Skip to content

Robert St. John

Restaurateur, author, enthusiastic traveler, & world-class eater.

Basin Street Chicken

Ingredients

6 5-6 ounce chicken breasts, boneless, skinless

1/2 cup no-stick grilling marinade for poultry (page xxx)

2 tsp poultry seasoning

2 Tbsp unsalted butter

3 cups sliced mushrooms

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper freshly ground

6 1-ounce slices cheddar cheese

6 1-ounce slices Monterey jack cheese

1 recipe caramelized onions, hot (page xxx)

1 1/2 cup fresh tomatoes, medium dice

1 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

Using a pastry brush, coat the chicken breasts with the no-stick marinade. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Sprinkle the breasts with poultry seasoning.

Prepare the grill. Cook chicken over direct high heat for 10-12 minutes, turning once.

While the chicken is cooking: Heat butter in a medium sauté pan over high heat. Place mushrooms, salt, and pepper in the hot butter and sauté the mushrooms for 6-7 minutes, stirring them occasionally. Drain off any excess moisture.

With the chickens on the grill, top each chicken breast with one each of both cheeses. Divide the onions and mushrooms evenly and place them atop the cheese. Close the lid to the grill and cook until cheese melts.

Place chicken on serving dishes and top with the fresh tomatoes and chopped parsley.

Yield: 6 servings

Recent Recipes

Potato Gratin

Potatoes are the one vegetable I could never give up. Fried, roasted, mashed, or scalloped—doesn’t matter, they’re always on the table in one form or another. This gratin is my favorite way to make them feel a little more special. It’s rich, creamy, and just decadent enough to make it feel like you’re putting in some extra effort. There’s a good bit of cheese in this recipe, but that’s exactly how it should be. The combination of sharp white Cheddar, gruyere, and Parmesan gives it the perfect balance of nuttiness, creaminess, and tang. And using Yukon gold potatoes instead of russets makes a big difference. They have just the right amount of starch to get creamy without getting mushy. This dish is a showstopper on the holiday table, but I’d eat it on a random Tuesday without hesitation.

Read more

Orange Cranberry Muffins

These muffins are like Christmas morning in a bite—bright, citrusy orange paired with tart, bursting cranberries. The combination feels like something you'd find in a festive basket dropped off by a thoughtful neighbor. Perfect for Christmas gift giving or to have on hand for guests throughout the holiday.

Read more

Chocolate Christmas Cheesecake

Chef Linda Roderick has been by my side through these cookbooks for over two decades, and there’s no one I’d rather have guiding me through a cheesecake recipe. She’s a master of the craft—steady, exacting, and always aiming for perfection. This rich, decadent chocolate cheesecake is no exception. It's all about balance. The deep, smooth chocolate filling meets a crisp, slightly salty crust for a perfect bite every time. Ensure your cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing—otherwise, you’ll end up with lumps. And when you melt the chocolate, give it time to cool slightly before mixing it into the batter, so you don’t end up with curdled filling. It’s worth the patience, every time. A few techniques can elevate this recipe to another level: chilling the dough overnight for a richer flavor, using a water bath to ensure an ultra-smooth texture, and letting the cheesecake rest for at least 24 hours before serving for the best flavor.

Read more