Lemon & Herb Grilled Chicken
This Lemon and Herb Grilled Chicken contains only a few simple ingredients, but it’s so tender and flavorful. The chicken is marinated in a mix of herbs, lemon and garlic and then grilled until moist in the middle and golden brown on the outside. 
This Lemon and Herb Grilled Chicken makes me so happy when grilling season happens. It has such a simple herb and garlic marinade, and while I am normally one for big, bold flavors, I love how versatile this chicken is due to the mild flavors of the marinade. That being said, the beauty of this recipe is that you can adjust the lemon and herbs and make it as bold as you like. Arrange the thighs with a few sprigs of fresh herbs and slices of grilled lemon, which can be squeezed over top when serving. This grilled chicken recipe is sure to impress!
Why You Will Love This Lemon and Herb Grilled Chicken Recipe
- The fresh flavors are bold, bright, and herby, and will be a combo the whole family will love.
- Freeze the raw chicken in the marinade for an easy weeknight dinner later on.
- This simple grilled chicken is Whole30, Paleo, Dairy Free, Grain Free, Gluten Free, and Specific Carbohydrate Diet Legal.
- Use this chicken in wraps, salads, or in a rice bowl for great versatility.
- No need to limit yourself to the outdoor grill for this one; you can definitely cook it inside.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Chicken Thighs: I prefer boneless, skinless thighs for this because they are juicier and richer, but boneless, skinless chicken breasts will also work.
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: I like using a good quality olive oil or avocado oil.
- Fresh Garlic: I recommend crushed fresh garlic cloves, but garlic powder is also a great option.
- Spices: A simple combo of salt and black pepper is all you need.
- Lemon: Use both lemon zest and fresh lemon juice for a delicious, bright combination.
- Herbs: I love the combination of dried thyme and dried rosemary, but you can add basil or oregano as well.
You can find a printable recipe card below
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Ziploc Bag
- Outdoor Grill
- Grilling Tongs
- Instant-Read Thermometer
How to Cook This Lemon and Herb Grilled Chicken
- Combine the chicken and all of the lemon herb marinade ingredients in a large Ziploc bag. Shake to ensure the chicken is well-coated.
- Place the bag in the fridge to marinate for a minimum of 4 hours but ideally overnight, flipping the bag over once so that the chicken is well coated.
- Preheat the grill to medium heat. Once hot, place chicken on grill grates and cook for 4-6 minutes per side and until the internal temperature is 160 degrees F. and the outside has a beautiful golden brown charring. Allow it to rest for 5 minutes (the temperature will need to climb to 165 degrees F).
Ways to Modify
- Increase the rosemary and thyme, or add other herbs for extra flavor. If you prefer fresh herbs, use fresh thyme, fresh rosemary, or add fresh basil.
- Use boneless chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs, if you prefer white meat.
Dietary Customizations
If your diet doesn’t allow garlic, go ahead and skip it!
Other Cooking Methods
- Grill pan: Cook on the stovetop over medium-high heat for 4-6 minutes per side or until you have an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Adjust cooking time if necessary.
- Oven: Bake it in the oven in a baking dish for 20 minutes at 425°F. Line the pan with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
- Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F for 3 minutes. Place on a greased air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 10 minutes, turn each piece over with tongs, and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
- When it comes to side dishes, you can’t go wrong with a fresh and hearty salad like this Tomato, Peach, and Burrata Salad (one of my summer obsessions), a light and fresh Orange, Avocado and Candied Pistachio Salad, or a creamy, lemony Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Lemon Sauce.
- Don’t forget a delicious side of potatoes like Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes or Parmesan and Truffle Fries.
- If you prefer sauteed or roasted veggies, The BEST Sauteed Greens, Lemon Roasted Green Beans, or Roasted Fennel With Garlic and Herbs are great options!
Prepping Ahead and Storing Leftovers
Meal Prep: You can prep this chicken the night before, allowing it to soak in the marinade and absorb all the yummy flavors even more. This is also amazing to place in the marinade and then freeze in a freezer bag for up to 2 months for a quick and easy meal on a busy weeknight.
Leftovers: The leftover chicken will last for 3 to 4 days when stored in the fridge in an airtight container. You can also place the cooked chicken in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
More Grilled Chicken Recipes You Will Love:
- Jerk Chicken & Peach Skewers
- Asian Chicken Skewers
- Pesto Chicken & Tomato Skewers
- Grilled Chicken with an Easy Spiced Marinade
- Chicken Souvlaki
- The BEST Grilled Chicken
If you make this recipe let me know in the comment section below, I would love to hear what you think or take a photo and tag me (@everylastbite_) on Instagram, I love seeing your photos!
Lemon & Herb Grilled Chicken
Ingredients
- 6-8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp dried thyme (or 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh thyme)
- 1 tsp dried rosemary (or 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary)
Instructions
- In a large zip loc bag combine the chicken along with all of the ingredients for the marinade. Shake to ensure the chicken is well coated.
- Place the bag in the fridge to marinate for a minimum of 20 minutes and up to overnight.
- Preheat the grill to medium heat. Once hot cook the chicken for 4-6 minutes per side until there is no pink in the middle and it is cooked through.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on August 28, 2018 and updated with new copy on May 31, 2025
Really amazing super juicy. My husband is officially converted he loves it as well