Perfect Thyme Chicken
Perfect Thyme Chicken is on heavy repeat in the monthly recipe rotation in our house. What’s even better, we never get tired of it. The marinade is so flavorful and helps to keep the chicken tender and juicy. When it is grilled, it adds some smokiness too. If you don’t feel like heating up the grill, no problem! It can be cooked on a grill pan, in a skillet or baked int he oven. It is hard to go wrong with this simple, flavorful Perfect Thyme Chicken.
The Marinade
Just a few simple ingredients- dried thyme, freshly ground pepper, a little salt, olive oil and Ume Plum Vinegar. Ume Plum Vinegar has a unique salty flavor that I would describe as red wine vinegar meets soy sauce. It is considered to be anti-inflammatory, making a good choice if you are on an autoimmune protocol (AIP) diet. The salt and vinegar help to tenderize the meat and hold natural juices in. And it doesn’t need to marinate for very long! Less than 2 hours is best. Due to the high acidity in the marinade, you don’t want it to sit in this mixture for more a longer period of time because it could begin to toughen the chicken. Essentially “cooking” the meat proteins, but without cooking it in a ways that is safe to eat.
All of the ingredients go into a bowl or zippered bag (my choice). Get it all mixed well to coat the chicken evenly. Let it rest in the fridge until you are ready to cook.
A Meal with Perfect Thyme Chicken
Thyme and pepper add wonderful flavor that highlights the chicken instead of overpowering it. This allows you to pair it with just about any side or starch for easy menu planning. I always try to have an Awesome Sauce like Basil, Parsley, Mint or Cilantro handy to go with it too. In the picture, I made Pasta with Bacon and Peas that night for dinner. It is also great with Roasted Gourmet Potatoes, Roasted Green Beans and Pesto Zoodles if you are trying to stay low carb. Trying to balance out a meal for carnivores and vegetarians? Try my Veggie Lasagna if they will eat cheese or sub vegan cheese;-)
Perfect Thyme Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- ½ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp Ume Plum Vinegar (you can sub apple cider vinegar but it will change the flavor)
Instructions
- In a bowl, baking pan or large ziplock bag add all ingredients. Mix until chicken is evenly coated with the seasonings.
- Let chicken marinate for a few hours or overnight to really absorb all of the delicious flavors.
- Grill or bake until the chicken reaches an internal temp of 160 degrees. Let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes before cutting it so that it will remain juicy.
