Lemon Herb Barbecued Chicken Recipe for Nutritious Dining

This Lemon Herb Grilled Chicken is simple to prepare using just a handful of ingredients, resulting in a tasty and nutritious dish! 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 I’ll explain why. It’s made with straightforward, fresh ingredients that yield the most flavorful chicken! This marinade featuring lemon and herbs is utterly delectable, crafted with olive oil, zesty lemon juice, lots of garlic, and fresh herbs! Plus, this marinade can double as a fantastic salad dressing!

Reasons to Love This Recipe

• Incredibly flavorful, adaptable, and quick to prepare.
• Only 5 uncomplicated ingredients you likely have in your kitchen!
• This marinade pairs well with steak, fish, or shrimp, and can also serve as a salad dressing.
• Perfect for meal prepping during the week, delicious when served on rice, with roasted vegetables, or in a salad.

Necessary Ingredients

This straightforward lemon herb chicken recipe requires only a few basic ingredients you probably have in your kitchen! Here’s what you will need:

• chicken – this recipe uses 2 pounds of boneless chicken thighs (bone-in is fine too), but boneless skinless chicken breasts or even chicken wings can work as well.
• olive oil – this encourages flavor absorption and prevents sticking during grilling. I prefer a quality olive oil that doesn’t need to be expensive; just ensure it’s cold-pressed and organic for the best taste.
• lemon juice – this adds a bright, refreshing flavor; you will need about 2 lemons. You can also incorporate some lemon zest for an extra citrus kick!
• garlic – fresh chopped garlic or jarred minced garlic can be used.
• fresh herbs – fresh thyme and rosemary provide a vibrant flavor to the marinade, but you can also use dried thyme, dried rosemary, or dried oregano if needed.
• salt + pepper – essential for seasoning the chicken and enhancing flavor.

Steps to Prepare Lemon Herb Chicken

1. Prepare the marinade.  In a small bowl or jar, mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, fresh herbs, salt, and pepper until well blended.
2. Prep the chicken.  Put the chicken in a shallow dish or a 1-gallon resealable plastic bag and pour the majority of the lemon herb marinade over the chicken (I always recommend saving a little marinade to brush on later while grilling!)
3. Marinate!  Refrigerate the chicken and let it marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes, but no more than 2 hours (the acidity of the lemon can alter the texture of the chicken if left too long).  When ready to grill, take the chicken out of the dish or bag, shake off excess marinade, and discard what’s left.
4. Grill and enjoy.  Preheat a grill or grill pan on medium heat and apply oil to prevent sticking.  Grill the chicken for 5 to 6 minutes on each side or until cooked through and no longer pink (internal temperature should reach 165 degrees). Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Useful Tips and Tricks

• Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes, but do not exceed 2 hours; too long will result in a mushy texture due to the acidity of the lemon juice.
• Always add a touch of oil to the grill or grill pan to prevent sticking.
• If grilling is not preferred, bake the chicken in the oven at 400 degrees F for 22 to 28 minutes, or until thoroughly cooked.
• The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees to ensure it is properly cooked without being dry.
• Set aside some marinade (prior to contacting the chicken) for brushing on while grilling for enhanced flavor.
• This lemon herb marinade also works wonderfully as a salad dressing!

Serving Suggestions

Preparation and Storage

Leftovers can be kept in a sealed, airtight container for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.  I love incorporating leftover chicken into salads for quick lunches!  You can also freeze the chicken breasts for up to 4 months and thaw them in the fridge overnight before reheating. If the chicken has been previously frozen and thawed, I do not advise freezing it again.

Additional Chicken Recipes

Hope you all enjoy this Lemon Herb Grilled Chicken, and if you find it as delightful as we do, please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram with the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny! I adore seeing your delicious takes on this recipe!