This lemon garlic marinated chicken is simple to throw together and packed with so much flavor. Certainly, this recipe will quickly become your favorite go-to marinade!

This is my version of Greek chicken souvlaki (minus the skewers). The marinade is made with olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, dijon mustard, basil, oregano, parsley, and pepper. All of the ingredients are pantry staples, so you’re likely to have the ingredients stocked and on hand.  Of course chicken is only as good as the sauce on it and I guarantee this won’t disappoint!

The best part of this lemon garlic marinade is that it’s light and refreshing. It’s also perfect for grilling, or alternatively, can be cooked in a pan. Either way, cooking it with the chicken really brings out the flavor in both.

Marinating is important because the chicken soaks up the flavors and becomes extra juicy. You can easily make the marinate ahead of time and save it for multiple dinners. I just throw all the ingredients into a Ziploc bag, add the chicken, and finally let it immerse in the oil-lemon herb goodness. Refrigerate it together for at least 30 minutes if short on time, or let it sit overnight to really bring out the best taste once cooked. Typically the longer you marinate the better, but don’t worry if you don’t have a lot of time, it still comes out great!

The lemon garlic marinated chicken goes well with a variety of sides for a quick and healthy meal. For instance, pair it with grains (rice, quinoa, farro, pasta) or vegetables, serve over salads, or slice it for sandwiches. I also enjoy it topped with tzatziki sauce for a refreshing Mediterranean meal at home.

Print Recipe

Lemon Garlic Marinated Chicken

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time25 minutes mins

Total Time35 minutes mins

Servings: 8 people

Ingredients

• 2 pounds chicken breast, thin sliced, or tenders
• ½ Cup olive oil light
• ½ Cup lemon juice bottled or fresh
• ½ Tablespoon dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon dried basil or fresh (use a little more)
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley or fresh (use a little more)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

• Place the olive oil, lemon juice, dijon mustard, garlic, basil, parsley, oregano, and black pepper in a resealable gallon-sized zip-loc bag. Seal and shake to combine.
• Clean and cut the chicken and place in the bag. Seal the bag air tight and move the chicken around to coat in the marinade.
• Place the bag in the refrigerator and marinate for at least 30 minutes, up to four hours (can prep and marinate overnight).
• Heat a grill or indoor pan over medium- high heat. Cook the chicken 4-6 minutes on each side until browned and cooked through. *
• Serve with your favorite sides or top with your favorite sauce or salsa.

Nutrition Facts

(per 4 oz, 8 servings total):

258 Calories, 12 grams fat, 2 grams saturated fat, 35 grams protein, 0.5 grams total carbohydrate, 104 mg sodium

Nutrition facts are estimated as close as possible, most of the marinade gets thrown away.

*Note: if you are cooking indoors on a pan, the chicken gives off a lot of liquid and may not brown the first batch. Towards the end of cooking when the pieces start to brown, I will place the first chicken pieces I cooked back in the pan and rub along the bottom of the pan on both sides to brown. 

More delicious recipes for you to try in addition to this marinade:

Greek Orzo Pasta Salad

Black Bean Dip

Healthy Carrot Cake Cupcakes 

Do you have a favorite marinated chicken recipe? Share it below, I would love to try out different recipe ideas.

Lemon Garlic Marinated Chicken

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