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Grilled Lemon Chicken

Name: Grilled Lemon Chicken
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Ingredients: ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice; 2 Tablespoons olive oil; 2 Tablespoons Italian seasoning; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon pepper; 1 tablespoon garlic (minced); ½ Tablespoon red pepper flakes; 2 Tablespoons mayonnaise; 1 Tablespoon onion powder; 4-6 rosemary sprigs (divided); 4 chicken breasts (about 2lbs of chicken); Lemon and parsley for garnish (optional)

5 from 3 votes

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By: the Evinks3 Comments

Posted: 05/16/22

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Tender, juicy Grilled Lemon Chicken is the perfect summer dinner recipe! It’s light, healthy, and bursting with flavor from a homemade lemon chicken marinade.

Chicken breasts are marinated in a lemon-herb marinade and then grilled until they’re juicy and tender. Serve this lemony chicken with grilled veggies or slice it up for a delicious salad! This is such an easy summer dinner – you’re going to love it!

PIN IT FOR LATER!

Easy Lemon Chicken Recipe on the Grill

You can say goodbye to dry, bland grilled chicken with this recipe! I’m showing you how to grill chicken breasts so they turn out juicy and full of flavor.

It starts with a simple lemon marinade. It’s a lemon-mayonnaise marinade! The lemon and mayo tenderize the chicken – you will love how tender it is once it’s grilled!

There are also plenty of dried herbs and seasonings that add tons of flavor. Most of them are pantry staples that you probably already have on hand. I also add some fresh herbs for a punch of flavor.

This lemon grilled chicken recipe is ready to serve in about 45 minutes and that includes the marinating time. It’s perfect for weeknights – you’ll want to make it on repeat all summer long.

Overhead image of Grilled Lemon Chicken Ingredients

Ingredients Needed for Grilled Lemon Chicken

Lemon juice – fresh lemon juice makes all the difference!
Olive oil – this flavors the chicken and also keeps it from sticking to the grill grates.
Dried Italian seasoning – or use dried oregano if that’s what you have on hand.
Salt and black pepper

Minced garlic – if you don’t have fresh garlic, use 3/4 teaspoon of garlic powder instead.
Red pepper flakes – this adds some heat!
Mayonnaise – this adds so much flavor and also helps make the chicken tender. You can also use Miracle Whip.
Onion powder
Fresh rosemary – you can use whole sprigs!
Boneless skinless chicken breasts – or you can try chicken thighs, but the cooking time may be different.
Garnishes – Rosemary, lemon slices or wedges, and fresh parsley

Mixed lemon marinade for chicken in bowl

How to Make Grilled Lemon Chicken!

Marinate: Combine the lemon, oil, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic, red pepper, mayo, and onion powder in a large bowl.

Place the rosemary sprigs in the marinade and stir. Add the chicken breasts and turn to coat them evenly in the marinade. Marinate them for 20 minutes.

Grill: Once the chicken is marinated, grill them on a preheated grill for about seven minutes on each side. The cooking time may be more or less depending on how thick the breasts are.

Serve! Garnish the grilled chicken with rosemary sprigs, lemon wedges, and chopped fresh parsley.

How long can you marinate chicken in lemon?

You shouldn’t marinate the chicken for longer than 30 minutes. Lemon is acidic and tenderizes the chicken but if you marinate it for too long, it will actually break the chicken down too much. This will give your chicken a mealy texture. So, don’t leave it in the fridge for too long!

How do you know when chicken breasts are done grilling?

Use an instant-read thermometer to check if your chicken is done. It should be 165°F in the thickest part.

Can you cook lemon chicken on the stove or in the oven?

Yes, if you don’t have an outdoor grill you can cook the chicken on a grill pan, in a skillet on the stove, or bake it in the oven.

Stove: Heat the pan over medium heat and cook the chicken on one side for seven minutes or so. Flip it over and finish cooking it on the other side until the internal temperature is 165°F.
Oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F and bake the chicken for 30 to 40 minutes or until it’s 165°F.

Make it a Meal

Pair your lemon chicken with some corn salad on the side. It’s the perfect summer meal!
It goes great with pretty much any salad – we love it with grilled Caesar salad.
Or make some green bean foil packets for a whole meal on the grill!

grilled chicken breast sliced on white plate

Recipe Tips

You can use this lemon marinade for chicken legs, thighs, and wings, too! Or try it with grilled pork chops. Just remember the cooking time will be different depending on the kind of meat you use.
Be sure the chicken is fully coated in the marinade for the best flavor. Use a large bowl or a large ziploc bag to marinate it – both work well.
This grilled lemon chicken is a great make-ahead recipe. You can grill a big batch and keep it in the refrigerator to make sandwiches, toss with salads, or just reheat for an easy meal. It will keep in the refrigerator for four days or you can freeze the chicken for up to four months.

I just love this grill recipe – the lemon flavor is so good with all the herbs and seasonings. It’s always a winner with the family! Give this easy grilled lemon chicken a try and I know you’ll love it, too.

More Easy Weeknight Dinners on the Grill!

BBQ Pork Tenderloin is marinated in homemade barbecue sauce and then grilled until tender. It’s always a hit!
Switch up taco night and try my Grilled Flank Steak Tacos!
If you like some heat you have to try my easy Spicy Shrimp Kabobs – they’re so easy!

Meet the Evinks

Hi! We are Jason & Julie! We focus on easy, simple recipes that everyone can tackle on their smoker and grills that the entire family will enjoy!

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