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Grilled Chicken and Broccolini with Cherry-Almond Relish

By Jessica Rudolph

Published on April 28, 2025

Time

45 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Grilled Chicken and Broccolini with Cherry-Almond Relish

Ingredients

8 ounces fresh sweet cherries, pitted and quartered¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided1 shallot, minced1 tablespoon lemon juice 1½ teaspoons table salt, divided1 teaspoon pepper, divided4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed12 ounces broccolini, trimmed2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (½ cup)

Before You Begin

If your chicken breasts are particularly thick, you can pound the thicker ends for more even cooking.

Instructions

  1. Combine cherries, almonds, 
2 tablespoons oil, shallot, lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in bowl. Pat chicken dry and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Toss broccolini with remaining 1 tablespoon oil, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
  2. Grill chicken and broccolini over hot fire (covered if using gas) until chicken registers 160 degrees and broccolini is crisp-tender and charred, 8 to 12 minutes, flipping as needed for even browning. Transfer chicken to carving board.
  3. Slice chicken. Transfer chicken and broccolini to serving platter and top chicken with cherry 
mixture and goat cheese. Serve.
Grilled Chicken and Broccolini with Cherry-Almond Relish
Photography by Steve Klise. Styling by Kendra Smith.

Grilled Chicken and Broccolini with Cherry-Almond Relish

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Time

45 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

8 ounces fresh sweet cherries, pitted and quartered
¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 shallot, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1½ teaspoons table salt, divided
1 teaspoon pepper, divided
4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed
12 ounces broccolini, trimmed
2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (½ cup)

Ingredients

8 ounces fresh sweet cherries, pitted and quartered
¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 shallot, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1½ teaspoons table salt, divided
1 teaspoon pepper, divided
4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed
12 ounces broccolini, trimmed
2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (½ cup)

Ingredients

8 ounces fresh sweet cherries, pitted and quartered
¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 shallot, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1½ teaspoons table salt, divided
1 teaspoon pepper, divided
4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed
12 ounces broccolini, trimmed
2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (½ cup)

Why This Recipe Works

Sweet, jammy red cherries made a fresh and summery topping for grilled chicken breasts. We added almonds for nutty crunch, shallot for savoriness, and lemon for brightness. A sprinkle of crumbled goat cheese added tangy richness.

Before You Begin

If your chicken breasts are particularly thick, you can pound the thicker ends for more even cooking.

Instructions

  1. Combine cherries, almonds, 
2 tablespoons oil, shallot, lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in bowl. Pat chicken dry and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Toss broccolini with remaining 1 tablespoon oil, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
  2. Grill chicken and broccolini over hot fire (covered if using gas) until chicken registers 160 degrees and broccolini is crisp-tender and charred, 8 to 12 minutes, flipping as needed for even browning. Transfer chicken to carving board.
  3. Slice chicken. Transfer chicken and broccolini to serving platter and top chicken with cherry 
mixture and goat cheese. Serve.

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