Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade
Our Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade makes the juiciest grilled chicken you’ve ever tasted!
We eat a lot of chicken around here – it’s the one thing everyone likes. I want delicious meals, but I also want to be sure I am using quality ingredients when I am feeding my family.
Like you, we adore grilling! From proteins to veggies, we grill it all – all season long! I especially love coming up with creative homemade sauces and seasonings that, when paired with grilling, bring out the most amazing flavor, like this simple recipe I’m sharing today.
When it comes to grilling, marinades bring a big, bold flavor to the party. This Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade is an incredible multi-use chicken recipe using fresh garlic, lemon, and ground mustard, along with a pinch of red pepper flakes, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. It sounds so simple, but the results speak for themselves.
Ingredients
Yes, making your own chicken marinade instead of grabbing something from the store takes a few extra minutes. However, you can control everything that goes into the marinade, and trust me when I tell you this is so, so tasty! I included some better-for-you swaps below.
- Chicken breasts – I swapped out other meat and used boneless skinless chicken breasts, which are leaner and cook quickly. You could also use chicken thighs or chicken wings. You could even use this lemon chicken marinade recipe to help flavor a whole chicken!
- Oil – grapeseed oil, olive oil, or avocado oil will all work.
- Fresh Lemons – the juice helps tenderize the chicken and the lemon zest adds a delicious tangy flavor.
- Fresh garlic – Swapping out and using fresh is better for you than powdered and keeps the lemons from overpowering the marinade.
- Red pepper flakes – adds just a tiny kick.
- Ground mustard – perfectly compliments the rest of the ingredients, making for a well-rounded flavor combination.
- Salt and pepper to taste – Skip the table salt, however. I swap that out and use Himalayan salt because I like the flavor it adds to this recipe, but kosher salt is also great.
- Optional – add a pat of Cowboy Butter to the top of the chicken breasts after they’re done grilling. The butter will melt adding even more flavor to the chicken! You could also add fresh herbs to the lemon marinade.
How to Make Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade
Putting this marinade together is a cinch!
- Place the chicken into a large resealable bag.
- Into the bag, combine the oil, fresh lemon juice, and zest, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, ground mustard, salt, and pepper.
- Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or as much as 24 hours.
Keep in mind that the longer the chicken marinates, the better the flavor will be. The combination of lemon and garlic with the flavor from the grilling is just out of this world!
Tips for Grilling Chicken
- Because there is oil in the marinade, you do not need to use any more. Your chicken will not stick to the grill.
- Don’t crowd the meat on the grill. Allow at least 1/2″ between the chicken breasts.
- Keep the grill temperature at about 425 degrees F and grill the chicken breasts for about 4-5 minutes per side.
- Keep the grill closed so that the heat can cook the meat through.
- Chicken should be cooked until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F, according to FoodSafety.gov.
Equipment
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- Resealable bag
- Microplane for zesting the lemons
- Cutting Board and Santoku Knife (I absolutely love this knife!!)
- Measuring Spoons
- Meat Thermometer
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Recipe Variations
Our marinated chicken can be cooked on an outdoor grill or a grill pan.
This garlic lemon chicken marinade is perfect any type of chicken – I love boneless skinless chicken breasts, but it works great for bone-in chicken thighs, too. You can even use it to make wings (I recommend these cowboy butter wings!)
Instead of parsley, add a little lemongrass, thyme, bails, or tarragon to your homemade marinade. All of these fresh herbs pair wonderfully with lemon and garlic.
Serving Suggestions
This lemon garlic chicken is delicious with so many different side dishes! Here are a couple of my favorites:
This chicken is also a great addition to all sorts of salads, rice bowls, pasta, and more.
Similar Recipes
I am always looking for new ways to make chicken so we don’t get bored with the same meals. Here are some of my go-to chicken recipes for easy weeknight meals:
You’ll also love our recipes for boneless pork chops, grilled top sirloin, and cherry BBQ sauce.
Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade
This chicken marinade is suitable for a range of diets including low-carb, keto, and paleo. Serve with your favorite side dish or on top of a salad for a deliciously easy weeknight meal.
If you love this recipe, please give it a 5-star rating!
Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade
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Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast
Marinade
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large lemons, zested and juiced
- 2 large cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flake
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon Himalyan or Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place the chicken into a large resealable bag.1 lb chicken breast
- Into the bag, combine the oil, lemon juice and zest, minced garlic, red pepper flake, ground mustard, salt, and pepper.1/3 cup vegetable oil, 2 large lemons, zested and juiced, 2 large cloves fresh garlic, minced, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flake, 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard, 1/2 teaspoon Himalyan or Kosher salt, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or as much as 24 hours.
Equipment
- Resealable bag
Notes
Tips for Grilling Chicken
- Because there is oil in the marinade, you do not need to use any more. Your chicken will not stick to the grill.
- Don’t crowd the meat on the grill. Allow at least 1/2″ between the chicken breasts.
- Keep the grill temperature about 425-degrees F and grill the chicken breasts about 4-5 minutes per side.
- Keep the grill closed so that the heat can cook the meat though.
Meal Planning
Want to add this recipe to your meal plan? Download our free printable meal plan here.
This recipe is included in Meal Plan 15 along with:
- chicken pot pie
- grilled boneless pork chops
- orange mango pops
- buffalo chicken tater tot casserole
- grilled lemon garlic chicken
… and more!
Be sure to check out all our meal plan ideas here.
The lemon and garlic combo is wonderful!
Thanks so much for stopping by, and for your note 🙂
I had been looking for a new marinade for chicken and found this. It is SO YUMMY and my friends always ask for the recipe. Thank you!!
This looks amazing & I can’t wait to try it!!!
What if you do not have access to a grill? What alternate cooking method can be used? Thanks.
Hi Patricia, you can pan fry or bake your marinated chicken instead of grilling.
In a skillet, add a little bit of oil and cook the chicken for 3-4 on each side until it is cooked through.
To bake chicken, place it in a lightly greased baking pan and cook at 400F for 20-26 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165F.
ENJOY!
This is my go-to chicken marinade – it’s SO good!!! Sometimes I make it with lime juice in stead of lemon juice and it’s really good that way too.