Fresh Lemon Herb Grilled Chicken with Zesty Flavor
A quick, easy, and flavorful grilled chicken recipe featuring fresh lemon juice, zest, and herbs for a bright and herbaceous taste. Perfect for weeknight dinners or weekend cookouts.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (about 1.5 lbs / 680 g)
- 2 large lemons, juiced and zested
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: In a medium bowl, combine lemon juice and zest, minced garlic, chopped rosemary, chopped thyme, olive oil, salt, pepper, and optional honey. Whisk until well blended.
- Marinate the chicken: Place chicken in a shallow dish or resealable bag. Pour marinade over chicken, ensuring each piece is coated. Cover or seal and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, up to 2 hours.
- Preheat the grill: Heat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat (about 400°F / 200°C). Brush with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Grill the chicken: Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off. Grill for 6-8 minutes on the first side without moving, then flip and grill another 6-8 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Rest the chicken: Transfer to a plate and let rest loosely covered with foil for 5 minutes.
- Serve: Slice against the grain and drizzle with any leftover warmed lemon-herb marinade.
Notes
Do not marinate longer than 2 hours to avoid toughening the meat. Pat chicken dry before grilling to prevent flare-ups. Use tongs to flip chicken to keep it juicy. Let chicken rest after grilling for best texture. If grill flares up, use a spray bottle of water to control flames.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast or
- Calories: 220
- Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Protein: 38
Keywords: grilled chicken, lemon herb chicken, easy chicken recipe, healthy chicken, weeknight dinner, grilled chicken breasts, lemon marinade