Description
Garlic Parmesan Grilled Chicken delivers a flavor explosion right from the backyard grill, making weeknight dinners seriously delicious. Juicy chicken breasts get coated with a zesty garlic and Parmesan mixture that caramelizes perfectly over direct heat, creating a crispy, golden exterior your family will absolutely devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasoning and Flavoring:
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Supporting Ingredients:
- ¼ cup olive oil (60 ml)
- Optional: fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Whisk ¼ cup olive oil, 4 cloves minced garlic, ½ cup grated Parmesan, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl until your marinade reaches a thick, clingy consistency.
- Transfer 4 chicken breasts into a large resealable plastic bag. Pour entire marinade over chicken, ensuring complete coverage. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to 4 hours.
- Preheat outdoor grill to 400°F (204°C). Clean and lightly oil grates to prevent chicken from sticking.
- Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip away. Place chicken directly on preheated grill grates.
- Cook chicken for 5-7 minutes per side, rotating once to create crosshatch grill marks. Verify internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) using a meat thermometer.
- Remove grilled chicken from heat. Allow meat to rest 3-5 minutes so internal juices redistribute. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Always pound chicken breasts to an even thickness so they cook uniformly and stay tender on the grill.
- Fresh grated Parmesan cheese melts better and provides more authentic flavor than pre-packaged shredded cheese.
- Let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes to absorb maximum garlic and herb flavor, but avoid marinating longer than 2 hours to prevent the acid from breaking down the meat’s texture.
- For a gluten-free version, replace breadcrumbs with almond meal or crushed gluten-free crackers, which will still create a delicious crispy coating.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-14 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 352 kcal
- Sugar: 0.4 g
- Sodium: 410 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg