The Ultimate Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Recipe
A delicious and elegant Blackberry Balsamic Chicken recipe featuring juicy chicken breasts baked in a sweet and tangy blackberry balsamic sauce. This dish combines fresh blackberries, rich balsamic vinegar, and honey for a glossy, flavorful glaze that perfectly complements the tender baked chicken breasts. Garnished with fresh thyme, it’s a stunning and tasty meal perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz each)
Sauce
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blackberries
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar (use good quality)
- 2 tbsp honey (raw or local preferred)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Additional
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for greasing the baking dish)
- Fresh thyme sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a baking dish with 1 tablespoon of olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Cook Blackberry Sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine blackberries, balsamic vinegar, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 10 minutes.
- Smash Blackberries: As the blackberries soften during cooking, gently smash them with a fork to release juices, but keep some texture intact; avoid turning them into complete mush.
- Thicken Sauce: Continue simmering the sauce until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon and appears glossy and vibrant.
- Season Chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly with salt and pepper on both sides before placing them in the prepared baking dish.
- Coat Chicken with Sauce: Pour the blackberry balsamic sauce over the chicken breasts, ensuring each piece is fully covered in the rich sauce.
- Bake Chicken: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the juices run clear.
- Rest and Garnish: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs before serving to add aroma and color.
Notes
- Use fresh blackberries for the best flavor, but frozen can work well if thawed.
- Make sure to use a good quality balsamic vinegar to avoid bitterness and enhance the sauce’s sweetness.
- Honey adds natural sweetness; feel free to adjust the amount according to your taste preference.
- Resting the chicken after baking helps retain juices, making it more tender and flavorful.
- Internal temperature of 165°F ensures the chicken is safely cooked.
Keywords: Blackberry Balsamic Chicken, Baked Chicken Breast, Sweet and Tangy Chicken, Easy Dinner Recipes, Fruit Sauce Chicken
