetop for a quick, healthy, and beautiful meal!
If strawberries are the first berry you think of for a special event, you're in the right place! When they're in season, you'll find us making appetizers like Strawberry Bruschetta and Spinach Strawberry Walnut Salad for lunch.
Much like a salad, why not incorporate them into a savory dish so you can enjoy the fresh burst of flavor in every bite?
You'll love this recipe because:
- It takes 25 minutes to prepare and uses just 1 pan, so it's a perfect addition to our healthy 30-minute meals.
- It's healthy, low-carb, keto-friendly, and gluten-free.
- It has just 6 ingredients (not including olive oil, salt, and pepper)
- The presentation is sure to impress!
Ingredients and Variations
Here's what you'll need:
- Thin-sliced chicken such as chicken cutlets or fillets. Alternatively, pound skinless chicken breasts to approximately ½ inch thickness so they will cook quickly in a skillet.
- Sweet paprika adds color and a bit of kick. Do not use smoked paprika because it results in a robust smoky flavor.
- Strawberries that are fresh and firm. Frozen strawberries aren't recommended. Almost any sweet fruit will work in this recipe. A berry medley with blueberries and raspberries would be lovely too.
- Fresh basil adds another dimension of flavor. Dried basil is not recommended.
- Balsamic vinegar or glaze pairs beautifully with strawberries. It adds flavor, even if you don't reduce it. Buy it at the grocery store. Or, make it yourself. We show you how below.
- Feta or goat cheese crumbled. Leave off for a dairy-free version.
You'll also need the usual suspects: olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Directions with Pictures
You can prepare the strawberry basil topping or the chicken first.
- Chop strawberries into medium-sized dice.
- Stir fresh chopped basil, balsamic vinegar (or syrup,) olive oil, and feta or goat cheese into the strawberries.
- Note: Cheese and/or balsamic glaze can be added at serving time instead.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and sweet paprika. Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add chicken in a single layer and cook chicken for about 3-4 minutes on each side. Cooking time depends upon the thickness of the chicken.
- Note: Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 °F.
- Place chicken on a plate and spoon strawberry basil topping over the top.
I know what you may be thinking. Can you just spoon the strawberry basil topping over toasted bread or crackers? Yes, you can, and it's delicious!
How to Easily Cut Basil
You don't need to pull out a cutting board and knife. To cut fresh basil, stack the leaves, roll them, and use kitchen scissors to cut the basil into thin strips. The julienned pieces will be long or short depending upon the direction you roll the stack.
How to Make Balsamic Syrup
Balsamic glaze or syrup can be purchased at the grocery store. But it's easy to make! The directions below will yield more than you need, so you can use it with other things like Watermelon Salad or Caprese-style dishes.
- Place about half a cup of balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan. There's no need to add any sugar or sweetener, but you can add a pinch if desired.
- Bring vinegar to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to low and simmer until it turns syrupy and coats the back of a spoon when you stir it. It takes about 10-15 minutes, depending upon how much you want to reduce it! Ideally, the volume will be cut in half.
- Allow it to cool before using it in the recipe.
Store balsamic syrup for up to 3 months in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Tips for Working with Strawberries
If you want to use the freshest, juiciest strawberries, follow these tips:
- Store fresh strawberries in the refrigerator's crisper drawer unless you will be using them right away.
- It's best to wash and dice them just before using.
- To wash strawberries, place them in a colander and give them a quick rinse or submerge them quickly in water. They will absorb water, so don't soak them.
- Use a huller or a paring knife to quickly remove stems from a strawberry. I use a spoon just like my grandmother used to do!
- The strawberry topping for this recipe can be made earlier in the day if you like the juices to combine with the other ingredients, which is perfectly fine if desired.
I plated everything on top of a bed of baby spinach leaves. The result? A complete and very strawberry-licious meal!
More Elegant Chicken Dinner Recipes
- Chicken Bruschetta Melts - cooks in a skillet with a tomato topping.
- Parmesan Herb Crusted Chicken - bakes in the oven with a Parmesan herb breading.
- Baked Pesto Chicken - just 4 ingredients in this beauty!
Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a rating and tell us how you liked it!
📋 Recipe
Strawberry Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup basil leaves stacked, rolled and sliced into slivers
- 1 cup diced strawberries
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar or glaze
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil divided
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese
- 1 pound chicken cutlets
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Stir diced strawberries, chopped basil, balsamic vinegar (or syrup,) 1 teaspoon of olive oil, and crumbled cheese together in a bowl. Set aside.
- Heat remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Place cutlets in a single layer in the skillet, working in batches if necessary.
- Cook chicken for 3-4 minutes without disturbing. Flip to the other side and cook for 3-4 minutes more or until cooked through and internal temperature reaches 165 °F. Cooking time will vary depending upon the thickness of the chicken.
- Remove chicken to serving plate and spoon strawberry mixture on top.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on 1/17/2016 and has been updated to improve the reader experience.
Renee
What a way to brighten up chicken and make a feast for the eyes and the tummy!
Justine
I was a little on the fence about the strawberry bruschetta, but this was AMAZING. Looking forward to making it again!
Christina
What an incredible recipe! The flavors are insane! I'll be making this over and over