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Grilled California Avocado Chicken is tender chicken marinated in an amazing honey garlic balsamic sauce and is grilled to perfection! Topped with a thick slice of mozzarella cheese and avocados, tomatoes, and basil, this chicken is INCREDIBLE!!

The combination of chicken and avocado is one of my favorites! If you love California chicken and don’t have a grill try this delicious California avocado skillet chicken, Chicken Enchiladas with Avocado Cream, or Avocado Chicken Salad.

Grilled Chicken topped with avocado.

Grilled California Avocado Chicken

I could not wait to share with you this grilled California avocado chicken!  Cue all of the heart eye emojis for the avocado, tomato, and basil combination! My mouth was watering making this avocado salad of sorts to top off the chicken. It provides a fresh and delicious element on top of the moist, flavorful chicken. It also makes for a vibrant, colorful, and delicious presentation. So pretty!  In spite of looking too great to eat, this grilled California avocado chicken was quickly devoured by my family!

Usually, when something looks and tastes this good, I know I am going to have to put in lots of ingredients and lots of time to make it.  However, this avocado chicken comes together so quickly and easily I was shocked! I am telling you, this was one of the best things that I have ever thrown on the grill. I already can’t wait to make it again. The flavors came together so well and I know that this will become a family favorite at your house as well!

Avocado Chicken Ingredients

First of all, this chicken marinates in a honey garlic balsamic sauce. It marinates to perfection and honestly grills up tender and juicy! The flavor is absolutely unreal in this chicken.

  • Balsamic vinegar: This is the acidic ingredient in the marinade that will act as a tenderizer.
  • Honey:  Part of the marinade that adds flavor and keeps the chicken super juicy.
  • Garlic: Cloves, minced
  • Olive oil: The oil in your marinade will penetrate the meat, and bring the other flavors of the marinade along with it.
  • Italian seasoning:  The perfect blend of flavors for most things, but especially this avocado chicken!
  • Salt and pepper: To taste.
  • Chicken: Boneless skinless breasts will grill best.
  • Mozzarella: I love how fresh sliced mozzarella pairs with the tomato and basil, but any good melting cheese will work to smother the chicken.
  • Avocados: Diced to bite size perfection.
  • Roma tomatoes:  Any tomato will work, just be sure to cut into bite sized pieces.
  • Basil: Fresh chopped basil is perfect on this chicken.
  • Optional: Balsamic vinegar for drizzling

How to Grill California Chicken

And just when you think that it can’t get any better, top it with a thick slice of mozzarella cheese when it comes off of the grill. It gets so melty and ooey-gooey. Then, JUST when you think it can’t possibly get any better with the ooey-gooey cheese on top comes the avocado, tomato, and basil.  Mind blown!

  1. Marinate chicken: In a medium sized bowl, whisk the balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, olive oil, italian seasoning, and salt and pepper. Add the chicken breasts and coat. Marinate for 30 minutes.
  2. Mix avocado topping: Meanwhile, in a small bowl add the avocado, tomato, basil and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
  3. Grill: Heat the grill to medium high heat. Grill the chicken on each side about 6 minutes or until cooked throughout and no longer pink.
  4. Dress chicken and serve: Top with mozzarella cheese and avocado, tomato basil mixture. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and serve immediately.
Grilling the chicken, topping it with cheese, making the avocado topping and placing at the chicken.

Grilling the Perfect Grilled California Avocado Chicken

Chicken can be tricky to grill without drying it out, but I’ve got all the tips to keep it moist and tender.

  • Make sure your grill is clean before you begin and rub some oil on the grates to prevent the chicken from sticking.
  • Thinly sliced chicken breasts wonโ€™t take as long to reach temperature. If your chicken breasts are really thick, pound them to thin them out.  It will reduce cooking time and help it to cook more evenly.
  • Basic rule is 3-5 minutes per side on medium to high heat, but will vary depending on the thickness of your meat.
  • You are aiming for a medium, indirect heat while grilling so that the outside of the chicken does not burn while you get the inside up to temperature.
  • Keep the grill closed while cooking. This will keep the heat in and allow the chicken to cook quicker and more evenly.
  • The chicken is done the temperature reaches 165 degrees or the juices run clear.
  • The chicken will continue to cook slightly even after removed from the grill.
Chicken on the grill.

Variations for Grilled Chicken

It may not be possible to improve on this amazing recipe, but we tried.

  • Marinate: Marinate in a combination of olive oil, lime juice, cilantro and garlic. (The longer it marinates the more flavor you will get, so if you have more time, let it sit in the juices for up to 24 hours.)
  • Add more flavor! If you want even more spice and flavor: Add garlic seasoning on the chicken and use pepper jack cheese instead of mozzarella.
  • Toppings: To change it up, you could even add black olives or bacon on top. Because letโ€™s be honest.  Everything is better with bacon!
  • What to serve with it? Serve with rice, a fresh salad, or seasoned fingerling potatoes.
  • Bake instead of grilling: Cover the chicken with foil and cook chicken only at 350 for approximately 45 minutes depending on thickness of the chicken.  Then, uncover and add cheese and basil and place back in the oven for an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese melts.  Finally, top with the fresh avocado mixture immediately before serving.
Upclose picture of chicken topped with the avocado salsa and basil.

Storing Grilled Chicken

I am not sure you will have any leftovers with this delicious chicken but it is easy to store just in case. Here are a few steps to help keep your grilled chicken fresh.

  • Allow to cool after cooking no more than 2 hours before refrigerating or freezing.
  • Store in a shallow airtight container.
  • Grilled California Avocado Chicken will be good in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 4 months.
  • To avoid freezer burn be sure to pack your chicken tightly with airtight heavy-duty foil, plastic wrap or freezer paper or putting it in a freezer bag.
Grilled California Avocado chicken on a white plate with basil and sliced avocado garnish.

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Grilled California Avocado Chicken

4.85 from 46 votes
By: Alyssa Rivers
Grilled California Avocado Chicken marinates in an amazing honey garlic balsamic sauce and is grilled to perfection! It is topped with a thick slice of mozzarella cheese and avocados, tomatoes and basil. This chicken is INCREDIBLE!!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
Servings: 4 People

Equipment

  • Utopia Kitchen Cooking Knives

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • In a medium sized bowl whisk the balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, olive oil, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper. Add the chicken breasts and coat. Marinate for 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, in a small bowl add the avocado, tomato, basil and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
  • Heat the grill to medium high heat. Grill the chicken on each side about 6 minutes or until cooked throughout and no longer pink. Top with mozzarella cheese and avocado, tomato basil mixture. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and serve immediately.

Video

Notes

Updated on July 21, 2021
Originally Posted on June 11, 2017

Nutrition

Calories: 558kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 33gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 621mgPotassium: 1123mgFiber: 8gSugar: 27gVitamin A: 775IUVitamin C: 18.5mgCalcium: 198mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

A Reader’s Review

“So many good flavors! I w’ ill make this over and over forever!” – Andrea

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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Recipe Rating




149 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    LOVE! Cheese and all. Added bonus, my husband is a diabetic and his dietitian recommends using honey as a sweetener for him, thank you!

  2. 5 stars
    Amazing meal!!!! We left the honey out because we canโ€™t have the sugar and it was terrific!!!

  3. 4 stars
    I just finished making this for dinner tonight. It was excellent. The aroma from balsamic chicken is still hanging around maki g me just want to keep eating….thanks for the recipe….

  4. 5 stars
    Oh my GOD !!! This recipe was off the hook. I made this for my mother in law, my wife and myself and let me tell you what !!! OH MY GOD we LOVED it !!! And I am not a balsamic vinager guy. What a nice change to the usual chicken recipe. This is definitely going in my favorites. I did cut the breasts in half long ways and it was unbelievable. I cannot wait until summer so I can make the chicken on the grill.

  5. 2 stars
    Ok recipe but the cheese adds no value except to make increase risk of heart attack. Cajun spice or peri peri with avo salsa would be better.

  6. 5 stars
    We made the chicken for dinner last night. Let me just say that my niece’s husband wanted to lick his plate.

    This is so delicious and so easy. Thank you for sharing.

    1. The nice thing about this recipe is it does have a great variety on the chicken and you wouldn’t need a lot of sides for it. A salad would be great. A type of fruit salad would be great or rice. It does make it tricky because of the flavorful ingredients. Hope you enjoy it! XOXO

    2. This dish is delicious I served it with sautรฉed corn with diced red bell peppers and a small side of rice.

      1. That sounds delicious! I have my chicken marinating now. I’m going to roast a spaghetti squash while it hangs out in the fridge and serve it over that. I’m going to saute the spaghetti squash once its shredded with a little olive oil, garlic, salt and basil!

        I also added fresh minced garlic to the tomato/avocado mix!

  7. My 14 year old son and husband ask for this weekly!
    So glad I found this website. We have tried many recipes and they are all keepers.

  8. I cant wait to try this! The balsamic you added at the end looks thickened….what kind is it? Thanks!

    1. I’m not sure if she did this per say but If you saute balsamic vinegar, it will cook the vinegar out and create a almost no calorie delicious sweetened sauce and its the same sauce you would use to top a caprease pizza if you know what that is.

    2. That didnโ€™t look like Balsamic Vinegar. That was Balsamic Glaze. Itโ€™s too thick to be vinegar and tastes different too. You donโ€™t want to use vinegar on cooked chicken.

  9. The marinade that the chicken was in can you put it in a pan and cook it down for a glaze….my husband wants me to make this for dinner….thanks