BBQ Italian Herb Chicken with Sweet Basil Marinara Broccoli
BBQ Italian herb chicken with sweet basil marinara broccoli for an easy, flavour-packed dinner.
This BBQ Italian herb chicken with sweet basil marinara broccoli is juicy, savoury and full of bold Italian-inspired flavour. Tender chicken is paired with broccoli and a rich sweet basil marinara for an easy dinner that feels hearty, colourful and satisfying without a lot of fuss.
Juicy Italian Herb Chicken with Saucy Broccoli
This BBQ Italian herb chicken with sweet basil marinara broccoli is a hearty, colourful dinner with juicy seasoned chicken, tender broccoli and rich tomato-basil sauce. It has plenty of flavour without feeling overly heavy.
Why This Chicken Dinner Works
The smoky BBQ flavour on the chicken pairs surprisingly well with the sweet basil marinara. The broccoli catches the sauce nicely, so every bite gets a little tomato, herb and savoury chicken flavour. It’s simple, but it doesn’t taste plain.
Perfect for Easy Weeknight Dinners
Serve this BBQ Italian herb chicken with sweet basil marinara broccoli when you want a warm, satisfying dinner that comes together without a lot of fuss. It works especially well for busy weeknights, casual family dinners or meal prep.
Easy Italian Chicken Dinner with Marinara Broccoli and Pasta
This stovetop setup keeps the BBQ Italian herb chicken with sweet basil marinara broccoli simple and well balanced. While the pasta cooks, the broccoli can steam until just tender and the sweet basil marinara warms separately, so everything is ready at about the same time.
It’s an easy way to build a complete Italian-inspired chicken dinner without a lot of extra prep or extra pans.
Juicy BBQ Italian Herb Chicken on the Grill
For the best BBQ Italian herb chicken, grill the seasoned chicken until the outside is lightly golden and marked while the inside stays juicy. Letting the chicken cook undisturbed for a few minutes before turning helps it develop better colour and keeps it from sticking.
Once cooked through, let it rest briefly before slicing so the juices stay in the meat.
Tips for the Best BBQ Italian Herb Chicken
• Season the chicken well. A good coating of Italian herbs helps the BBQ Italian herb chicken develop more flavour as it grills.
• Let the grill get hot first. Starting on a properly heated grill helps the chicken sear instead of sticking and gives you better colour on the outside.
• Don’t flip too soon. Let the chicken cook undisturbed for a few minutes so it can develop a golden, lightly charred surface before turning.
• Cook the broccoli just until tender. You want it bright green with a little bite left, especially since it will be served with warm sweet basil marinara.
• Warm the marinara separately. Keeping the sauce in its own pan lets you control the consistency and keeps the broccoli from becoming overly soft.
• Let the chicken rest before slicing. A short rest helps the juices stay in the meat instead of running onto the cutting board.
• Serve everything hot. This BBQ Italian herb chicken with sweet basil marinara broccoli is best when the chicken is juicy, the broccoli is still tender-crisp and the marinara is warm.
Real Kitchen Tip: Let the Grilled Chicken Rest
For the juiciest BBQ Italian herb chicken, let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes before slicing. That short rest helps the juices stay in the meat instead of running out onto the cutting board.
It also gives you time to finish the sweet basil marinara and broccoli so everything is hot and ready to serve together.
BBQ Italian Herb Chicken with Sweet Basil Marinara & Broccoli
Equipment
- Outdoor BBQ grill or gas grill
- Grill tongs for flipping chicken
- Sharp chef’s knife for slicing chicken breasts and broccoli
- Cutting board
- Large pot (for boiling spaghetti)
- Medium saucepan for warming marinara sauce
- Steamer pot or saucepan with lid for steaming broccoli
- Colander (for draining pasta)
- Measuring spoons for Italian seasoning blend
- Meat thermometer for perfectly cooked grilled chicken
- Pasta serving spoon or tongs
- Large serving bowls or pasta plates
- Silicone basting brush for olive oil on chicken (optional)
- BBQ-safe spatula or grill turner (optional)
- Stove top cookware set for easy weeknight pasta dinners
Ingredients
For the Grilled Italian Chicken
- 2 chicken breasts large boneless skinless and sliced into cutlets
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Italian Herb Seasoning Blend
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
For the Pasta – Sauce & Broccoli
- 12 -16 oz spaghetti pasta
- 1 24 oz Sweet Basil Marinara sauce Classico or your choice
- 1 broccoli large head fresh and cut into bite-sized florets
- 1 tbsp butter or olive oil for the pasta
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken
- Slice each chicken breast horizontally to create four thinner cutlets. Pat dry with paper towel, drizzle with olive oil, and coat evenly with the Italian herb seasoning blend on both sides.
Grill the Italian Chicken
- Preheat the BBQ grill to medium-high heat (400°F–450°F). Grill the chicken cutlets for 4–5 minutes per side with the lid closed until lightly charred and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest before slicing.
Cook the Spaghetti
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well and toss lightly with butter or olive oil to prevent sticking.
Steam the Broccoli
- Add broccoli florets to a saucepan with about 1 inch of salted water or place in a steamer basket. Cover and steam over medium heat for 3–5 minutes until bright green and fork-tender. Drain immediately.
Warm the Marinara Sauce
- Pour the Classico Sweet Basil Marinara sauce into a saucepan and warm over medium-low heat for 3–4 minutes until gently simmering and heated through.
Assemble and Serve
- Plate the buttery spaghetti, steamed broccoli, and sliced BBQ Italian chicken. Spoon warm sweet basil marinara over the chicken and pasta before serving. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Thin chicken cutlets cook faster and stay juicier on the BBQ. This simple step makes a big difference in grilled chicken pasta recipes.
- Let the grilled Italian chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing to help lock in moisture and keep the chicken tender.
- Salted pasta water adds flavor directly into the spaghetti and helps balance the sweetness of the basil marinara sauce.
- Steam the broccoli just until bright green and fork-tender. Overcooked broccoli can become mushy and lose its fresh flavor and color.
- Tossing the hot spaghetti with butter or olive oil helps prevent sticking and gives the pasta a silky texture.
- Keeping the marinara sauce warm separately helps maintain the fresh sweet basil flavor instead of overcooking the sauce.
- A meat thermometer is one of the easiest ways to avoid dry grilled chicken. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- This easy grilled chicken spaghetti recipe works great for busy weeknight dinners because all the components cook quickly once started.
- For extra smoky BBQ flavor, keep the grill lid closed while cooking the chicken to help trap heat and create better grill marks.
- Freshly cracked black pepper on top right before serving adds a simple restaurant-style finish to this Italian chicken pasta dinner.
- Leftover grilled chicken slices are delicious added to salads, wraps, or extra pasta the next day.
- If the spaghetti starts drying out before serving, stir in a spoonful of warm marinara sauce or a splash of pasta water.
- Fresh parsley or grated parmesan cheese makes an easy finishing touch for this comforting BBQ chicken pasta bowl.
- This recipe is easy to customize with extra vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms, asparagus, or roasted bell peppers.
- Cooking the broccoli separately helps keep the texture fresh and prevents the pasta from becoming overly soft or watery.