Healthy Grilled Chimichurri Chicken

(5.0)
By Judy Capodanno
Published 2/7/2022
Dietitian Reviewed: Jane Schwartz, RDN, CLT
Approved for These Diets:
Heart Healthy | Gluten Free | Diabetic
Healthy Grilled Chimichurri Chicken

This Argentinian grilled chimichurri chicken is a flavorful powerhouse, combining smoky grilled chicken breasts with an irresistible blend of parsley, cilantro, garlic, vinegar and olive oil. The chimichurri sauce can be refrigerated for up to two weeks so you can use leftovers in other delicious meals, too!

Total Time
30 minutes
Servings
4
Calories
236
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Why You’ll Love This Healthy Grilled Chimichurri Chicken

When you’re in the mood for a fresh, vibrant chicken dish, this is one of the best grilled chicken recipes to try. Our grilled chicken with chimichurri is made with skinless chicken breasts, so it is low in saturated fat. The chicken is topped with an Argentinian-inspired sauce made from fresh parsley and cilantro, along with garlic, oregano, chili pepper, olive oil and red wine vinegar. It’s a great meal to eat if you’re looking for a low calorie chicken recipe. It’s also low fat, low sodium and 100% gluten-free. Despite the “green stuff” on the chicken, you’ll be surprised by how much kids will also love this flavorful grilled chicken.

This chimichurri grilled chicken is a heart-healthy chicken recipe that is low in saturated fat (2g), low cholesterol (65mg), low sodium (223mg) and low calorie (236 cals). By using lean chicken breasts flavored only with spices and then adding a sauce made from fresh herbs with just a little olive oil, this dish promotes heart health. And since it also has no carbs, it’s a diabetic-friendly chicken recipe that provides essential nutrients like iron and vitamin C along with a solid dose of protein.

Chimichurri sauce is quick and easy to make! Simply combine olive oil and red wine vinegar with fresh herbs and spices, like parsley, cilantro, garlic, red chili pepper, oregano, salt and pepper. Let the mixture sit for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. This healthy chimichurri recipe is rich in healthy fat from the olive oil and packed with antioxidant-rich herbs like parsley and cilantro, but what you’ll notice the most is that it tastes delicious!

In addition to our chimichurri recipe for chicken, you can use chimichurri sauce to enhance a variety of dishes, such as grilled meat, seafood and roasted vegetables. It can even be used as a delicious marinade. Its tangy and herbaceous flavor profile complements the smokiness of grilled foods perfectly. And since the sauce doesn’t need much salt because it’s so flavorful, it’s a wonderful way to enjoy a low sodium chicken recipe if you need to watch your salt intake.

Ingredients

Recipe yields 4 servings

Chimichurri Sauce

Grilled Chicken

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How to Make Grilled Chimichurri Chicken

Chimichurri Sauce

  1. In a bowl, combine the oil, vinegar, parsley, cilantro, garlic, chili pepper, oregano, salt and black pepper. Set aside at room temperature for 10 minutes or up to 2 hours.

Grilled Chicken

  1. Step 1

    Preheat a grill to 425° over medium-high heat.

  2. Step 2

    In a small bowl, combine the cumin, coriander, salt and black pepper.

  3. Step 3

    Brush both sides of the chicken with 1 tablespoon of the chimichurri sauce. Rub the chicken evenly with cumin mixture.

  4. Step 4

    Grill the chicken until it registers 165° on a meat thermometer, about 4 minutes per side. Serve the chicken topped with the remaining chimichurri sauce.

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size:
4 oz chicken

236
Calories
15
g
Fat
65
mg
Cholesterol
223
mg
Sodium
0
g
Carbs
2
g
Sat. Fat
0
g
Fiber
26
g
Protein
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More Healthy Recipes Like Grilled Chimichurri Chicken

Herbs are nature’s flavor enhancers and are a source of powerful nutrients. They’re also what give this healthy recipe the characteristic flavor you’ll savor. Some of our other favorite dishes that use herbs to boost flavor rather than relying on salt include Salmon with Salsa Verde and Mediterranean Chicken and Tomatoes. If you’re also looking for healthy recipes with grilled chicken, we have those, too!

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