Balsamic Chicken Garden Medley

Recipe Rating:	12 Ratings4
Categories:	Chicken, Pasta, Italian, Healthy
Collections:	Healthier Fare, Perfect Pastas
Keywords:	roasted, balsamic, vegetables, marinara
Serves:	Generously serves 8-10 people (or more!)
Prep Time:	1 Hr
Cook Time:	1 Hr

Ingredients

MARINADE
1 c	olive oil
1/3 to 1/2 c	balsamic vinegar
1 tsp	salt
1 tsp	black pepper, freshly ground
2	capfuls montreal chicken seasoning (abt 2 tb)
1	heaping capful sylvia's secret seasoning (or just regular italian seasoning if not available) (abt 2 tb)
3-4	garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbsp	dried parsley
1/2 tsp	each red pepper flakes and thyme
1 tsp	crushed rosemary or 1 sprig fresh
MEAT
6-8 lb	boneless chicken breasts or thighs, or a combination of both
VEGGIES
2 md	zucchini, sliced
1 md	yellow squash, sliced
5 lg	onions, sliced into rings
1	each green, yellow, red, orange bell pepper, sliced into strips
2 lb	sliced mushrooms, button or any variety
MARINARA SAUCE
2 can(s)	28-oz. each, crushed tomatoes
3 Tbsp	olive oil
1 pt	water
1/4 c	red wine
1 Tbsp	leaf oregano, dried
1 Tbsp	powdered oregano
1 tsp	basil, dried
1/2 tsp	thyme, dried
2 Tbsp	dried parsley
2 clove	garlic, minced
1 can(s)	12-oz. tomato paste
1/2 tsp	red pepper flakes
2-3	bay leaves
	salt and pepper to taste
PASTA
2 lb	thin spaghetti or vermicelli
2-3 Tbsp	olive oil
1 clove	garlic, minced
FINISHING TOUCH!
6-8 oz	parmigiano reggiano, grated

Pinched by JaneNettoGrannyGoodCooker, and 2,500 more.

Lisa Crum

Well Seasoned

Delbarton, WV (pop. 579)

lisacrum

Member Since Jun 2011

Lisa's Notes:

Balsamic Chicken Garden Medley
My husband and I created this a few years ago after developing a love affair with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. After tinkering around with several variations, this is the finished product. Just about everyone who's ever tried it says it's one of the tastiest chicken dishes they've ever eaten. We've gotten several requests to do it for a crowd over the past few years (it's more fun to make a big batch and invite your friends...that's why the recipe feeds so many. We've never been able to make a small batch yet, and it never goes to waste because our guests make off with the leftovers! It makes a beautiful presentation, and we've been proud to serve it to company or at special occasions. It takes a little bit of work, but it’s honestly worth every ounce of effort. P.S. Don't freak out if your smoke alarm goes off during the roasting process!!!

It's such a huge recipe that most of you will have to cut in half. And the roasted chicken and veggies are good enough to be a meal in themselves, without the pasta and sauce. A final note...if you really don't want to go the extra mile on the marinara sauce, a very good-quality jar sauce will do just fine. I've just always made my own. :)

Enjoy!

Comments from the Test Kitchen:

This yummy recipe is fairly labor-intensive, but nearly all the prep work can be done in advance. What a great way to serve guests an impressive meal and still have time to visit with them!

Directions

Marinate chicken and vegetables separately:
Place chicken pieces and vegetables in separate ziploc bags (as many as it takes) and divide the marinade mixture evenly enough to ensure all will coat well. Marinate overnight or at the very least, several hours.

Combine marinara sauce ingredients and slow simmer while chicken and veggies are roasting. Add extra water if sauce becomes too thick. If you're a purist who likes a simmer longer than an hour, start earlier! :)

At 450 degrees, roast chicken and vegetables separately (if you're blessed with 2 ovens, great! I’m not!). I use a baking pan for the chicken and jelly roll pans for the vegetables. The secret to this being so good is to leave in the oven long enough for the chicken and vegetables to get blackened edges. While chicken and veggies are roasting, cook and drain pasta, then toss with olive oil in a skillet with the minced garlic. Saute' for just a couple of minutes. Turn chicken and vegetables as the edges blacken. You may have to pour off some of the liquids from the veggies to hasten the roasting process. Remove chicken from oven as soon as the edges begin to blacken or it will dry out. The chicken will be finished in
about 30-40 minutes; the veggies about 50-60 minutes.

Turn chicken and vegetables as the edges blacken. You may have to pour off some of the liquids from the veggies to hasten the roasting process. Remove chicken from oven as soon as the edges begin to blacken or it will dry out. The chicken will be finished in about 30-40 minutes; the veggies about 50-60 minutes.

To Serve:
After roasting the chicken pieces, slice or tear into strips (I toss them with pan juices to keep moist). Layer as follows on platter or warmed individual plates: Freshly cooked pasta, lightly tossed with garlic and olive oil; marinara sauce; roasted vegetables; and chicken slices. Top with plenty of freshly grated parmesan, a quick twist of the pepper mill, and serve.

This is so filling that your guests will barely be able to touch the salad and rolls. And dessert? Forget it!