Grilled Chicken seasoned with Lemon and Herbs

This Lemon Herb Grilled Chicken is simple to prepare with only a handful of ingredients, resulting in a healthy and tasty meal! Bursting with flavor from zesty lemon juice, lots of garlic, and fresh thyme!

This lemon herb grilled chicken has been a staple in our household for more than a decade, and here’s why: it features straightforward, fresh ingredients that yield the most flavorful chicken! The marinade is incredibly tasty, made with olive oil, zesty lemon juice, plenty of garlic, and fresh herbs! Plus, this marinade doubles as a delicious salad dressing!

Why You’ll Adore this Recipe

• Incredibly flavorful, adaptable, and quick to prepare.
• Made with just 5 easy ingredients, many of which you likely already have at home!
• This marinade works wonderfully on steak, fish, or shrimp and serves excellently as a salad dressing.
• Ideal for weekly meal prep, served over rice, alongside roasted vegetables, or tossed in salads.

Ingredients You’ll Require

The preparation of this effortless lemon herb chicken only calls for a few basic ingredients that you likely already possess in your kitchen! Here’s what you’ll need:

• chicken – this recipe uses 2 pounds of boneless chicken thighs (bone-in is also acceptable), but boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken wings can work splendidly too.
• olive oil – this helps meld the flavors into the chicken and prevents it from sticking. I prefer a high-quality olive oil that doesn’t break the bank; just ensure it’s cold-pressed and organic for maximum taste.
• lemon juice – this provides a bright, fresh flavor, and you’ll need around 2 lemons. You can also add some lemon zest for a punchier lemon profile!
• garlic – you can opt for fresh minced garlic or jarred minced garlic.
• fresh herbs – fresh thyme and rosemary contribute a delightful taste to the chicken marinade, though dried thyme, dried rosemary, or even dried oregano can be used if necessary.
• salt + pepper – essential for seasoning the chicken and enhancing the flavor.

How to Prepare Lemon Herb Chicken

1. Create the marinade. In a small bowl or jar, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, fresh herbs, salt, and pepper, whisking until thoroughly mixed.
2. Prep the chicken. Lay the chicken in a shallow dish or a 1-gallon sealable plastic bag, then pour the majority of the lemon herb sauce over it (I recommend saving a bit of the sauce to brush on the chicken later during grilling!).
3. Let it marinate! Place the chicken in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, but not exceeding 2 hours (lemon’s high acidity can begin to alter the chicken’s texture, so it shouldn’t marinate too long). When prepared to grill, take the chicken out of the dish or bag, shaking off excess marinade and discarding what’s left.
4. Grill and enjoy. Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium heat and lightly brush it with oil to prevent sticking. Grill the chicken for 5 to 6 minutes on each side or until it’s fully cooked and no longer pink (the chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees). After grilling, allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Useful Tips and Tricks

• Marinate the chicken for a minimum of 30 minutes but no longer than 2 hours; the acidity from the lemon juice can break down the chicken’s texture, leading to a mushy result if marinated too long.
• Be sure to coat the grill or grill pan with a smidge of oil so that the chicken doesn’t stick.
• If grilling isn’t your preference, baking the chicken in the oven at 400 degrees F for 22 to 28 minutes until it’s thoroughly cooked is another option.
• The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees to confirm it’s adequately cooked without being dry.
• Set aside a small portion of marinade (before it comes in contact with the chicken) to brush on while grilling for added flavor.
• This lemon herb marinade can also serve as a fantastic salad dressing!

How to Present

Preparation and Storage

Leftover grilled chicken can be kept in a sealed airtight container for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. I enjoy incorporating leftover chicken into my salads for convenient lunches! Additionally, these chicken breasts can be frozen for up to 4 months and thawed in the fridge overnight before reheating. However, if you’ve used previously frozen and thawed chicken, I wouldn’t advise freezing it again.

Additional Chicken Recipes

I hope you savor this Lemon Herb Grilled Chicken as much as we do! If you enjoy it, please leave me a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below, and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram with the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny! I love seeing your delicious recreations!