Italian Herb Chicken with Caesar Dressing Dip is a delicious entrée or appetizer. A marinade with garlic, lemon juice and Italian herbs infuses chicken tenderloins. A creamy and tangy homemade Caesar dressing is the perfect dipping sauce for the sauteed chicken bites.
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why you'll love this recipe
Looking for a tasty appetizer or fun dinner recipe? This Italian Herb Chicken is just what you need.
The bite sized chicken tenderloin pieces are so juicy. Adding an easy Italian chicken marinade of garlic, lemon, and herbs makes the dish is so bright and with lots of flavor. A quick sauté produces perfectly golden brown chicken bites brimming with savory goodness.
The homemade Caesar dressing is rich and luxurious with a balance of citrus, salty and earthy flavors. It's the perfect dipping sauce for the garlicky lemon chicken.
This Italian and Herb Chicken recipe is not only scrumptious it's gluten free and low carb too.
You'll love that this herbed chicken is:
- Easy to make ~ This recipe is made with a handful ingredients and just a few simple steps.
- Super flavorful ~ The marinade of lemon juice, Italian spices and garlic infuses the chicken with tons of bright flavor. The dish gets an extra punch of deliciousness from the tangy parmesan Caesar dip.
- Versatile ~ This easy recipe is tasty as an appetizer or entrée. Any leftover chicken can be tossed in a salad or tucked in a wrap sandwich the next day.
ingredients and substitutions
Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. I've included some substitutions too. Scroll to the recipe card for full quantities of all the ingredients.
- chicken tenderloins ~ Easy substitutions include skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
- olive oil ~ Other oils to try include extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, and sunflower oil.
- lemon juice ~ Fresh squeezed lemon juice adds citrusy flavor while tenderizing the chicken.
- Worcestershire sauce ~ Soy sauce can be used as an alternative.
- garlic cloves ~ Garlic powder can be used as a substitute.
- dried oregano
- dried thyme
- smoked paprika ~ Just a bit adds a smoky undertone to the marinade.
- kosher salt ~ The larger grain salt enhances the flavor of food without making it overly salty.
- fresh ground black pepper ~ It's more flavorful than already ground pepper.
- grated Parmesan cheese ~ Substitutes include Grana Padano or Pecorino Romano.
- fresh basil ~ The peppery herb adds a pop of color and flavor. Dried basil can be used in a pinch.
- Caesar dressing dip ~ This is my go-to dressing recipe. I make it a couple times a month. It's rich, tangy, creamy and luxurious.
recipe instructions
Gather the simple ingredients and everyday kitchen tools to make this Italian chicken recipe. This is a brief overview of the flavorful recipe. Scroll to the recipe card for the complete instructions.
Place the chicken in a bowl with the marinade ingredients. Toss to coat the chicken with the marinade.
Cover and marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
Sauté the marinated chicken for 3-4 minutes or until browned and cooked through.
Sprinkle the chicken with grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh basil and serve with Caesar dip.
Hint: Be sure not to crowd the pan with sauteing the chicken. Spread it evenly in the pan so the pieces aren't touching. If the pan is too cramped, the chicken with steam rather than get a golden brown crust.
variations
Italian Herb Chicken is a gluten free, keto-friendly and low carb recipe. Try some of these variations to make the recipe one of your favorites.
- Spicy - Add chili pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper along with the dried herbs in the marinade.
- A touch of sweetness - Add 1 tablespoon of honey or light brown sugar to balance the flavors.
- Add a new dip - Try my Fresh Basil Hummus, Easy Tzatziki Sauce, or Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing as alternate dips.
recommended equipment
Having the right equipment can make cooking a breeze. I recommend the following kitchen utensils and equipment for this easy chicken recipe.
- chef knife
- cutting boards
- stacking glass bowls
- measuring cups
- metal measuring spoons
- large sauté pan
- metal tongs
- digital thermometer
- white platters - for serving
alternate cooking methods
Try these different cooking methods to add unique flavor to the Italian herb chicken.
- Bake - Place the chicken on a rimmed baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees F for 10-15 minutes.
- Broil - Place chicken on a rimmed baking sheet and broil for 3-4 minutes per side.
- Grill - Thread the marinated chicken on metal or wooden skewers. Cook on a grill pan or a grill for about 3-4 minutes per side. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for about 20 minutes to prevent them from burning.
storage and heating
Follow these tips for storing the chicken in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Refrigerator ~ Completely cool the chicken and store in an airtight container (I use these meal prep containers) in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, microwave on 60 percent power for 1-2 minutes. Continue heating at 30 second intervals until heated through. Alternately heat in sauté pan over medium low heat or a 350 degree F oven for 10 minutes.
- Freezer ~ Completely cool the chicken and store in an airtight container (I use these meal prep containers) in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge. To reheat, microwave on 60 percent power for 1-2 minutes. Continue heating at 30 second intervals until heated through. Alternately heat in sauté pan over medium low heat or a 350 degree F oven for 10 minutes.
top tip
Don't over marinate the chicken. 15-20 minutes can make a huge difference in the flavor of marinated chicken. A little bit of tenderizing from the salt, sugars and acids (i.e. citrus juice) is good. Too long of a marinating time (anything over 24 hours) will break down the fibers in the meat and cause it to get stringy and mushy.
FAQ
Garlic! Citrus juices such as lemon or lime and herbs like oregano, thyme, basil, and rosemary add and enhance the flavor of chicken too.
Dried herbs have more intense and potent flavor than their fresh counterparts making them ideal for marinades.
Don't overcook it. Use an instant read digital thermometer to check when chicken is cooked to perfection. It should have an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
what to serve with this dish
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Italian herb marinated chicken:
more recipes like this one
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Get all my chicken recipes here.
just one more thing
Did you make my Italian Herb Chicken recipe? I’d love hearing from you.
Be sure to leave a comment. Or give this recipe a rating. I do my best to reply to all your comments. And snap a photo to post to Instagram. I’ll add the photos to my Insta stories. I love seeing all your creations.
Also check out my Facebook and Pinterest pages for lots of fabulous foodie stories, videos, cooking tips, and recipes.
Printrecipe
Italian Herb Chicken with Caesar Dressing Dip
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Italian Herb Chicken with Caesar Dressing Dip is a delicious entrée or appetizer. A marinade with garlic, lemon juice and Italian herbs infuses chicken tenderloins and a creamy and tangy homemade Caesar dressing is the perfect dipping sauce.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken tenderloins, cut in bite sized pieces
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- cut up vegetables for serving, red peppers, yellow peppers, broccoli, and cucumbers
- homemade Caesar dressing or a store bought bottled brand
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the chicken, olive oil, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried thyme, smoked paprika, kosher salt and ground black pepper.
- Toss to coat the chicken with the marinade ingredients. Cover the bowl and let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
- Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the chicken to the pan. Space the chicken out so the pan isn't crowded. You may need to sauté the chicken in 2 batches. Sauté the chicken for 3-4 minutes or until cooked through. The internal temperature will be 165 degrees F on an instant read digital thermometer.
- Remove the chicken from the pan to a serving platter. Immediately sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil.
- Serve with cut up vegetables and Caesar dressing dip.
Notes
Don't over marinate the chicken. 15-20 minutes can make a huge difference in the flavor of marinated chicken. A little bit of tenderizing from the salt, sugars and acids (i.e. citrus juice) is good. Too long of a marinating time (anything over 24 hours) will break down the fibers in the meat and cause it to get stringy and mushy.
Be sure not to crowd the pan with sauteing the chicken. The chicken should be spread out so it's not touching. If the pan is too cramped, the chicken with steam rather than get a golden brown crust.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 30 minutes marinate time:
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: entrée
- Method: cook on stove top
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe + 2 TB dip and vegetables
- Calories: 496
- Sugar: 7.5 g
- Sodium: 1481 mg
- Fat: 26.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16.6 g
- Fiber: 3.1 g
- Protein: 50.8 g
- Cholesterol: 109 mg
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Sharon
I love this recipe and have made it several times. My husband and I usually eat it as a light dinner, and it is one of our all-time favorites. Thank you so much for sharing
Amy Casey
Thanks so much Sharon! I love this chicken over a tossed salad for lunch and dinner.