Mediterranean Chicken Marinade

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One of my favorite trips for eating Iโ€™ve ever been on was to France, particularly Provence. Everything just tasted better there. The market was full of fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and sausages. They used herbs and oils pretty liberally and the flavor shined through. One of the souvenirs I brought back was a bag of herbes de Provence. Little did I realize you can get this at most grocery stores in America. This marinade uses the oils, vinegar, and herbs for a flavorful outcome. A hint of nutmeg in the marinade brings out the earthiness of the chicken(Rachael Ray taught me that one).

Mediterranean Chicken Marinade

Ingredients:

  • 1lb boneless, skinless chicken
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 tablespoons herbes de Provence(or any Italian herb blend)
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, or 1 1/2 Tablespoon whole cloves

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Mix together all of the ingredients except the chicken to make the marinade. Pour it into a Ziploc bag and add the chicken. Leave the chicken in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight to marinate.

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Once ready, preheat an oven to 350 degrees. Bake the chicken in its sauce for 45 minutes or until done if youโ€™re using a thick cut like the breast. Remove the bay leaf and any whole cloves of nutmeg before serving. Pour some of the excess sauce at the end on top for added flavor.

December 31st 011

The olive oil and herbs make this taste fresh and flavorful straight from the oven. Itโ€™s excellent with some light vegetables with the extra liquid poured over them to join the flavors. This is one of my new favorite recipes to throw together in the morning and cook at night.

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23 Responses to Mediterranean Chicken Marinade
  1. Nourhan @ Miss Anthropist's Kitchen
    January 7, 2011 | 11:04 am

    That looks AMAZING. I am envious of all the cooking you do! I also love how it’s just a matter of throwing ingredients into a bag. I need to take a break from baking and start cooking up one of your recipes ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Erin @ Big Girl Feats
    January 7, 2011 | 11:44 am

    You’ve been to France?! I’m so jealous. This looks delicious, as does your dumplings post. I am so impressed with your recipes! I’m in a cooking slump and these are making me want to bust out of it.

  3. Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
    January 7, 2011 | 12:48 pm

    Such a foodie, you’ve been to France! You should do a trip recap post, even if it was ages ago, it would still be fun to read about!

  4. melissa @ the delicate place
    January 7, 2011 | 1:41 pm

    so good, i miss france ( i went last march) and the food was out of this world! love herbes de Provence, i often roast a whole chicken brined in it!

  5. Brindusa@Cooking with my soul
    January 7, 2011 | 2:49 pm

    Chicken breast has a blunt taste, but marinated like this it is wonderful. I like what you did here.

  6. Kate (What Kate is Cooking)
    January 7, 2011 | 2:57 pm

    When I was in France, I was so poor I ate exclusively from grocery stores ๐Ÿ™‚ I would love to say that I ate at a real restaurant, but alas… maybe next time ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. Salah@myhealthiestlifestyle
    January 7, 2011 | 4:18 pm

    oh I will definitely be using this recipe! I LOVE mediterranean food!

  8. Ela
    January 7, 2011 | 4:29 pm

    Throw together am and cook pm is such a good way to go! Interesting substitution between cloves and nutmeg: they’re so different! Both so good. Both little-goes-long-way. My husband’s finicky about herbs, and I wish he weren’t because being Mediterranean myself, I love to fix stuff like this (but don’t eat chicken!)

  9. Sana
    January 7, 2011 | 5:19 pm

    I have a confession. I mainly read food blogs for the funny stories and the pretty pictures. You have both.

    However, I find myself wanting to make some of the things you post.

    I don’t know who I am anymore.

    • Wannabe Chef
      January 7, 2011 | 5:21 pm

      You will cook one day, or my name isn’t Jezebel Stevens.

  10. Lisa @ Thrive Style
    January 7, 2011 | 5:41 pm

    Looks like a great marinade! I love broccoli with chicken ๐Ÿ™‚

  11. Anna Johnston
    January 8, 2011 | 7:41 pm

    This sounds really awesome, love the addition of cloves & nutmeg it would really sweeten the deal. Beautiful flavours, very French ๐Ÿ™‚

  12. Elliott
    January 8, 2011 | 11:16 pm

    I am no photography guru by any means, but those pictures are awesome!!! The chicken sounds (and looks) delicious…now I must clean the saliva off of my keyboard!

    • Wannabe Chef
      January 9, 2011 | 11:46 am

      Thanks! That’s one thing I’ve been working on lately.

  13. Amanda (Eating Up)
    January 9, 2011 | 2:44 am

    That chicken looks beautiful! Like it’s wearing a really expensive sweater.

    …I realize that sounds incredibly weird.

  14. Robyn
    April 17, 2011 | 2:33 pm

    Excellent! My family loved it. I only had white balsamic but it was fine. I think it would be great to make extra to put on top of a Greek salad or in pot pie.

  15. Janie
    May 18, 2012 | 9:22 pm

    This recipe was so delicious! I tried out 3 different mediterranean chicken recipes at the same time to determine which was the best. This one was the clear winner! This recipe was the most flavorful and it tasted even better the next day!

    • Wannabe Chef
      May 18, 2012 | 10:12 pm

      Wow! Can’t say I’ve ever won a taste test before ๐Ÿ™‚ Glad you liked the recipe!

  16. […] hardest part was picking what to make. We ended up settling on Mediterranean chicken, a pretty basic salad, sautรฉed broccoli, and this potato recipe. Iโ€™d seen vanilla used with […]

  17. Dina
    April 17, 2013 | 11:30 am

    Trying it out today! Chicken breast marinading for dinner.

  18. Anitbit
    June 5, 2013 | 10:48 am

    I am going to try this tonight- I bought all of the ingredients yesterday – Thanks,

  19. AndrevS
    January 16, 2015 | 12:20 pm

    Very easy and tasty. Passed by the review committee (husband and son) with flying colours. Will definitely make again. Thanks, LinMarie.

  20. Chuck
    August 17, 2015 | 4:02 pm

    I cook a LOT, and used to cook in the restaurant business, and this is hands down one of the best marinades for chicken I’ve ever tried. It’s quick, simple and delicious!!! If you haven’t tried it yet, you’re depriving your family and friends of a GREAT meal experience!