Lemon Herb Chicken

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If you're looking for a flavorful easy chicken recipe, this is the one you need! A quick homemade marinade with fresh lemon and herbs and then a quick grill gives you dinner perfection.

For perfect juicy and flavorful chicken, follow my five tips for marinating and grilling chicken.

Lemon Herb Chicken with lemon slices on a white plate.

Herbed lemon chicken

I could eat chicken every single night for dinner. My family...not so much. They find chicken bland and often dry. I have to find ways to spice up the chicken so it's full of flavor and retains moisture. This herbed lemon chicken fits the bill and my entire family gave it two thumbs up!

This recipe gets a quick marinade that adds just the right amount of flavor. It uses fresh herbs and you can add whatever you have on hand. I like to use Rosemary, thyme, and Italian parsley.

I slice my chicken breast in half which allows the chicken to cook quickly making this perfect for dinner any night of the week.

Serve this up with your favorite sides or slice the grilled chicken and add to a Caesar salad.

Lemon herb chicken ingredients

Lemons, herbs, garlic and chicken on a wooden board.

Chicken - Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Chicken breasts are often thick so I slice them in half so that each breast is thin.
Lemon - You'll use both the zest and the juice.
Garlic - I use a couple of cloves of garlic. The cloves are smashed to help release the flavors and then added to the marinade. The cloves are removed before grilling.
Olive Oil - Adds flavor and moisture and helps tenderize the chicken.
Herbs - My favorites are fresh rosemary, thyme, and Italian parsley. You can also use fresh oregano, basil or cilantro.

Making lemon herb chicken

Lemon marinade

Peel garlic and smash with the flat side of a knife so the cloves are crushed. The cloves should still be intact but flattened.
Use a vegetable peeler and peel large strips of lemon peel. Try not to go too deep so you are just removing the peel and not the white pith.

Lemon zest peeled with a vegetable peeler.

Place garlic, lemon peel, lemon juice, olive oil, and chopped herbs into a zip-top bag or container.
Slice chicken breasts in half so they are thin and fairly equal in thickness.
Place chicken in bag and seal. Rotate and massage bag so the chicken breasts are well coated with the marinade.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, but no more than 3 hours. Remove bag at least once during the marinating time to rotate the bag to redistribute ingredients.

Filling a plastic bag with herbs, lemon zest and garlic.

Chicken breasts in a bag filled with a lemon marinade.

Cooking the chicken

Preheat the grill so the grill is hot. Make certain the grill is cleaned and lightly oiled.
Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade.
Place chicken on hot grill and cook for 3-5 minutes per side until the chicken is golden and fully cooked through. The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F.
Remove chicken from grill and cover loosely with foil for about 5 minutes before serving.
Garnish with lemon slices and additional herbs.

Marinating and grilling tips

For maximum flavor, marinade the chicken for at least 30 minutes, but not longer than 3 hours. Any longer and the lemon juice starts to break down the meat.
Make certain your grill is fully preheated, cleaned and oiled before adding the chicken. To oil the grill, take a folded paper towel and add oil to one side. Rub the oiled side onto the grates.
Cook over medium to medium-high heat.
Flip the chicken when it is nicely browned on one side. If you go to flip the chicken and the chicken sticks to the grill, it needs another 1-2 minutes until it's ready to flip.
Watch for hot spots on your grill. If one area is cooking faster than other areas, rotate the chicken into a new spot.

Frequently asked questions

How do I store leftover chicken?

Allow the chicken to cool then place in an airtight container or bag. Refrigerate and use within 3-4 days.

Can I use chicken thighs in this recipe?

Yes, any cut of chicken works with this marinade. You will need to adjust the grilling time depending on the pieces you are grilling. Bone-in chicken requires additional cooking time.