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Grilled Lemon Chicken is my go-to summer entree these days! Chicken breasts are marinated in a bold mixture of fresh lemon juice, olive oil, honey, dijon mustard and a medley of seasonings to give it the very best flavor. Just don’t forget to serve your grilled chicken with some charred lemons for the ultimate experience!
According to my family and friends, I’ve outdone myself with this one! When I make this grilled lemon chicken recipe, I never end up with leftovers. It’s juicy, tender, and flavorful with all of that bold fresh lemon flavor. It’s so perfect for summertime!
The key to success with this easy recipe is to let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes. Personally, I usually let it marinate for the full time (8 hours or even overnight) to really let the meat tenderize and soak up all of those amazing flavors. Marinating the chicken is the only step of this whole process that requires a little bit of patience. Everything else takes just a few minutes!
Ingredients and Substitutions
You might already have most of the ingredients you’ll need already in your kitchen right now!
- Chicken Breasts – Slice them in half so they’re thinner. You can leave them just the way they are for a larger chicken breast, but the cook time will be longer.
- Lemon Juice – It’s so important to use fresh lemon juice! Bottled lemon juice won’t have the same fresh flavor or the acidity needed to tenderize the meat.
- Dijon Mustard – Do not swap this with regular yellow mustard!
- Garlic – Fresh garlic will create the very best flavor here. Avoid pre-minced if possible.
- Honey – Just half a teaspoon of honey is needed to help cut through the tangy lemon flavor.
- Seasonings – We want the lemon flavor to be the most prominent. So, we’re keeping things simple with some Italian seasoning, kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Olive Oil – Avocado oil also works well if preferred.
For the full ingredient list, see the recipe card below.
How to Make Grilled Lemon Chicken
Take a look at how easy this grilled lemon chicken recipe is! For exact step by step directions, scroll on down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Marinate the chicken. First, pat the chicken dry with a paper towel, then season it with some salt and pepper. Whisk together the marinade ingredients. Place the chicken in a big zip-top bag or bowl, coat with the marinade and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes and up to 8 hours.
- Grill the chicken. Heat your gill to medium-high and oil the grates. Add the chicken to the grill and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reads 165°F.
- Let it rest. Let the chicken rest off of the grill for 5 minutes before slicing. This helps it stay nice and juicy! While that’s resting, toss the lemon halves on the grill and char them.
No grill? No problem! Not only is this Non-Stick Grill Pan aesthetically pleasing, it’s also great for low-calorie grilling in your kitchen. The non-toxic coating is easy to clean.
We love using it to make, paninis, too!
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Serving Suggestions
There’s no way to serve grilled chicken this good! Typically, I plate it with a side salad and call it a day. It also tastes great chilled, so if you wanted to serve it cold on top of a salad that’s also great! Of course, you could always bulk up your plate with something like easy grilled potatoes in foil since your grill’s already hot. Or serve it alongside The Very Best Carrot Salad.
Best Sides for Grilled Chicken
Check out more of my favorite easy chicken breast recipes!
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Grilled Lemon Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- 1 grill
Ingredients
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in half horizontally
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, finely minced
- 1/2 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 lemons cut in half
- 2 tablespoons butter, optional
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, mustard, garlic, honey, seasoning and olive oil.
- Place the chicken a zip top bag or large bowl. Pour the marinade over the chicken and marinade for 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.
- Preheat the grill to medium high heat and oil the grates.
- Arrange the chicken on the grill and cook for 3-4 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 3 minutes or until cooked through and the temperature reaches 165˚F on an instant read thermometer.
- Transfer the chicken to a platter and rest for 5 minutes.
- While the chicken rests, grill the lemon halves until charred.
- Serve the chicken with the lemons and a pat of butter, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
