Quick 20-Minute Grilled Chicken with Zesty Lemon Herb Marinade
A fast and flavorful grilled chicken recipe featuring a bright lemon herb marinade, perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 to 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (medium-thick cuts)
- Juice of 2 medium lemons (about 1/4 cup or 60 ml)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon honey (optional but recommended)
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade by combining lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, chopped parsley and thyme, olive oil, salt, pepper, and honey in a medium bowl. Whisk until well blended, about 3 minutes.
- Place chicken breasts in the marinade and turn to coat evenly. Let sit for 10 minutes at room temperature (minimum 5 minutes if short on time).
- Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Clean and lightly oil grates.
- Grill chicken breasts for 5-6 minutes per side, flipping once, until grill marks form and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Avoid pressing down on chicken.
- Remove chicken from grill and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing to allow juices to redistribute.
Notes
Pound chicken breasts to even thickness for uniform cooking. Do not marinate longer than 30 minutes to avoid mushy texture. Preheat grill properly and flip chicken only once. Let chicken rest after grilling for juiciness. For flare-ups, move chicken to cooler part of grill briefly. If no grill available, bake at 425°F for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 ounces (170 grams)
- Calories: 220
- Fat: 4
- Protein: 40
Keywords: grilled chicken, lemon herb chicken, quick dinner, easy chicken recipe, healthy chicken, weeknight meal, gluten-free, paleo-friendly