Description
Lemon herb grilled chicken is a marinated chicken breast infused with fresh herbs, bright lemon, and tangy vinegar, then grilled until charred and juicy. This Mediterranean-inspired dinner comes together in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 4 breasts), trimmed of excess fat
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
¼ cup white wine vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1½ teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼–½ teaspoon black pepper
½ cup olive oil
2 lemons (1 sliced for grilling, 1 cut into wedges for serving, optional)
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. If the chicken breasts are thick, place each one between two sheets of plastic wrap or parchment paper and pound to an even thickness of about 1 inch.
2. In a large bowl or resealable bag, whisk together the lemon juice, white wine vinegar, garlic, basil, mint, parsley, oregano, salt, and black pepper.
3. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until the marinade is well combined.
4. Add the chicken breasts and coat them evenly with the marinade.
5. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 8 hours.
6. Preheat the grill to medium to medium-high heat and lightly oil the grill grates.
7. Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the used marinade.
8. Grill the chicken for 5–6 minutes per side, or until nicely charred and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
9. If using lemon slices, grill them alongside the chicken until lightly charred.
10. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, then serve with grilled lemon slices or fresh lemon wedges and garnish with chopped parsley, if desired.
Notes
Pound the chicken to even thickness before marinating so it cooks uniformly on the grill.
Marinate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors penetrate, but don’t exceed 8 hours or the acid will over-tenderize the meat.
Oil the grill grates well before cooking to prevent sticking and help create beautiful grill marks.
Don’t flip the chicken too frequently—let it develop color for 5–6 minutes per side before turning.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes plus marinating
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 grilled chicken breast
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg