If you're looking for a new go-to grilled chicken recipe, this Grilled Lemon Garlic Chicken recipe is IT! This recipe is full of so much flavor from the fresh lemon juice and zest, fresh garlic, and fresh OR dried herbs. Bonus: it can be a freezer meal, meaning you can prep this way ahead of time, and pull it out of the freezer for an easy weeknight meal option.
Grilled chicken can either be really good or really bad, ya feel me? It's either super juicy and flavorful, or chewy and overcooked. I hate to admit this, but both versions of grilled chicken have come from my grill. This recipe results in the most tender and juicy grilled chicken, which is really what we all want when we grill chicken, right?!
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts - this recipe really works with any cut of chicken, but I like using chicken breasts or chicken thighs.
Olive Oil
Lemon Juice - fresh squeezed! I usually get ⅓ cup from 2 lemons.
Lemon Zest - adding lemon zest enhances the lemon flavor in this grilled chicken recipe.
Fresh Garlic - fresh minced garlic gives this chicken a ton of flavor.
Dried Herbs - you can use fresh or dried herbs, but I typically use dried because that's what I usually have on hand.
Salt and Pepper
This recipe is so simple to make. To start, zest and juice the lemons. I find it's easiest to zest the lemon first and then juice it.
Next, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper, in a bowl and whisk to combine.
Add the marinade to the chicken breasts in a tuppeware or Ziploc bag. At this point, you can either marinate for 30 minutes to 8 hours, or place in the freezer until you're ready to cook it. If freezing it, remove it from the freezer and let it thaw overnight prior to cooking.
Once you're ready to cook, preheat your grill to medium-high heat and grease the grates. Once the grill is hot, add the chicken breasts and cook for 6-8 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness. I HIGHLY recommend using a meat thermometer when grilling, especially when grilling chicken, to ensure proper temperature of the meat. You want the chicken to reach 165 degrees F.
Then, serve! I love grilling this chicken for salads, or as a main dish with Parmesan Roasted Potatoes, potato salad, or pasta salad!
Grilled Caprese Chicken Sandwich
Perhaps a question that reveals I'm a grill novice: what do you use to grease the grill grates and how?