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    Meals » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Italian Dressing Chicken

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: May 6, 2021 by Dee

    Make Italian Dressing Chicken breasts with 4 ingredients. Marinate and grill or bake in oven for tender, juicy chicken with this easy recipe via @meamel

    Make Italian Dressing Chicken breasts with just 4 ingredients. Marinate in salad dressing, and grill or bake in oven for tender, juicy chicken with this easy recipe! It's budget friendly, simple and delicious! Make extra chicken to use for dinner or lunches during the week.

    Jump to Recipe -
    grilled italian dressing chicken on platter

    If you're looking for simple easy chicken recipes for dinner, this one's for you! As much as I love to get creative with different chicken marinades, I've been using Italian dressing as a marinade for chicken lately because it's so easy.

    It's really nothing new. My mom and grandma always used salad dressing to marinate chicken. And, so did I. Nothing like getting back to the basics!

    We like to serve the chicken with Italian Pasta Salad or Greek Pasta Salad in the summer. Microwave green beans or broccoli and Air fryer roasted potatoes are good year round.

    4 Ingredient Recipe

    The best thing about this chicken recipe is you only need 4 ingredients to make it. If you really want to keep it simple, you can cut it down to just 2 ingredients. Here's what you need:

    • Chicken breasts -- boneless, skinless
    • Italian salad dressing -- We like Olive Garden, Wishbone or Kraft, but any brand works
    • Garlic powder
    • Italian seasoning blend -- adds some extra flavor

    How to Make Italian Dressing Chicken

    To help the chicken breasts cook quickly and evenly, I like to pound them first. You can slice them in half or buy split breasts to make them even thinner. Just place the chicken in a zip top freezer bag, and gently pound them with a kitchen mallet until they're even.

    You don't have to pound them too thin. We usually keep them around ¼ inch or so.

    pound chicken breasts with mallet

    Next, place the chicken breasts into a large zip top freezer bag. Don't reuse the same bag. Sprinkle a little bit of garlic powder and Italian seasoning over the chicken.

    Then, pour a cup of Italian dressing over the chicken. This is about half a bottle. You can use the whole bottle if you want, but I like to save some to brush over the chicken after cooking.

    Rub the dressing into the chicken, and close the bag tightly. I like to place the bag into a small baking dish or bowl just in case there's a leak at some point.

    chicken breasts in freezer bag with salad dressing

    How Long to Marinate

    Marinate the chicken for 2 to 3 hours in the refrigerator. You can also leave it in overnight. If you forget to marinate the chicken ahead of time, even 30 minutes will work. I've done this before, and it was still tasy -- just not as juicy and tender as when I leave it in longer.

    Grill the Chicken

    When the weather's nice, we cook Italian chicken on the gas grill. We rub some avocado oil on the grate and cook over direct medium heat (about 350 degrees) for about 10 minutes, flipping over about halfway. When you pound the chicken first, you get even cooking.

    Larger pieces of meat may take longer. For safety, use a meat thermometer, and make sure the internal temperature is 165 degrees.

    chicken breasts on the grill

    Bake in Oven

    You can also bake Italian dressing chicken in the oven. After marinating the chicken, place them on a foil lined baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes or until internal temperature is 165 degrees. This works best for thin chicken breasts. Thick ones may take longer.

    No time to marinate? You can also place the chicken into a baking dish, season with garlic powder and Italian seasoning, pour the dressing over the chicken and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. All of these methods are equally delicious!

    grilled Italian chicken on platter with  parsley
    Italian dressing chicken with parsley close up

    Italian Dressing Chicken

    Published by Dee
    Make Italian Dressing Chicken breasts with just 4 ingredients. Marinate in salad dressing, and grill or bake in oven for tender, juicy chicken with this easy recipe! It's budget friendly, simple and delicious!
    5 from 9 votes
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    Prep Time 3 hrs
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 3 hrs 10 mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 227 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 to 6 chicken breasts thin or split breasts work best
    • 1 cup Italian dressing
    • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • salt and pepper to taste optional

    Instructions
     

    • Place chicken breasts in zip top gallon freezer bag, and use a meat mallet to gently pound chicken to about ¼ inches thick and even
    • Place chicken into another zip top gallon freezer bag, add garlic powder, Italian seasoning and Italian dressing. Make sure chicken is well coated -- add more dressing if needed. Place in refrigerator and marinate for 2 to 3 hours or overnight
    • Remove chicken from bag, grill over medium direct heat (around 350°) for 10 to 12 minutes, turning over about halfway. Internal temp should be 165°. Or, preheat oven to 425°, place chicken on foil-lined baking sheet, and bake for 20 minutes or until internal temperature is 165° according to a meat thermometer
    • Cover, and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving

    Notes

    Every oven and grill is different. Always test temperature with meat thermometer to make sure chicken is 165 internally.
    Thin or pounded thin chicken breasts work best. If you forget to marinate,  you can bake chicken in 35o degree oven in casserole or baking pan for 30 minutes or until chicken is 165 degrees. 

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 227kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 24gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 521mgPotassium: 467mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 62IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 24mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!
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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jim says

      May 11, 2021 at 5:20 pm

      Have made this twice now. On the grill was the best, smoky flavor and so tender. This will be our new summer staple.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        May 12, 2021 at 11:23 am

        I'm glad you tried the chicken, Jim. Thanks for the wonderful review!

    2. Amanda Livesay says

      May 11, 2021 at 4:50 am

      Love how easy and flavorful this chicken is!5 stars

      Reply
    3. betimicevska says

      May 09, 2021 at 10:47 am

      I love how juicy and delicious this chicken is!! Perfect for weeknights!!5 stars

      Reply
    4. Mae says

      May 07, 2021 at 6:39 pm

      Family approved! This is going to be my go-to marinade, so quick and easy!

      Reply
    5. Nina says

      May 07, 2021 at 2:30 pm

      Delicious and so simple! Will be making this recipe again.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        May 10, 2021 at 12:39 pm

        Thank you so much, Nina. I'm glad you liked the chicken!

    6. katerina @ diethood.com says

      May 07, 2021 at 10:47 am

      Oh wow, this chicken looks amazing!! I love the flavors!!

      Reply
    7. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

      May 07, 2021 at 7:48 am

      This Italian Dressing Chicken is so pretty! Love the recipe too!5 stars

      Reply
    8. Jen says

      May 07, 2021 at 7:02 am

      How perfect and easy! I have this dressing thinking I would make a salad but never happened, haha! Making this tonight.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        May 10, 2021 at 12:37 pm

        Thanks, Jen. I hope you like the chicken!

    9. Catalina says

      May 07, 2021 at 3:10 am

      Grilled chicken is one of my favorite! I can't wait to try this new flavor!5 stars

      Reply
    10. amanda says

      May 06, 2021 at 3:03 pm

      This looks like a fantastic way to make chicken, I cannot wait to try!

      Reply

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    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

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