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Grilled Italian Lemon Garlic Chicken

This Grilled Italian Lemon Garlic Chicken starts with a super flavorful marinade then finished off on the grill to cook and add even more flavor! Healthy and delicious!

A FLAVORFUL GRILLED CHICKEN RECIPE

This recipe for Grilled Italian Lemon Garlic Chicken is actually pretty light and healthy but you won’t even know it! The chicken comes out ridiculously flavorful and tender. Lemon and garlic really work so well with chicken. The lemon naturally tenderizes the chicken so it’s perfect to use with chicken breasts! You are going to want to make extra so you can use it in other recipes like a grilled chicken salad or even delicious chicken wraps!

too pieces of grilled lemon garlic chicken show on a white plate.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Do I need to add the red pepper flakes?

Of course not. I don’t add much in this recipe because I am a total baby when it comes to spice and my acid reflux can’t handle it. So what I have added here is not strong. It just adds a nice little background flavor.

Do I really need to marinate for two hours or can I just pop it straight on the grill?

Marinating makes all the difference here. You just are not going to get the depth of flavor if you don’t marinate. If you are absolutely desperate to eat it, try to marinate for a least 30 minutes. It still won’t be the same though – sorry.

Can I use other cuts of chicken, like chicken thighs?

Absolutely! I think this would work so well with any other cut of chicken. Just keep an eye on the temperature to know when it’s done.

How do I store leftovers?

Put chicken into an airtight container, or zip top bag and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Cooked chicken can also be frozen in freezer safe tiptop bag for up to 2 months.

Grilled Italian Lemon Garlic Chicken Bread recipe from the Country Cook. Photo showing two grilled chicken breasts with lemon slices on top on a white round plate.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

  • olive oil – you can use vegetable oil if that is all you have
  • seasoned rice vinegar – technically you could use regular vinegar here but I think you lose some good flavor
  • fresh garlic – you can use the jarred stuff but I don’t think it gives the same impact and depth of flavor in this recipe like fresh
  • dried oregano – fresh can be used (use 1 1/2 times the amount of dried)
  • dried rosemary – fresh can be used (use 1 1/2 times the amount of dried)
  • salt and pepper – regular table salt is fine here or you can use kosher
  • red pepper flakes – this is completely optional if you don’t like any spice (although I don’t really find it spicy but I know some people are super sensitive to it)
  • lemon – this needs to be a fresh lemon not bottled lemon (trust me on this)
  • boneless, skinless chicken breasts – chicken thighs are also delicious with this marinade!
ingredients needed: chicken breast, rice vinegar, lemon, garlic, olive oil, oregano and rosemary.

HOW TO MAKE GRILLED ITALIAN LEMON GARLIC CHICKEN:

Place all the ingredients (minus the chicken breasts) into the Ziploc bag. Seal it up and mix all the ingredients together by shaking the bag.

marinade ingredients in a ziploc bag, shown from a top view.

Then add in the chicken breasts and seal the bag again (removing as much air as possible), then massage the marinade into the chicken. Refrigerate for at least two hours.

chicken breasts shown in lemon garlic marinade in a ziploc bag.

Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (About 350F degrees.) Make sure your grill grates are clean so the chicken won’t stick. Place marinated chicken on the grill and discard any excess marinade. 

Note: I do like to keep the lemon slices. I will place them on the uppermost part of my grill rack while the chicken is cooking. Or try to keep them on the chicken as I cook it. It’s not necessary but it makes a nice presentation when serving the chicken. If you don’t have an upper grill rack, you can always place them on the side, on top of aluminum foil (so they don’t slip through the grates) – ensuring they are not over direct heat.

two cooked chicken breasts shown on a grill.

Close lid on grill and cook each side of the chicken for about 6-8 minutes (per side, depending on the thickness of your meat.) It helps to use a meat thermometer when grilling. You want your chicken cooked to 165f degrees (measure the thickest part of the meat).

hand holding a fork to cut a slice of grilled lemon garlic chicken on a white plate with cooked green beans on the side.

LOOKING FOR MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES?

Grilled Italian Lemon Garlic Chicken recipe

Grilled Italian Lemon Garlic Chicken

This Grilled Italian Lemon Garlic Chicken is simple to make but it is so flavorful. Everyone always asks for the recipe! Healthy and delicious.
5 from 7 votes
Print Pin Rate
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place all the ingredients (minus the chicken breasts) into the Ziploc bag.
  • Seal it up and mix all the ingredients together by shaking the bag.
  • Then add in the chicken breasts and seal the bag again (removing as much air as possible), then massage the marinade into the chicken.
  • Refrigerate for at least two hours.
  • Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (to about 350f degrees.) Make sure your grill grates ar eclean so the chicken doesn't stick.
  • Place marinated chicken on the grill and discard any excess marinade.
  • Close lid on grill and cook each side of the chicken for about 7-9 minutes per side. Keep an eye on the grill temperature that it doesn't get too hot.
  • Chicken is cooked when it reaches 165f degrees (measure the thickest part of the meat.)

Notes

  • I do like to keep the lemon slices. I will place them on the uppermost part of my grill rack while the chicken is cooking.
  • Serve with a nice, green salad and veggies!
  • For leftovers, put cooked chicken into an airtight container, or zip top bag, and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Cooked chicken can also be frozen in freezer safe tiptop bag for up to 2 months.
  • This recipe will work with any cut of chicken.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 334kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 13g | Sodium: 410mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Originally published: March 2016

Updated and republished: July 2021

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Recipe Rating




7 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I have a similar recipe, except I used apple cider vinegar and add 1/2 small onion, grated, to the marinade. Delicious!

  2. My mother has used this since I can remember, and she always receives the compliments at mealtime. I like the taste of a delicious barbecue sauce for chicken on the grill.

  3. Moondoggerel – oh my gracious – love ya right back! Thank you!! Ok, so as for doing it in the oven – you can – BUT – you can also cook them in a pan on the stove top. This might be a nice option so it'll give you a nice golden color. You can use a grill pan if you have one. If not, a regular ole pan will do. Pop a little oil in there and cook both sides for about 7-9 minutes (making sure to cook it covered.) Internal temperature should be 165f. It always depends on how big your chicken pieces are. If they're thinner you may be cooking them less time. I hope that helps!

  4. 5 stars
    I saw this recipe yesterday morning, and bought the ingredients while I was at the grocery store. Immediately got the chicken marinating and grilled the breasts on my indoor electric grill in the evening. My chicken pieces were huge, but I followed your cooking instructions to the letter. That was the best chicken I've ever cooked. Tasty, juicy, well done but not a bit dry. I made plenty for the week and am getting hungry just thinking about having some on a salad for lunch. I just wanted to take a minute out of my day and let you know how much I enjoyed your recipe. I have cooked all my life and am not easily impressed, but this was great!