Grilled Chicken Tarragon with Tomato Sauce

Simple and easy, grilled chicken recipe, topped with a tomato tarragon sauce.

Grilled Chicken Tarragon with Tomato Sauce
Elise Bauer

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

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Servings 4 servings

You can easily swap out the tarragon for fresh basil.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon, chopped (or 2 teaspoons dried tarragon)

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

  • 2 teaspoons garlic, minced

  • 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast cutlets

  • Salt

  • Pepper

  • 1 (14-ounce) can whole, peeled tomatoes

  • 1/4 cup water

  • 1 shallot, diced (about 3 tablespoons)

  • 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.

    prepare chicken cutlets
    Elise Bauer
  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.

    saute onions for tarragon chicken
    Elise Bauer
    make sauce for grilled chicken tarragon
    Elise Bauer

    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.

  5. 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.

    grill chicken cutlets
    Elise Bauer

    Serve with tomato tarragon sauce.

Inspired by a recipe in Bon Appetit Magazine.

Grilled Chicken Tarragon with Tomato Sauce
Elise Bauer
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
401 Calories
16g Fat
7g Carbs
54g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 401
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g 21%
Saturated Fat 3g 16%
Cholesterol 145mg 48%
Sodium 353mg 15%
Total Carbohydrate 7g 2%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 54g
Vitamin C 15mg 75%
Calcium 52mg 4%
Iron 2mg 14%
Potassium 731mg 16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.