Description
Lemon Herb Grilled Chicken with Couscous delivers a Mediterranean-inspired dinner that brings zesty flavor straight to your plate. Marinated chicken sizzles with fresh herbs and bright citrus, nestled alongside fluffy couscous that soaks up all those delicious pan juices.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Proteins:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Liquid and Flavor Enhancers:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth or water
- Juice of 1 large lemon
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Zest of 1 lemon
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 cup couscous
- 1 small cucumber, diced
- 1 small tomato, diced (optional)
Seasonings:
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Mix 3 tablespoons olive oil, juice of 1 lemon, lemon zest, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Submerge 2 chicken breasts in the marinade, ensuring complete coverage. Refrigerate for 30-120 minutes.
- Pour 1 cup chicken broth into a medium saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil at 212°F. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt. Stir in 1 cup couscous, remove from heat, and cover for 5 minutes.
- Preheat grill or grill pan to 400°F. Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess to drip off. Grill each side for 5-6 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Fluff couscous with a fork. Fold in 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, diced cucumber, and optional diced tomato.
- Let grilled chicken rest for 3 minutes. Slice against the grain. Arrange couscous on plate and top with chicken slices.
Notes
- Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes to let the lemon and herbs penetrate deeply into the meat, ensuring maximum flavor.
- Pat the chicken dry before grilling to help achieve a beautiful golden-brown crust that seals in the juices.
- For a gluten-free version, swap couscous with quinoa or cauliflower rice to make the dish accessible to more dietary needs.
- If fresh herbs are unavailable, dried herbs work well – just use about one-third the amount of the fresh measurement to prevent overwhelming the delicate chicken flavor.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 530 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg