Grilled lemon chicken is marinated in just 5 simple ingredients but comes out incredibly flavorful! Serve as is or use for wraps, grain bowls and salads.
First off, I have to wish a very happy birthday to my Mom today.
She's pretty much the best mom out there, and no, I won't accept any challenges to that. Really though, I'm so lucky to have her - to have always had her - as my mom and in my life. Here's to hoping she has a fabulous day!
OK, let's talk food.
Recently, I shared easy baked lemon chicken and a 15-minute skillet lemon chicken that are so easy to put together, so flavorful and really versatile. Oh, and Instant Pot lemon chicken if you want to make it that way.
Today, we’re taking our chicken outside.
This grilled lemon chicken is one of our grilling go-tos. It’s so easy to put together — with on-hand ingredients that I always have — and it’s SO flavorful.
The first time I made it, my husband asked what was in the marinade for this chicken.
I told him, just olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper. (I didn’t even have or use fresh herbs that time.)
He couldn’t believe it. Couldn’t believe it was just those simple things because the chicken comes out so juicy and delicious!
Even my kiddos eat ALL of this chicken. It’s family-friendly and a sure crowd-pleaser too.
I also love that it’s so light and fresh, with the lemony flavor and hint of herb.
Definitely a great recipe for spring and summer grilling. ☀️
(You might also want to check out this adobo grilled chicken, which doesn't need any marinade time.)
Now, I’ve got some notes and substitutions coming up on how to make grilled lemon chicken. Just tryin’ to be helpful.
If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.
Notes on making grilled lemon chicken:
- We’re using boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but you could substitute chicken thighs if you prefer. Just be sure to watch the cook time and check that they cook through.
- Fresh lemon juice is a must here; don’t substitute the bottled stuff.
- The recipe calls for fresh thyme or fresh parsley; use whichever you have.
- As mentioned, though, I’ve made this without the fresh herbs before and it was still really good.
- Don't have 4-6 hours to marinade this chicken? I hear ya. Let the chicken sit in the marinade, at room temperature, for about 30 minutes then throw it on the grill. It won't have the full flavor, but it'll still taste really good and it'll do in a pinch.
No grill? No problem. You can make this inside on a grill pan or in a regular sauté pan in a pinch.
As always, I use and recommend using a digital thermometer to ensure your chicken is properly cooked through. It should get to 160 before you remove it from the grill and then it will continue to cook as it rests.
Another thing to love about this easy grilled chicken is how versatile it is!
Serving ideas for grilled lemon chicken:
- We have served it with my Mediterranean chickpea salad and it goes really well with those flavors.
- It’s yummy with tzatziki, too, as a sauce on top or for dipping. (And my husband loves the leftovers of this chicken for some gyro wraps.)
- It’d be great with a pasta salad as a side dish too.
- Or pair the chicken with any roasted or grilled vegetables and some steamed white or brown rice.
- You could also slice the chicken and make it part of a grain bowl with some roasted veggies and your favorite dressing or a dollop of hummus.
- Slice and serve the chicken on top of a salad tossed with your favorite vinaigrette.
So many ways to enjoy it!
And yes, you can definitely save the leftovers. They’ll keep in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Slice and reheat in the microwave or in a skillet to warm through, if desired.
I hope you give this recipe a try for your next grill night. I bet it’ll become a regular at your house too.
Enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
P.S. Here are some other grilled chicken recipes to check out:
- Balsamic herb grilled chicken
- Coconut lime grilled chicken
- Spicy beer marinade for chicken
- Cheesy fiesta grilled chicken
Grilled lemon chicken
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (from about 3 lemons)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme OR parsley (see notes)
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts into a large ziploc bag or a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper and fresh herbs until well combined. Pour the marinade mixture into the bag with the chicken. Seal the bag and turn to get the chicken breasts well coated.
- Refrigerate the chicken and let marinate for 4-6 hours, turning occasionally.
- Remove the chicken from the refrigerator then preheat the grill to medium high.
- Remove the chicken from the bag and discard the marinade.
- Grill the chicken breasts for 7-8 minutes then flip and grill for another 4-5 minutes, until cooked through.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Video
Nutrition
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