Description
Succulent grilled lemon chicken brings Mediterranean sunshine to your dinner plate. Zesty marinade and perfect char create a simple yet elegant meal that delights palates with fresh, tangy flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 6 (6 ounces / 170 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Marinade and Seasoning:
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) olive oil
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) lemon juice
- Zest from the lemons
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 4 garlic cloves, pressed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Garnish:
- Parsley or cilantro, for serving
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Thoroughly dry the chicken pieces using paper towels, ensuring surface moisture is completely removed.
- Using a meat mallet, gently flatten thicker sections of the chicken to create uniform thickness for consistent grilling.
- Prepare a zesty marinade by whisking together fragrant olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, bright lemon zest, crumbled dried oregano, minced garlic, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper in a large container.
- Submerge the chicken completely in the marinade, carefully rotating to ensure every surface is evenly coated.
- Refrigerate the marinating chicken for a minimum of 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to penetrate deeply into the meat.
- Heat the grill or grill pan to medium-high temperature, creating ideal searing conditions.
- Carefully place the marinated chicken onto the hot grill, positioning pieces to avoid overcrowding.
- Grill the first side for 5-7 minutes, developing beautiful golden-brown char marks.
- Flip the chicken using tongs, cooking the opposite side until internal juices run clear and the meat is fully cooked, approximately 5-7 additional minutes.
- Transfer the grilled chicken to a serving platter, garnishing with chopped fresh parsley or cilantro.
- Accompany the dish with wedges of lemon and optional roasted or grilled seasonal vegetables.
Notes
- Marinate chicken for at least 30 minutes to infuse deep, tangy lemon and herb flavors into the meat.
- Pat chicken dry before marinating to help seasonings stick better and achieve a crispier exterior when grilling.
- Pound thicker chicken portions to ensure uniform thickness, promoting even cooking and preventing dry or undercooked sections.
- Use medium-high heat to create perfect grill marks and seal in juices, keeping the chicken tender and moist.
- Discard used marinade to prevent cross-contamination and potential foodborne illness from raw chicken juices.
- Garnish with fresh herbs and lemon wedges to brighten the dish and add a fresh, zesty finish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg