Strawberry Shallot Chicken is everything you want in the promise of early summer – fresh strawberries, grilling, and bright flavor.
Some of my favorite things about spring creeping into summer are early strawberries and the scent of grilled food wafting through the neighborhood.
The strawberry shallot sauce for this recipe is super simple, and takes about 15 minutes to cook. The end result is a sweet savory jam that is perfect on grilled chicken (or really, any meat you’d like to add it to).
It also makes a great condiment with crackers and goat cheese. Yummmm!
Can you use frozen strawberries?
Fresh sweet strawberries, so fresh from picking that they are sun-warmed, are the absolute best way you can go because there’s nothing more delightful as eating them as you prep your meal, but any fresh strawberries work.
In a pinch, you can use frozen strawberries, but you should cook them down a bit longer to cook off the excess liquid. I find you also need to add a bit more sugar as well, which I note in the recipe card.
Can you use onions instead of shallots?
I really prefer the flavor profile of shallots in this dish as they have a sweeter more subtle flavor than regular onions. That being said, you may not be able to find them, or you simply may not feel like buying one extra ingredient.
If either is the case, you will want to use yellow onions as a substitute because they are slightly sweeter than white or red onions.
Do you have to use chicken breast?
I use boneless skinless chicken breast or boneless skinless chicken thighs. Since I cut the chicken breast into tenders, both cuts are a similar thickness and cook in a similar amount of time.
If you use bone-in chicken or any other meat, you will need to follow cooking directions recommended for those cuts or types of meat.
Do you have to grill the chicken?
Absolutely not. However, the slight smokey char of grilled meat combined with the strawberry shallot sauce is making my mouth water.
What are you waiting for? Go make some already! This may just become your new favorite summer chicken recipe. I recommend you serve it with one of my favorite corn recipes – Mexican Corn on the Cob recipe (Elotes)
Sweet and Sassy Strawberry Shallot Chicken
Strawberry Shallot jam served over grilled chicken breast is a bright flavorful summer entree that everyone is sure to love.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Entree
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (approx. 2 pounds)
- 1 cup diced strawberries
- 1 tablespoon diced shallot
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon sugar*
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon or pink grapefruit juice
- 1 tablespoon water*
Instructions
- Melt butter in frying pan.
- Add shallots and saute until just softening.
- Add strawberries, sugar*, pepper, grapefruit juice, and water*.
- Heat over medium heat until strawberries are soft.
- Mash ingredients together using a fork or spoon.
- Heat until thickened.
- Slice each chicken breast into tenders.
- Grill until almost cooked through.
- Top with strawberry shallot jam and finish grilling.
Notes
- If using frozen strawberries, add 1 additional teaspoon sugar.
- Also, if using frozen strawberries, you may not need to add water. Cook the mixture a bit and only add water if it gets too dry before strawberries are cooked down.
Keywords: strawberries, shallots, grilling, grilling recipes, chicken
More Great Summer Grilling Recipes
Grilled Chicken and Spinach Pizza
Originally published Jun 8, 2014 9:26 pm. Recipe left unchanged. Content updated and republished.
About Heather McCurdy
Heather McCurdy writes at Real: The Kitchen and Beyond where she shows families how to slow down and savor life on any budget with tasty homemade recipes and family travel.
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Colleen (Souffle Bombay) says
Love the grilled grapefruit!
Aly Mashrah says
That looks great! I can’t wait to try it.
Annie {Stowed Stuff} says
Interesting combinations! I’d never think of putting strawberries with chicken!
Liz Mays says
Oh boy, oh boy! That sounds super yummy! I’m so glad you put the flavors together; I’m not sure I would have thought of that!
Heather says
Thank you. It took a while for me to actually try it. I was a bit skeptical.
Maria Oller says
It looks delicious and the it’s strawberry season I so need to try this love the mix of flavor between strawberries and the grapefruit juice.
Heather says
Isn’t strawberry season the best?!
Dee says
This looks absolutely amazing and something I wouldn’t have thought about. We love grilling!
Heather says
Thank you. Grilling is awesome year round in our house. I even tried grilling bacon before. Harder but that grilled flavor was so good.
Lois Alter Mark says
Wow, that sounds amazing! I never thought of using strawberries with chicken but will definitely have to try that!
Heather says
Give it a try and let me know what you think.
Jessica @EatSleepBe says
I never would have thought to put strawberry or shallot together – and on chicken!! I have to admit though, I can’t stop eyeing the grilled grapefruit!
Heather says
The grapefruit is amazing. Mine pulled loose from the peel really easy after it was grilled too. Easier eating!
Touristmeetstraveler says
Strawberry and chicken sounds like a weird mix, but I think it would be worth giving a try.
Angela S says
That looks delicious! I’ll be firing up the grill for sure this weekend.
Heather says
Please let me know how it turns out if you try it.
Debbie Denny says
I love corn on the grill. The grapefruit is a great idea.
Heather says
Corn on the grill is the best way to have it and so much quicker than boiling it on the stove in my opinion.
Taralyn says
What a delicious recipe! Pinned for my summer menu!
Heather says
Thank you.
Christine Luken says
Wow, I never thought to put chicken and strawberries together on the grill! Definitely pinning this for future reference. Thanks!
Heather says
Completely not something I thought of before either. I get these funky ideas and just go for them. Usually they work, and if they don’t I just don’t share. Enjoy and thanks for stopping by.
Ruby Ragar says
I have never thought about grilling fruit. I don’t like grapefruits but I wonder how an orange would taste grilled!
Heather says
Yum! I would probably add a little spice – clove, cinnamon, maybe a little ginger. Let it absorb in for 10 minutes or so and then grill. Let me know how it turns out if you try it.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
That sounds absolutely amazing! A dish like that would go over BIG in my house.
Heather says
Thank you. I love how it really is quite easy and still so healthy.
Mama to 5 BLessings says
I would have never thought of strawberries and chicken to go together but it actually sounds good!
Heather says
When the thought first came to me I was a bit skeptical too. I thought if this doesn’t work I am toast. So good I want it again already. Thank you for stopping by.
Nicole Brady says
I’ve had chicken with an onion and raspberry jam but never heard of using strawberries with chicken. I’m sure it’s a similar taste so I’m pretty sure I would love it. It has shallots and strawberries so how could I NOT?
Heather says
Oh yum! Thanks for giving me another idea to try!
Allyson says
Wow I have never heard of strawberry chicken, but this looks delicious! Back in the day I used to chop dried cranberries and mix with goat cheese, then stuff into chicken breasts and it was soooo good! This recipe looks like a winner, too!
Heather says
Oh, that is love at first read. I NEED to make your idea now.