Description
This Grilled Chicken in Spinach Marinara Heaven recipe combines perfectly grilled chicken breasts with a flavorful spinach and marinara sauce, served over linguine for a hearty and satisfying Italian-inspired meal. The chicken is cooked on a charcoal grill for smokey flavor, then simmered in a rich sauce with fresh vegetables and herbs, creating a deliciously balanced and wholesome dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
- Salt, to taste
- Ground Black Pepper, to taste
Vegetables and Herbs
- 2 stalks Scallion
- 3 Button Mushrooms
- 6 Fresh Basil Leaves
- 1 Tomato
- 1 Onion
- 1 tablespoon Garlic
- 2 cups Fresh Baby Spinach
Other Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- 2 cups Marinara Sauce
- 8 ounces Linguine
- 1 tablespoon Dried Parsley
- 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- Prepare and Season Chicken: Butterfly or slice each boneless, skinless chicken breast in half. Season both sides generously with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Grill Chicken: Place the chicken breasts on a hot charcoal grill. Cook for 4-5 minutes on each side until grill marks form and chicken is partially cooked. Remove from heat as it will finish cooking later.
- Slice Chicken: Remove the chicken from the grill and slice it into thin pieces for easier incorporation into the sauce.
- Sauté Onion: Place a cast iron skillet over the grill. Add unsalted butter and diced onion to the skillet. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant and starting to soften.
- Add Spinach: Add fresh baby spinach to the skillet with the onions. Cook for 1-2 minutes until spinach wilts down but remains vibrant green.
- Add Vegetables and Marinara: Stir in garlic, sliced button mushrooms, diced tomato, fresh basil leaves, and marinara sauce. Mix all together thoroughly to combine the flavors.
- Add Scallions and Cook: Add the chopped scallions to the skillet, stir to combine, then close the grill lid and let the mixture cook for 1 minute to marry the flavors.
- Finish Cooking Chicken in Sauce: Return the sliced grilled chicken to the skillet and mix with the sauce. Cook for an additional 5 minutes to ensure the chicken is fully cooked and flavors meld.
- Combine with Linguine: Cook linguine according to package instructions until al dente, drain, and then add to the chicken and sauce mixture. Stir thoroughly to coat the pasta evenly.
- Season and Serve: Season the combined dish with dried parsley and an additional teaspoon of ground black pepper. Stir well and serve immediately for a delicious, hearty meal.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh herbs and vegetables to enhance the flavor of the sauce.
- Maintain medium heat on the grill to avoid overcooking the chicken while ensuring it gets a good sear.
- You can substitute linguine with your preferred pasta type.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- If you don’t have a charcoal grill, a stovetop grill pan can be an alternative for grilling the chicken.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: grilled chicken, spinach marinara, linguine recipe, Italian chicken pasta, healthy chicken dinner
