Grilling season is upon us and this Grilled Lemon Thyme Chicken is all you need to host a successful cookout. Marinating the chicken breast overnight in a lemon, olive oil, and thyme marinade makes them tender and flavorful. {gluten free, whole30, paleo, keto}
Grilled chicken is such a classic dish but it’s so hard to get it right! It often comes out tough and dry but not when you marinate it like I did with this Grilled Lemon Thyme Chicken.
This chicken comes out tender and flavorful every time if you follow my directions. Adding some simple grilled vegetables on the side makes this the perfect summer dish. I like to do a big batch of grilled chicken on Sunday and keep it in the fridge for salads and grain bowls all week. It’s so much better than that packaged grilled chicken that’s stuffed with all kinds of preservatives.
HOW TO MAKE TENDER GRILLED CHICKEN
There are a few tricks of the trade that are non-negotiable…
You have to trim the fat from your chicken breasts and pound them out. I like to pound them to an even thickness which helps them to cook evenly on the grill. Just place them between two pieces of wax paper and pound those babies out with a meat mallet.
If you want even more tenderness and flavor it helps to marinate them overnight. Lemon juice and olive oil works wonders on chicken breasts!
HOW LONG SHOULD YOU COOK GRILLED CHICKEN
In order to get the cooking time right, you must have a meat thermometer. I like this one or you can also use one made specifically for grilling which has a longer handle. It takes all of the guesswork out of grilling.
Generally, I would say chicken breasts of this size would take 6-8 minutes per side. They must reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees. They will continue to cook for a bit when you take them off the grill. Always put meat on a plate covered with foil and let it rest a minute or two before slicing. Save all the yummy juices that come out of it too!
Check out my recipe for Grilled Chicken Souvlaki for more instructions on grilling chicken.
WHAT GOES WELL WITH GRILLED CHICKEN
- Marinated Tomato Basil Salad
- Watermelon Feta and Cucumber Salad
- Quinoa with Zucchini and Tomatoes
- Summer Chickpea Salad
- Greek Pasta Salad
- Cauliflower Tabbouleh
- Corn on the Cob
Any of these sides will complete your meal!
Grilled Lemon Thyme Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, trimmed of fat and pounded out
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 lemons, juiced
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 5 thyme sprigs, leaves removed
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
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Place chicken breast between 2 pieces of waxed paper and pound with a meat mallet until they are an even thickness.
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Whisk lemon juice, zest, olive oil, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Place chicken breasts in a plastic ziptop bag and add marinade. Place in a bowl to prevent leakage and place in fridge overnight.
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When ready to cook preheat grill to medium high. Make sure grates are clean and wipe with an olive oil spritzed paper towel.
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When heated place chicken breasts on grill and do not move. Cook 8 minutes on one side then flip. You may have to turn grill down to medium depending on the power of your grill.
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Begin checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. When temp reaches 165 degrees, remove chicken and place on a plate covered with foil.
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Slice and serve immediately with any pan juices. Garnish with more thyme.
Loved the lemon thyme chicken! Once I read the post, I couldn’t wait to try it. I marinated a big batch all day Monday and then grilled them up for dinner. It was delicious! And we all agreed we loved it best leftover, sliced and served cold the next day. Thanks for yet another great go-to recipe!