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Grilled lemon chicken thighs arranged on a serving plate, with sliced lemon & sprigs of fresh thyme. The plate sits atop a white surface, next to a light blue & white striped linen napkin & a few more sprigs of fresh thyme.

Quick & Easy Grilled Lemon Chicken Thighs

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Jess Larson
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: serves 4
  • Category: Main Dish, Chicken Recipe
  • Method: Grilling & Smoking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

The BEST Grilled Lemon Chicken recipe! Chicken thighs (or breasts) tossed through a quick marinade made of lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, & olive oil, then grilled until perfectly charred. Serve it on its own, or toss into any salads, bowls, or pasta dishes you love. Simple, flavorful, versatile, & perfect!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or thinly pounded chicken breast)
  • 1 large, juicy lemon, zested & juiced
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • optional: 2 tablespoons finely chopped hardy fresh herbs, such as oregano, rosemary or thyme (see Recipe Notes)
  • kosher salt & ground black pepper, to season

Instructions

  1. Prepare the grill for medium-high direct heat grilling, about 450-500 degrees F.
  2. Prep the chicken: Meanwhile, as the grill preheats, prep & marinate the chicken. In a medium bowl, whisk together the lemon zest & juice, garlic, olive oil, & chopped herbs (if using). Seasoning with 1 1/2 teaspoons each kosher salt & ground black pepper. Add the chicken to the bowl, tossing to coat in the marinade.
  3. Grill the chicken: Place the marinated chicken on the prepared grill, disposing any excess marinade. Grill the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of the chicken registers an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
  4. Serve immediately with your favorite summery side dishes, or tossed into your favorite salads or bowls. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Chicken thighs vs chicken breasts: You can use either boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts for this grilled lemon chicken recipe. I always find thighs to be more flavorful & juicier, so that’s what I typically use. If you prefer to use breasts, be sure to either pound the chicken breasts out flat or butterfly them by slicing them in half lengthwise. This will help them grill more quickly & more evenly, keeping your grilled lemon chicken totally juicy.
  • Herbs: The lemon garlic marinade is truly flavorful enough on its own to not need extra spices or herbs, but if you happen to have some fresh herbs on hand, they make for a great quick addition to this grilled lemon chicken. I prefer hardy herbs for this grilled lemon chicken recipe, such as thyme (pictured), oregano, rosemary, or some combination of the 3! If you’d like to add in some dried herbs, go for it! Similar dried herbs & herb blends, such as dried oregano, dried rosemary, dried thyme or herbs de provence or Italian seasoning, would work great. If using dried herbs, use 2 teaspoons instead of 2 tablespoons as listed in the Ingredients List above. 
  • 10-Minute Meal Prep: While this recipe is super quick & simple to throw together, you can prep the marinade ahead of time to eliminate nearly all of the prep time involved in making this grilled lemon chicken. Simply mix up the marinade & store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. At dinnertime, give it a shake, pour it over the chicken & light the grill. Couldn’t be easier!