Looking for a healthy and delicious grilled chicken breast recipe full of flavor? If so, you are going to love this quick and versatile marinated grilled chicken.
You will find the amazing flavors in this chicken dish can accompany just about anything. Give it a try with a delicious vegetable dish like sheet pan roasted vegetables, a simple salad like grilled corn salad, or a more substantial side dish like a tuna macaroni salad. And it goes fabulously with ooey gooey butter cake bars for dessert.
Easily double or triple the number of chicken breasts and you’ll have plenty on hand for quick lunches and dinners throughout the week.
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Marinated Grilled Chicken
Grilled chicken is always a good option for a quick and easy dinner. Let it sit in a simple marinade, cook it on the grill, and enjoy!
Grilled chicken is an easy way to prepare dinner or pack lunch for school or work. It is also an excellent and healthy source of protein. You can use leftover grilled chicken for salads, sandwiches, wraps, dips, and more – the possibilities are endless!
Why Marinating Is Important
Marinating chicken allows for the meat to become more tender and juicy. It also provides a variety of flavors for different types of chicken dishes.
There are a variety of marinades you can use, from ones with lemon, orange, and lime to ones with soy sauce or teriyaki sauce. You can also add herbs like thyme, basil, or oregano.
How Long Should Chicken Marinate
You can marinate chicken for as little as 10 minutes or as long as overnight.
For a super quick marinade (because let’s face it, we aren’t always as organized as we’d like to be), cover the chicken with the marinade and leave it for 10 minutes before cooking.
If you have more time, I highly recommend leaving your chicken in the marinade for at least 60 minutes. The longer it marinates, the more flavor it will produce. It will also prevent the chicken from drying out, keeping it tenderized and juicy.
Benefits of Grilling
Grilling your meat and vegetables not only improves taste but also has health benefits. The following are some reasons to choose to grill, according to AwesomeBackyardLiving.com:
- Consume less fat, making it great for weight loss
- Locks in moisture, requiring less additional condiments with added calories
- Preserves vitamins and minerals
Don’t have a grill? Not to worry, you can still enjoy the same taste and benefits that a grill provides by using a smokeless indoor grill. My personal favorite is actually on the low-end of the price spectrum, but don’t let that low price fool you. It is a powerful indoor grill that is perfect for winter grilling in cold climates or year-round grilling for apartment or condo dwellers. It doesn’t take up a lot of space and it doesn’t require charcoal or propane.
Ingredients:
boneless chicken breasts
olive oil
apple cider vinegar
lime juice
lime zest
dried oregano
minced garlic
salt & pepper
Start with trimmed, boneless, and skinless chicken breasts.
In a large mixing bowl, prepare the marinade by adding olive oil, lime juice, zest, oregano, garlic, and salt & pepper. Place the trimmed chicken breasts into a gallon-size sealable storage bag and pour your marinade mixture over the top. Seal the bag and turn to coat the chicken breasts thoroughly. Place the bag in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 1 hour (can even keep chicken marinating overnight).
Tip: Give the bag a shake and turn it over a couple of times while marinating for even distribution.
Remove the chicken breasts from the refrigerator and discard any excess marinade. Grill the breasts over medium direct heat, turning once, for 10-12 minutes total.
Tip: Make sure that, after you add the chicken, you don’t touch it again until it is ready to be flipped over. This ensures that the juices stay inside and don’t leak out of your meat and onto the grill while cooking.
Remove from heat and rest for 5 minutes before serving. It’s that simple to enjoy an amazing piece of chicken for dinner!
You’ll love this easy and delicious way to enjoy grilled marinated chicken breasts. With this no-fail recipe, the chicken turns out tender and juicy every time.
For another great chicken recipe, don’t miss my One-Pan Pecorino Chicken.
Marinated Grilled Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tsp lime zest
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1½ tbsp minced garlic
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, prepare the marinade by adding olive oil, lime juice, zest, oregano, garlic, and salt & pepper.
- Add chicken breasts to a gallon-size sealable storage bag and pour marinade mixture over top. Seal bag and turn to coat breasts thoroughly. Place the bag in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 1 hour to overnight. Turn the bag a couple times to evenly distribute the marinade during this time.
- Remove chicken from the refrigerator and discard excess marinade. Grill the breasts over medium direct heat, turning once, for 10-12 minutes total. Remove from heat and rest for 5 minutes before serving.