Simple and easy, grilled chicken recipe, topped with a tomato tarragon sauce.
Here’s a quick and easy grilled chicken cutlet recipe that is served with a side of a simple tarragon-infused tomato sauce.
We’ve updated the recipe since we first posted it in 2007, the original recipe used fresh tomatoes, and just puréed them without cooking them.
I prefer the taste of cooked tomatoes for a sauce like this, and since the sauce cooks up so quickly, it’s easy enough to make while the grill is heating.
If you don’t have a grill, you can easily cook the chicken cutlets in a little olive oil on medium high heat on the stovetop.
Tarragon takes the stage with this recipe, but if you don’t have it, or don’t like it, my father suggests substituting it with basil.
Grilled Chicken Tarragon with Tomato Sauce Recipe
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
You can easily swap out the tarragon for fresh basil.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon (or 2 teaspoons dried tarragon)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 1/2 pounds of chicken breast cutlets
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 14-ounce can whole, peeled tomatoes
- 1/4 water
- 1 shallot, diced (about 3 Tbsp)
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Method
1 Make garlic tarragon oil: In a medium bowl, combine 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, and 1 Tbsp of chopped fresh tarragon (or a teaspoon of dried tarragon).
2 Prepare chicken cutlets: If your boneless, skinless chicken breasts are not already in cutlet form, slice them in half horizontally, or place them between two pieces of plastic wrap and use a meat pounder to pound them into an even 1/2-inch thickness.
Sprinkle the cutlets with salt and pepper. Add them to the olive oil, garlic, tarragon mixture. Let sit at room temperature while you prepare the sauce and heat the grill.
3 Prepare your grill for high, direct heat.
4 Make the tomato tarragon sauce: While the grill is heating (whether it be charcoal or gas), prepare the sauce. Place the canned tomatoes in a food processor or blender and pulse until puréed.
In a medium sauté pan, heat a tablespoon of olive oil on medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the minced shallots and garlic and cook until just fragrant, less than a minute.
Add the puréed tomatoes and water to the shallots and garlic. Add the balsamic vinegar and 1 Tbsp of chopped fresh tarragon (or a teaspoon of dry tarragon). Add salt and pepper to taste. (If the sauce seems too acidic, you can add a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity.)
Bring to a simmer and lower the heat to maintain a very low simmer while you grill the chicken.
4 Grill the chicken: Grill the chicken cutlets until nicely browned and cooked through, about 2 minutes per side, less or more time depending on how thick the cutlets are.
Serve with tomato tarragon sauce.
Inspired by a recipe in Bon Appetit Magazine.
