Best-Ever Blueberry Thyme Chicken Recipe
Best-Ever Blueberry Thyme Chicken is a delightful and elegant dish combining tender seared chicken breasts with a fresh, tangy blueberry thyme sauce. Perfect for a flavorful weeknight dinner or impressing guests, this recipe balances sweetness from honey and blueberries with savory notes and a hint of balsamic vinegar, finished with optional lemon zest for a fresh zing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Blueberry Thyme Sauce
- 2 cups fresh blueberries
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the chicken after searing.
- Prepare Chicken: Season the chicken breasts generously on both sides with salt and pepper to enhance flavor.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and sear each side for 5-7 minutes until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Blueberry Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium and add the blueberries, thyme, honey, and balsamic vinegar into the same skillet. Cook the mixture for 3-5 minutes while stirring gently, allowing the blueberries to burst and the sauce to thicken.
- Add Chicken to Sauce: Return the seared chicken breasts to the skillet, spooning some of the blueberry sauce over them to coat nicely.
- Bake: Place the skillet into the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), ensuring it is fully cooked.
- Rest Chicken: Remove the skillet from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes to redistribute juices and lock in moisture.
- Garnish: Before serving, optionally sprinkle lemon zest over the chicken for a bright, fresh flavor boost.
Notes
- Use an oven-safe skillet for easy transition from stovetop to oven.
- Fresh thyme is preferred for a more vibrant flavor, but dried thyme works well too.
- Ensure chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for food safety.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For a dairy-free recipe, this dish already meets that requirement as it contains no dairy ingredients.
Keywords: blueberry chicken, thyme chicken, baked chicken breast, blueberry sauce, honey balsamic chicken, easy chicken recipes
