Balsamic Dill Chicken

This 20-minute Balsamic Dill Chicken is an easy weeknight dinner. It’s quick to prepare and makes for delicious leftovers or meal prep! With multiple ways to cook and serve it, you can really make it your own!

Originally posted August 24, 2022. Updated March 4, 2025.

 

Why you need to try this recipe

As much as I love cooking and creating recipes, I don’t love spending hours in the kitchen only to create one meal. This dish only takes about 20 minutes from start to finish, leaving you with tons of extra time to do the things you love.
You only need a few ingredients to make this dill chicken recipe, most of which are probably in your pantry already!
There are several ways to cook a chicken breast or thigh and I have included a variety of options for you to choose from.
The key to maintaining healthy habits, like cooking at home, is to cut corners when you can and enjoy the process as much as possible. This recipe barely has any more corners to cut and I feel pretty confident you’re going to love the final product.

Ingredients for Balsamic Dill Chicken

Here’s what you need for this recipe:

• Chicken breasts or chicken thighs
  • The size of chicken breasts will vary greatly, depending on where you purchase them. This recipe makes 4-5 chicken breasts but can be adjusted for more. If you prefer chicken thighs, you could use them instead, likely doubling the number of thighs for the same amounts of marinade.
• Olive oil
  • The olive oil that I use has a very light and mild flavour. 
• Dijon mustard
  • The dijon mustard gives a perfectly tangy flavour to the chicken.
• Balsamic vinegar
  • When the balsamic vinegar is cooked it adds a delicious sweet afternote to the chicken that can’t be missed. 
• Dill
  • I used dried dill in this recipe because you need less to achieve the same flavour and it’s less likely to go bad in the fridge!
• Garlic
  • What is a meal without garlic? This recipe calls for 3-4 cloves of fresh garlic but if you prefer more, go for it! 

Substitutions

If you don’t have some of the suggested ingredients or you would like to make some adjustments, here are a few of my recommended substitutions:

• Avocado oil
  • If you prefer another neutral oil instead of olive oil, like avocado oil or canola oil, feel free to use this instead.
• Red wine vinegar
  • If you don’t have balsamic vinegar available, try using the same amount of red wine vinegar and add a touch of maple syrup or honey to achieve a similar flavour profile.
• Chopped fresh dill
  • Instead of dried dill, we can use the fresh stuff! Use ½ tbsp of fresh for every ½ tsp of dried dill that’s recommended.
• Garlic powder
  • Use this instead of fresh garlic cloves. One garlic clove is equivalent to 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder.
• Lemon juice
  • If you’re looking for an ingredient that brightens up this dish even more, consider squeezing half of a fresh lemon on top of all the cooked chicken. This will pair so nicely with the dill and garlic.

How to make Balsamic Dill Chicken

Let’s make this delicious meal!

1. If you plan to cook this in the oven or a barbeque, preheat your oven or barbeque to 400°F.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the olive oil, dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, dried dill and garlic until it’s well combined.
3. Add the raw chicken breasts or thighs to this mixture and mix well until the chicken is completely covered in the marinade. Season with a bit of salt and pepper.
4. Cook according to any of the method instructions that are listed below.
5. Once cooked, serve with your choice of sides. It pairs nicely with roasted potatoes and broccoli or as a protein source to salads. Enjoy!

Cooking Methods

Cooking chicken can be intimidating to some because of the risk of undercooking it. Thankfully, with a variety of options, it’s not as daunting as you may think. 

Bonus! If you can get your hands on a meat thermometer, you can be even more confident that your chicken is cooked to the correct and safe temperature.

 

Here are your options for this recipe:

• Air Fryer
  • I love using the air fryer a lot in the summer, since it’s way too hot to turn on the oven! It cooks foods so quickly, saving a huge amount of time when you’re hungry and in a rush. The chicken cooks through in 12-15 minutes, broccoli in less than 5 and potatoes in about 10-15 minutes. It’s a game changer!
• BBQ or Grill
  • There’s something about BBQ’d chicken that just feels like summer. Maybe because most people only use BBQs in the summer months, but I do know a few brave souls who grill all year round in Canada. Kudos to you! For this recipe, preheat the grill to 400ºF, make sure any leftover food is scraped off the grill and then cook the chicken for 6-8 minutes each side, depending on the thickness of the meat. Make sure you’re reaching an internal temperature of the chicken of 165°F.
• Oven
  • If you want to keep it simple and bake the chicken, preheat your oven to 400°F. Place the chicken breasts or thighs on a lined or greased baking sheet and into the oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F and it is cooked through.

Serving Balsamic Dill Chicken

One of the many great things about this recipe is that it’s very versatile. Here are some of my recommended ways to enjoy it.

• Traditional
  • Serve as a part of a balanced plate of protein, starch and vegetables. 
  • This chicken goes well with roasted or mashed potatoes, a side of rice or some cooked grains like quinoa, couscous or barley. 
  • Add a side of your favourite grilled or roasted vegetables like green beans, broccoli, asparagus, zucchini or bell pepper. Don’t forget to finish it off with a side of tzatziki or sour cream. Yum!
• Salad
  • Adding this grilled chicken to a fresh and simple salad is a great way to boost the protein content. 
  • To the salad pictured in this post, I have included a mix of spinach and lettuce, cherry tomatoes, garden cucumber and fresh dill. I drizzled on some olive oil and balsamic vinegar as a dressing and topped with a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
• Handheld
  • This chicken would also be delicious in a wrap or sandwich! May I suggest filling it up with your choice of greens, tomato, cheese, dijon mustard, mayonnaise and fresh dill?! 
• Leafy handheld
  • Lettuce wraps could be a great way to mix up the dinner variety. Have some fun in the kitchen by slicing the chicken into strips or bite sized pieces and add them to a leaf of romaine, iceberg or boston lettuce. Top with some water chestnuts, green onions, fresh dill and some cooked grains for extra satisfaction. Spread a dollop of tzatziki on top and enjoy!

 

Dietary Considerations

This Balsamic Dill Chicken recipe meets a variety of individual preferences and dietary restrictions! This dish is already gluten free, nut free and soy free. No need to make any adjustments!

I hope this 20-Minute Balsamic Dill Chicken is the saving grace for your weeknight meals. 

More chicken recipes:

• Mediterranean Chicken Orzo Bake
• Chicken Quinoa Bowls (Fajita Style)
• Yogurt and Dill Marinated Grilled Chicken
• Sheet Pan Dijon Chicken and Rosemary Potatoes
• Peanut Lime Chicken with Zesty Rice Noodles

 

If you make this Balsamic Dill Chicken, I would love to see your comment and rating below. It also makes my day seeing your creations of my recipes on Instagram- don’t forget to tag @allnutrition.rd!