Strawberry-Jalapeño Skillet Chicken

Strawberry-Jalapeño Skillet Chicken is an easy one-pot dish bursting with sweet and spicy flavors. Made with juicy chicken breast, fresh strawberries, jalapeños, cilantro, and balsamic vinegar. Ready in 30 minutes and will wow a crowd! 

Raise your hand if you are looking for a way to upgrade your chicken recipes? 

Well, you’re in luck. 

Berry season is soon approaching and I felt like this was the perfect time to try a few different ways of incorporating our pride and joy of summer – strawberries. 

This Strawberry-Jalapeño Skillet Chicken may sound like an odd combination of flavors, but the subtle tartness from the strawberries pairs perfectly with the fruity spice of the jalapeños. It’s the perfect sweet and savory match. What’s great about this meal is that you can serve it over a bowl of greens, with a side of roasted sweet potatoes, wild rice, or green beans. 

I’m telling you this is a winner, winner, chicken dinner! 

Ingredients Used to Make Strawberry-Jalapeño Skillet Chicken

Dinner during the week doesn’t need to be complicated. Grab some protein, a few items from your pantry & fridge, and you can have a flavor meal in less than 30 minutes with this skillet chicken dish. 

• Unsalted butter – more butter the better
• Olive oil – cooking the chicken
• Boneless skinless chicken breasts – healthy and juicy! You can also use chicken thighs.
• Kosher salt and black pepper – always be seasoning! 
• Garlic powder & onion powder – the original spice duo! 
• Fresh Cilantro – for a little warmth
• Sweet Strawberries – you can’t beat these juicy gems
• Fresh Jalapeño – the best compliment to sweet flavors
• White onion – fantastic crunch 
• Balsamic vinegar – the best tang to this sauce & salsa
• Chipotle chile in adobo – HEAT. If you want a milder flavor definitely use less
• BBQ sauce – for a little somethin’ to the sauce
• Honey – great way to sweeten the dish naturally

How to Make Strawberry-Jalapeño Skillet Chicken

1. Place the chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Pat chicken dry on both sides. Next, season the chicken with kosher salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. 
2. Preheat a large cast iron skillet to medium heat and in 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp unsalted butter. Once the butter is melted, place the chicken to the skillet and cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown or an instant-read thermometer inserted reads 165 degrees. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside. 
3. Next, in a small bowl toss cilantro, 1 cup strawberries, ⅓ cup jalapeños, 2 tbsp onion, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. 
4. In the same skillet as you cooked the chicken, add 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp unsalted butter. Once the butter is melted, add the remaining jalapeños, onion, salt and pepper. Saute the veggies for about two minutes or until softened. 
5. Next, add in the ½ cup balsamic vinegar and stir to deglaze, scraping the bottom. Stir in the chile, adobo sauce, BBQ sauce, honey, and strawberries. Continue to cook stirring occasionally until the sauce has thickened about 6 to 7 minutes. 
6. Return the chicken back to the skillet and spoon the strawberry-jalapeño salsa on top. Serve and enjoy! 

Variations for this Strawberry-Jalapeño Skillet Chicken

• Chicken breasts. Thin-sliced chicken such as chicken cutlets or filets. Or if you want you can pound your chicken breasts to ½-inch thickness so they cook quickly.
• Frozen strawberries. These aren’t recommended because they will be too mushy and very sweet. You can certainly try blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries. 
• Cilantro. If you don’t like cilantro I would try using fresh basil or fresh parsley. 
• Feta or goat cheese. If you want to add some creaminess to this dish you can add crumbled feta or goat cheese on top. 

Tips for Working with Strawberries

These are a few simple tips that will help you use the freshest, juiciest strawberries:

1. Store your fresh strawberries in the refrigerator crisper drawer
2. Line a container with a paper towel (DO NOT WASH the strawberries) and place the strawberries on top. 
3. When you are ready to use the strawberries, wash, and dice. 

Storing Tips

You can store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days. To reheat the chicken, slice it into small pieces, and place it into a skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until the chicken is heated through. You can also preheat your oven to 350 degrees and place the chicken on a baking sheet and the heat through. 

In conclusion, the fusion of sweet strawberries and spicy jalapeños in our skillet chicken recipe creates a mouthwatering, unforgettable meal that’s sure to delight your taste buds. Give it a try and elevate your dinner experience today!