Description
Lemon herb grilled chicken turns out juicy and bright with a fast citrus-garlic marinade and a lightly charred finish. Your family will dig the tender meat and zesty, fresh flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Protein:
- 4 chicken breasts
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Liquid and Aromatics:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 4 cloves garlic
Instructions
- Whisk ¼ cup olive oil, ¼ cup lemon juice, 4 minced garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, 1 tablespoon chopped thyme, 1 tablespoon chopped rosemary, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl until your marinade is smooth and well-combined.
- Transfer your 4 chicken breasts into a large resealable plastic bag, then pour the entire marinade over the meat, ensuring each piece gets thoroughly coated.
- Seal the bag and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes, allowing the herbs and citrus to penetrate your chicken’s surface and tenderize the meat.
- Heat your outdoor grill to 400F, creating a medium-high temperature zone that will deliver perfect char marks and sealed-in flavor.
- Remove chicken from the marinade, letting excess liquid drip away, and carefully place each breast onto the preheated grill grates.
- Grill the first side for exactly 6 minutes without disturbing, watching for beautiful golden-brown sear lines to develop.
- Flip each chicken breast and continue grilling the opposite side for another 6 minutes, confirming doneness when internal temperature reaches 165F.
- Transfer grilled chicken to a clean plate, letting the meat rest for 5 minutes so juices redistribute throughout the protein.
- Slice chicken against the grain and sprinkle 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest over the top for a bright, aromatic finish.
Notes
- Marinating for at least 2 hours develops deeper flavor, so plan ahead when possible.
- Bringing chicken to room temperature before grilling helps ensure even cooking and prevents drying out.
- Pat chicken dry before grilling to help achieve a beautiful golden-brown exterior with nice grill marks.
- If avoiding grilling, this recipe works beautifully with oven roasting at 425F for roughly the same cooking time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 13-14 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 to 6
- Calories: 215 kcal
- Sugar: 0.3 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1.5 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg