Baked chicken breast marinated in Italian dressing is one of our favorite ways to prepare chicken. This is definitely a restaurant secret to a perfect plate of cooked chicken breast.
Italian Dressing Chicken Marinade – Delicious Baked Chicken
Want to know what makes one of the best chicken marinades? Italian Dressing! Grab a bottle of your favorite brand of Italian dressing and you have one of our favorite marinades for chicken. This is a basic technique that even a beginner cook can accomplish. Don’t forget to glaze with that extra layer of BBQ sauce.
Italian Dressing Chicken Marinade is perfect for a Tender, Juicy and Delicious Chicken –
Italian Dressing Chicken Marinade
Step 1. How to Marinate Chicken – Place 1 lb. boneless chicken breasts in a dish and lightly salt. Pour 1/2 – 3/4 cup of Italian dressing over the chicken. Make sure both sides are coated with dressing. Let sit for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours. You can also place your chicken in a ziplock bag and lay flat in the refrigerator. Never marinate longer than 24 hours.
Step 2. How to Cook Marinated Chicken – Bake marinated chicken or grill chicken breasts until cooked through. Grill chicken breast for about 9-10 minutes, flipping breasts halfway through cooking. Baste with additional dressing or your favorite BBQ sauce. To cook marinated chicken in the skillet – If the chicken breasts are thin, cook each side for about 4 minutes in an oiled skillet. Bake chicken breast in the oven for about 25-30 minutes or until cooked through. Brush with a BBQ glaze the last few minutes of cooking.
How Long Can You Marinate Chicken Breasts in Dressing?
The quick answer is no longer than 24 hours. It’s never a good idea to marinate chicken breasts longer than 24 hours as it can become mushy.
- You can also add about 1/2- 3/4 cup of Italian dressing to a resealable plastic bag and refrigerate chicken for 2- 4 hours but not longer than 24 hours and the chicken can start to break down.
- Want even more flavorful chicken? Brush chicken with your favorite BBQ sauce while grilling for a spectacular chicken dinner.
- Marinated chicken breasts make delicious chicken sandwiches or use in your chicken salad for a burst of flavor.
Why Use Italian Dressing as a Marinade?
Most restaurants know that chicken marinated in plain oil will make a tender and juicy chicken. But you can add a couple extra layers of delicious flavor by using this flavorful salad dressing instead of plain oil.
Variations
You can also use bone-in or boneless pork chops. Also, steaks do well with an Italian dressing marinade and so do boneless chicken thighs. We do love using boneless chicken thighs for this recipe as they are very tasty and also super economical. When swapping out chicken breasts for chicken thighs, remember chicken thighs are a little thicker and need a bit of a longer cook time.
How to Store Marinated Chicken Breasts
After the chicken has been cooked it can be stored in the refrigerator for about 4 days in an airtight container.
Can I freeze Marinated Chicken Breasts?
Yes, you can freeze your marinated uncooked chicken. Marinate chicken for about 12 hours and then place the chicken breasts in a freezer bag. You can freeze this chicken up to 6 months. Thaw chicken and use immediately.
Choose Healthy Chicken Breasts for your Recipes
All chickens are not the same. So always buy the healthiest chicken possible for you and your family. Read our article on how to choose the healthiest chicken for your family.
What to Serve with Italian Dressing Marinated Chicken
Lightly brush zucchini slices with marinade before grilling.
Mashed garlic potatoes make a great side dish. Try our Garlic Redskin Mashed Potatoes
Serve with Grilled Hash brown Potatoes
What to Do with Leftover Chicken
Slice marinated chicken and serve on your healthy salad along with plenty of healthy vegetables
Chop chicken and stuff in pita pockets with shredded lettuce and tomato
Use as a topping for chicken pizza – add your favorite cheese
Add to your rice bowls as delicious protein – this flavorful marinated chicken in Italian dressing is the perfect addition to any rice bowl.
Try Some of Our Family Favorite Recipes
Chicken Stir fry with Italian Salad Dressing and Noodles
You will also love our BBQ and Pineapple Crockpot Chicken
How to make Basic Meatloaf
Velveeta Mac and Cheese
