Blueberry Thyme Chicken Recipe
A flavorful and elegant Blueberry Thyme Chicken recipe featuring juicy seared chicken breasts topped with a vibrant, jammy blueberry and balsamic glaze, finished in the oven to perfect tenderness. This dish combines sweet, savory, and herbal notes for a unique and delicious meal.
- Author: Elias
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (6 oz each)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Blueberry Thyme Sauce
- 1 cup fresh blueberries (reserve a few for garnish)
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
- Get organized: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and gather all your ingredients to streamline the cooking process.
- Season generously: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels, then season both sides with salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance flavor.
- Make the magic sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine fresh blueberries, balsamic vinegar, honey, and fresh thyme. Gently mash the blueberries with a fork while cooking to create a chunky, jam-like sauce. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Sear to perfection: Heat the olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place the chicken breasts in the skillet and sear for 2-3 minutes on each side until they develop a golden-brown crust.
- Bring it together: Pour the blueberry thyme sauce over the seared chicken breasts in the skillet, ensuring the chicken is coated with the sauce.
- Finish in the oven: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake the chicken for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) to ensure it is fully cooked.
- Serve with style: Remove the skillet from the oven and let the chicken rest for 3 minutes. Serve the chicken with extra blueberry sauce spooned over the top and garnish with reserved fresh thyme or blueberries for an elegant touch.
Notes
- Use an instant-read thermometer to check chicken doneness for best results.
- If you don’t have fresh thyme, dried thyme works but use half the amount.
- This sauce can be made ahead and reheated gently before serving.
- Serve with roasted vegetables or a light salad to complement the dish.
- Leftover chicken can be sliced and used in salads or sandwiches.
Keywords: Blueberry chicken recipe, thyme chicken, balsamic chicken, baked chicken with fruit sauce, easy chicken dinner