Through The Fibro Fog

  • Spring Recipes
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Ebooks
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Spring Recipes
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Ebooks
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Spring Recipes
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Ebooks
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Recipes » Chicken

Lemon Balm Chicken

Published: Aug 14, 2022 · Modified: Oct 1, 2022 by Claire · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 2 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This lemon balm chicken is delightfully fragrant, with the fresh citrus flavour of herbs and a touch of garlic. It has just a few ingredients, cooks in your skillet in just 20 minutes and makes for a delicious weeknight meal!

Love lemon balm? Perhaps you would like to see my lemon balm pesto too! And my chicken salad without mayo is another tasty summer lunch idea I think you'll love!

lemon balm chicken fillets on a white plate with fresh lemon balm leaves.

With lots of pots of herbs in my back yard, I've been loving to cook with these fresh and fragrant pops of flavour. If you love herby recipes too then you may like to see my rosemary chicken fillets (most popular chicken recipe on the site!), my Italian herb chicken, my air fryer boneless skinless chicken thighs and my coriander pesto pasta. Both fragrant and delicious!

And for a fruity chicken dinner, I think you will love my nectarine basil chicken recipe!

This lemon balm chicken makes the most of this flavourful herb, with its lemony fresh taste. We make a simple marinade, then simply pan fry in a skillet. Pair with fresh salads such as my mango slaw for a light and tasty dinner.

Check out my 15 delicious chicken recipes for more dinner ideas!

Jump to:
  • ⭐ Why this recipe is so good
  • 🐓 Ingredients
  • 📖 Swaps and variations
  • 🔪 Step by step instructions
  • 💭 Recipe tips and notes
  • 📋 Frequently asked questions
  • 🍽 What to serve with this skillet chicken
  • 🥬 Lemon balm as an antihistamine
  • 📖 Marinating time
  • 🍽 More tasty chicken recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

⭐ Why this recipe is so good

Fresh and flavourful. Using fresh herbs along with a hint of garlic gives so much flavour, and the apple juice helps keep the chicken tender.

Few ingredients. A short list of ingredients and quick cook time makes this perfect for an easy weeknight meal.

Lemon flavour without lemon. I think my low histamine readers will love the citrus flavours, without actually using citrus!

🐓 Ingredients

individually labelled ingredients to make lemon balm chicken including olive oil, garlic and apple juice.

All the ingredients and their quantities are set out in the recipe card below.

Some pointers on a few of them:

  • Chicken fillets - I suggest that using ready prepared skinless chicken fillets (plain, without any flavouring) is better than whole chicken breasts for this recipe. You can also slice chicken breasts lengthways before use.
  • Lemon balm - the fresh leaves rather than dried for a lighter flavour.
  • Garlic - adjust the quantity to taste preference!

📖 Swaps and variations

Dice chicken breasts yourself. If you can't get hold of chicken fillets at the store, simply slice a chicken breast into smaller pieces before use.

Add a squeeze of lemon juice. If it is suitable for you, then adding a hint of lemon juice will further bring out the citrus flavours.

Adjust the amount of lemon balm. The recipe gives a nice hum of fragrant flavour, but you can always add a few more leaves for an even punchier taste!

🔪 Step by step instructions

Just a few easy steps to make this herby chicken:

diced lemon balm, garlic and a knife on a wooden board labelled number one.
chicken, herbs and garlic in a glass bowl labelled number two.

Step 1

Prepare the lemon balm marinade. Finely dice or mince the garlic, and dice the lemon balm leaves (image 1).

Step 2

Marinate the chicken. Pour the apple juice and olive oil into a bowl or container that can be sealed, then add the lemon balm, garlic, salt and black pepper along with the chicken fillets (image 2). Use your hands or a spoon to coat the chicken in the marinade. Cover and set aside for 30 minutes up to a few hours.

My low histamine readers may wish to see the note below on marinating time.

chicken fillets with herbs and garlic in a skillet labelled number three.
cooked chicken fillets with herbs in a skillet labelled number four.

Step 3 & 4

Pan fry the chicken. Heat the olive oil in your skillet and then use tongs to place the chicken. You will likely need to fry the chicken in two batches to avoid over-crowding the skillet (images 3 and 4). Fry for 3-4 minutes each side, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165F at their deepest point.

💭 Recipe tips and notes

  • If using chicken breasts, slice into a couple of pieces lengthways so you have smaller chicken fillets.
  • Adjust the marinating time to preference.
  • Like a really punchy marinade? Simply add more herbs or garlic!
  • Cook time will vary slightly depending upon the size of the chicken fillets.
  • Always check that you have an internal temperature of 165F at the deepest point of the chicken. Using a meat thermometer takes the guess work out of this process.

📋 Frequently asked questions

What does lemon balm taste like?

Fresh lemon balm leaves have a really lovely citrus aroma, and an equally lemony taste when cooked.

Can I cook the chicken on the BBQ?

Yes, this can easily be cooked on the BBQ! As always, make sure it is cooked through and use a meat thermometer to check.

How do you prepare the lemon balm leaves?

Simply give them a wash (especially if picking yourself!) then finely dice with a sharp knife.

Can I add other herbs to the marinade?

You can easily add other herbs such as fresh mint.

🍽 What to serve with this skillet chicken

Having a summer dinner or maybe even a BBQ? Then I suggest fresh and light salads such as my pear fennel salad and kale apple slaw.

Fancy something a bit more comfort food style? My roasted vegetable pasta salad is always a crowd-pleaser!

For a hot evening meal, you can pair with my roasted zucchini and potatoes or my creamy potato and cauliflower mash.

Enjoy with my hugo spritz mocktail for even more lemon balm flavors!

🥬 Lemon balm as an antihistamine

While lemon balm isn't mentioned on the SIGHI food compatibility list, it is is rated as low histamine on other lists. Interestingly, it has reputed antihistamine effects (Ramanauskiene et al, 2015 - note that was in relation to topical preparations). It is also recommended to drink as a tea for insomnia for those with histamine intolerance to help with histamine and mediator release (SIGHI).

📖 Marinating time

In terms of marinating time for the chicken, my low histamine readers may wish to skip this step if they are sensitive to histamine formation. The chicken will still be flavourful if cooked right away!

lemon balm chicken fillets and fresh lemon balm leaves on a white plate.

🍽 More tasty chicken recipes

Find so many ideas on my chicken recipes page, including my rosemary thyme chicken, chicken leek risotto, air fryer rosemary chicken and creamy turmeric chicken thighs. Have a peek at these recent recipes too:

  • chicken pesto pasta salad in a white bowl next to fresh basil leaves, radishes and salad servers.
    Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad
  • cottage cheese stuffed chicken breast with asparagus and mashed potatoes on a plate.
    Cottage Cheese Stuffed Chicken
  • air fryer chicken and vegetables on a plate garnished with fresh parsley.
    Air Fryer Chicken and Vegetables
  • chicken ricotta pasta in a white bowl next to a blue cloth and fresh herbs.
    Chicken Ricotta Pasta

I'm always in the kitchen, so come join me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to be the first to hear of new recipes! And please do leave a star rating ⭐⭐⭐ if you have tried the recipe!

📖 Recipe

lemon balm chicken and fresh lemon balm leaves on a white plate.

Lemon Balm Chicken

Claire
With a fresh citrus flavour, this lemon balm chicken is equally perfect as a summer or winter meal and is so easy to make in your skillet!
5 from 5 votes
Prevent your screen from going dark
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Marinating time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins
Course BBQ food, Dinner
Cuisine American, British
Servings 2 servings
Calories 420 kcal

Equipment

  • Large bowl
  • Skillet
  • Tongs
  • Meat thermometer

Ingredients
  

  • 2 chicken breasts skinless, diced into fillets
  • 3 tablespoon fresh lemon balm leaves diced, more to preference
  • 1 garlic clove minced or finely diced
  • 2 tablespoon apple juice
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil divided
  • pinch salt
  • pinch black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Dice the lemon balm leaves and finely dice or mince the garlic.
  • If using chicken breasts, I suggest slicing lengthways into 2-3 fillets depending upon their size.
  • Pour the apple juice and half the olive oil into a large bowl (or tupperware), then add the lemon balm, garlic, chicken fillets, salt and black pepper. Stir or use your hands to coat the chicken in the marinade. Set aside in the fridge to marinate for 30 minutes or more.
  • Heat the remaining olive oil in your skillet then use tongs to transfer the chicken fillets. Cook for 3-4 minutes each side or until they have an internal temperature of 165F. The cook time will vary slightly depending upon the size of the chicken pieces.

Notes

  • If using chicken breasts then I suggest to slice them lengthways into smaller chicken fillets.
  • Use fresh lemon balm leaves rather than dried lemon balm for this recipe.
  • Adjust the amount of garlic and herbs to preference.
  • Always check the internal temperature of the chicken at its deepest point for a reading of 165F.
  • My low histamine readers may wish to see the note on marinating time in the post above.
  • Please note that nutritional information is offered as a courtesy. It is auto-generated and should be understood to be an estimate not a guarantee.
 
Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance (SIGHI) food compatibility list for histamine
All ingredients score 0 on the SIGHI list, with the exception of:
  • lemon balm isn't rated but is stated to be low histamine on other lists.
  • garlic, which scores 1.
  • black pepper, which scores 2.

Nutrition

Calories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 54gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 146mgSodium: 130mgPotassium: 490mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 249IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 42mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @lowhistaminekitchen or tag #lowhistaminekitchen!
Tweet
Share
Pin
Share

More Tasty Chicken Recipes

  • air fryer chicken mini fillets on a light brown plate garnished with fresh herbs.
    Air Fryer Chicken Mini Fillets
  • chicken pumpkin risotto in a grey bowl next to fresh sage leaves and a mini pumpkin.
    Chicken and Pumpkin Risotto
  • air fryer shredded chicken in a beige bowl next to forks and a blue cloth.
    Air Fryer Shredded Chicken
  • air fryer paprika chicken thighs on a beige plate with fresh herbs.
    Air Fryer Paprika Chicken

Comments

  1. Amy Davis says

    May 07, 2024 at 10:45 pm

    5 stars
    I cooked your zucchini blueberry cakes, they were delicious!! So juicy and moist. I have a lot of restrictions regarding foods gluten, dairy, low histamine and antinflammatory foods plus nuts and oats trigger my ibs so cooking can be really hard. I am still figuring out what I am ok with, but I'm.happy knowing that I can try these yummy recipes and stick with the ones that work for me. Thank you so much for your wisdom and fantastic recipes giving the rest of us hope for flavourful healthy food.

    Reply
    • Claire says

      May 08, 2024 at 2:07 pm

      Hi Amy! So glad that you are finding recipes that are suitable for you, or that you can adapt to align with your dietary restrictions. It can be tough to cook at times can't it, but I think you'll get the hang of it in time.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Hi, I’m Claire. After a diagnosis of MCAS I began to follow a low histamine diet, which has helped me manage my symptoms. Here I hope to show that a restrictive diet can still be full of flavourful meals, and help you enjoy being creative in the kitchen.

More about me →

Spring Dinner Ideas

  • mascarpone chicken with asparagus and mashed potatoes on a light brown plate.
    Mascarpone Chicken
  • broccoli asparagus pasta in a bowl with a brown rim with forks on a white cloth next to it.
    Broccoli Asparagus Pasta
  • vegetarian gnocchi soup in a white bowl on a beige cloth next to a spoon and small bowl of parsley.
    Vegetarian Gnocchi Soup
  • creamy pesto gnocchi in a white bowl with a spoon next to fresh basil leaves.
    Creamy Pesto Gnocchi
  • ricotta stuffed chicken breast on a cream plate next to herbs, arugula and sweet potato.
    Herb Ricotta Stuffed Chicken Breast
  • vegetable soup without tomatoes in a white bowl with a spoon in it next to a small bowl of fresh parsley.
    Vegetable Soup without Tomatoes

Featured On

collage of brand names including Parade, Feed Feed, Big Oven, MSN, Food Gawker and Finding Vegan.

Popular Recipes

  • chicken thighs on a cream fluted plate garnished with herbs.
    Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
  • stack of grated potato fritters on a white plate with fresh herbs and glass of water in the background.
    Grated Potato Fritters
  • creamy paprika chicken in a light grey skillet.
    Creamy Paprika Chicken
  • cod fillet, roasted potatoes and vegetables on a white plate.
    Air Fryer Frozen Cod

As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Please see my disclaimer. I am not a doctor or healthcare professional. All posts are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical or dietetic advice in any way.

veda ambassador logo.

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Me
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact Me

Copyright © 2025 Through The Fibro Fog

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required