Name: Balsamic Chicken (5 Min Prep)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 23 min
Ingredients: 12 medium Boneless skinless chicken thighs ((~3 lb)); 1/4 cup Olive oil; 1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar; 6 cloves Garlic ((minced)); 1 tsp Italian seasoning; 1 tsp Sea salt; 1/4 tsp Black pepper; Balsamic glaze ((optional))

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I always get requests for more easy chicken dinner ideas, and I’m here to deliver! You’ll love these baked balsamic chicken thighs that take just 5 minutes to prep. Whip up the simple balsamic chicken marinade with just 4 basic ingredients (that are definitely already in your pantry!), marinate the chicken, and bake.

Serve this balsamic chicken thigh recipe as a simple dinner, or make up a batch to eat throughout the week. It’s perfect for meal planning! If you prefer a whole chicken instead of just thighs, you can make my whole balsamic chicken recipe or honey sriracha chicken.

Balsamic Chicken Marinade Ingredients

This balsamic vinegar chicken marinade is made with just 4 simple ingredients that you probably already have:

Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Minced garlic
Italian seasoning

…Plus salt and pepper!

How To Make Balsamic Chicken Thighs

So… are you wondering how to cook balsamic chicken? Let me show you how:

Mix up balsamic chicken marinade. In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. (FYI: This balsamic chicken marinade is very similar to balsamic steak marinade!)
Marinate chicken. Add chicken and move around to coat in marinade. Marinate for at least an hour, or up to 2 days, turning half way through if possible.

Bake. Arrange the chicken thighs in a single layer on baking sheets, and bake until an instant read thermometer reads 165 degrees.

Baked balsamic chicken thighs on sheet pans

Rest. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving. This ensures that it will stay juicy!
Drizzle. Drizzle with balsamic glaze, and sprinkle with basil leaves, parsley, or both! I like some cherry tomatoes thrown in, too.

Balsamic chicken thighs on a platter with balsamic drizzle

FAQs

Is balsamic vinaigrette baked chicken healthy?

Yes, these baked balsamic chicken thighs are a healthy source of protein and make a great lunch or dinner meal.

Each serving has a whopping 44 grams of protein!

Are balsamic vinegar chicken thighs keto?

Yes, this balsamic chicken marinade adds just 2.9 grams net carbs per serving of chicken (that’s 2 chicken thighs!). Plus, chicken thighs have more fat than chicken breasts do, making them great for a keto diet.

Can I make this balsamic chicken recipe with chicken breast instead?

Yes, you can also use this balsamic chicken marinade for chicken breasts. The cooking time and nutrition facts would change. Chicken breasts would take a bit longer to bake at the same temperature, depending on their size.

If you use chicken breasts, I highly recommend first using a salt brine before marinating, as described in this juicy baked chicken breast recipe.

Balsamic chicken thighs on a platter with balsamic drizzle and basil and tomato

Storage Instructions

Store balsamic chicken thighs in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Raw chicken in balsamic chicken marinade can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Can you make it ahead?

Yes, you can make baked balsamic boneless skinless chicken thighs ahead:

You can marinate the chicken for up to 2 days.
You can bake the chicken ahead of time to use for meal prep. They are delicious over a salad for lunch!

Can you freeze balsamic glazed chicken thighs?

Yes, you can freeze the chicken in a freezer safe container for 2-3 months. Let the chicken thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Reheating instructions:

For best results, reheat these balsamic chicken thighs in the oven, until heated through. The microwave will work as well if that’s the only option, but dries out the chicken more.

Close up balsamic chicken thighs with balsamic glaze

What To Serve With Balsamic Chicken Thighs

This easy balsamic chicken needs a simple side dish to turn it into a full meal. Here are some of my favorite healthy veggie side dishes:

Roasted Asparagus – Ready in just 20 minutes flat and a reader favorite!
Keto Mashed Cauliflower – Silky smooth cauliflower mash that tastes just like potatoes – and only 5 ingredients!
Oven Roasted Vegetables – If you’re making a meal prep meal, this is the best side. They store well and reheat easily.
Sauteed Zucchini – My technique for perfect zucchini takes just 10 minutes, and is flavored with garlic and butter.
Avocado Caprese Salad – Probably the best side dish for balsamic chicken thighs… the flavors go together perfectly!

Tools To Make Balsamic Chicken Thighs

Tap the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.

Large Bowl with Lid – This glass mixing bowl is large enough for the balsamic chicken marinade + thighs and can be stored in the fridge.
Set of 2 Baking Sheets – These are the perfect size for fitting in the oven side-by-side, plus they have my absolute favorite coating.
Instant Read Thermometer – The best way to know that chicken is done!

Baked Balsamic Chicken Thighs Recipe

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Ingredients

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12 medium Boneless skinless chicken thighs (~3 lb) ▢
1/4 cup Olive oil ▢
1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar ▢
6 cloves Garlic (minced) ▢
1 tsp Italian seasoning ▢
1 tsp Sea salt ▢
1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢
Balsamic glaze (optional) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Add the chicken and move around to coat in marinade.
Refrigerate chicken in the marinade for at least 1 hour, up to 2 days, ideally turning the chicken to coat in marinade halfway through.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (218 degrees C). Line one extra-large or two small baking sheets with parchment paper.
Arrange the chicken in a single layer on the lined baking sheet(s), mostly without touching each other. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until chicken is cooked through (165 degrees F measured using an instant read thermometer).
Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes before eating. If desired, drizzle with balsamic glaze to serve.

Last Step: Leave A Rating!

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 2 chicken thighs

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 364

Fat 18.3g

Protein 43.8g

Total Carbs 3.1g

Net Carbs 2.9g

Fiber 0.2g

Sugar 1.6g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keywords: balsamic chicken, balsamic chicken marinade, balsamic chicken recipe, balsamic chicken thighs

Calories: 364 kcal

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22 Comments

Viets Brook Farm
0 February 21, 2023Reply

Perfect dinner Recipe! I followed the recipe exactly! I would definitely add the balsamic glaze. Big hit with my family.
Kristin
0 August 13, 2022Reply

Is there any reason I couldn’t grill the chicken? Thanks!
- Wholesome Yum D
  0 August 15, 2022Reply
  
  Hi Kristin, Yes, you could grill the chicken.
Peggy Nelson
0 January 4, 2022Reply

I love this recipe. Very simple. Great flavor. I used the full marinade but used only 4 thighs. The longer you marinate the better the flavor.
Debbie
0 June 22, 2021Reply

It takes longer to reach temp of 165.
- Wholesome Yum M
  0 June 23, 2021Reply
  
  Hi Debbie, The time can vary if you are using larger thighs. I used 12 medium-sized thighs, which weighed about 3 lbs total. I hope this helps!
Ryan
0 April 18, 2021Reply

Because of some scheduling issues when I first made this, I ended up doubling the marinade recipe and pouring over the chicken thighs in the crock pot, then cooked in low for 6 hours. Turned out great!
Stephanie
0 March 26, 2021Reply

This recipe is very tasty and easy to prepare!
Megan Thomas
0 January 15, 2021Reply

This was delicious! Super easy, but with wonderful flavor. I needed a chicken thigh recipe to serve on top of Epicurious’ 15 minute burst cherry tomato pasta recipe, and this was the perfect addition! This will be added to the regular rotation for sure!
Jennifer
0 November 3, 2020Reply

This was excellent! I don’t think it needs a glaze. I baked mine at 375 for 35 minutes just because that’s what I always do. And of course, this recipe is 100% keto. Keto is all about keeping carbs low enough to stay in ketosis.
Laura Chabot
0 October 22, 2020Reply

Hi Lizzie, I run in to this problem frequently. I plan to make this but only eat one chicken thigh.
Steve
0 September 26, 2020Reply

Is there a recipe for the balsamic glaze? I don’t seem to find it.
- Wholesome Yum M
  0 September 29, 2020Reply
  
  Hi Steve, Great catch! The balsamic glaze is coming soon to the blog, but it’s not quite ready yet. I’ll let you know when it’s ready!
  - Christine Westerman
    0 October 25, 2020Reply
    
    Hello… I’m planning on making this soon and wondering if the balsamic glaze recipe is posted anywhere yet. Thank you!
    - Wholesome Yum M
      0 October 25, 2020Reply
      
      Hi Christine, It’s coming soon!
  - Tracey McCourt
    0 January 4, 2021Reply
    
    Hi there, this recipe looks absolutely delicious! However it’s still not noting the balsamic glaze recipe. Is there a possibility that you could please post it? Thanks so much!
    - Wholesome Yum M
      0 January 4, 2021Reply
      
      Hi Tracey, Sorry about that. You can find the Balsamic Glaze recipe here!
lizzie wardle
0 September 22, 2020Reply

I definitely love the recipe and hope to try it, but it is 100% not keto . Too much protein, not enough fat. My husband and I struggled to lose weight and realized finally that we were consuming too much protein. Need to add WAY MORE fat to this recipe! Just a thought.
- Wholesome Yum M
  0 September 22, 2020Reply
  
  Hi Lizzie, I am glad you enjoyed the recipe. It sounds like you need to pair your chicken with a higher fat side dish like Brussels Sprout Casserole with Bacon or Creamed Spinach. Everyone’s needs are slightly different, so while this keto recipe may not fit your needs on it’s own, you can combine it with other recipes to help round out your macros. Enjoy!
Suzi Sharp
0 September 21, 2020Reply

Hi Maya, I live alone and often have a difficult time trying to figure out how to cut the recipes down for one. Do you have an easy recipe converter?

Thank you,
Suzi Sharp
- Wholesome Yum M
  0 September 23, 2020Reply
  
  Hi Suzi, I’m sorry I do not have a recipe converter at the moment, but you can scale the recipe down in the recipe card. Please change the serving size (the box is editable) to fit your needs. Enjoy!
  - Savannah
    0 October 7, 2020Reply
    
    Lizzie, The ratio of fat, protein, carbs isn’t necessarily what makes each specific recipe Keto friendly as everyone has different macros. This recipe is using Keto friendly ingredients that you need to fit into your day to meet your macros as a whole. If it’s too high in protein for your particular macros, you need to add your own fat, such as a side dish or throughout other meals that day.