Learn how to make grilled chicken breast that will come out perfect every time. The meat is marinated with simple homemade seasoning and glazed with lemon honey butter. As a result, you will get tender, juicy, and moist chicken breasts that are full of flavor, perfect every time!
Summer is the best time to make grilling recipes! Today I am going to share easy grilled chicken breast tips. This is a great chicken breast recipe that you want to make all summer and is also good for any of those weeknights year-round where you're short on time but still want a tasty meal.
You can grill the chicken breast using any type of grill you may have at home, from outdoor to indoor grills or stove-top grills.
This grilled chicken breast recipe is low carb and keto-friendly.
Now, let's talk about the preparation for this meal.
Tenderize Chicken Breast
Each piece of chicken comes in different sizes so they of course cook at an uneven rate. Boneless chicken breasts are lean meat and can dry out quickly if overcooked. To fix this issue, we need to tenderize the meat by pounding them out.
Tenderizing meat will help it cook evenly by keeping one end from drying out before the other has time to cook.
Here are some steps to tenderize chicken breasts in this recipe:
· First, place the chicken breast in a large zip-lock bag, push out all the air, and seal. Or, you can cover your work surface with a large piece of plastic wrap then place the chicken breast on top, and cover the chicken with another piece of plastic wrap.
· Next, use a meat mallet, rolling pin, saucepan, or skillet to slightly flatten the breast to an even thickness from end to end. It should be between a quarter-inch and a half-inch thick.
· Last, marinate the meat with salt and spices for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight. The marinade is an important part to keep the chicken breast juicy and to boost the flavors. For this recipe, I recommend marinating for at least 4 hours minimum.
The Best Marinade Chicken Breast Seasoning:
This healthy marinade chicken seasoning is made with basic pantry ingredients. I just added a combination of dried herbs; thyme, and oregano then mixed with extra virgin olive oil, salt, garlic, and ground black pepper.
Add Extra Flavors to the Chicken Breast with Glaze:
The good seasoning doesn't stop right there. To create a wonderful glaze, I brushed the chicken breast with lemon honey butter during grilling. Absolutely delicious!
How Long to Grill the Chicken Breast:
First, you need to set your grill between 425 and 450°F for chicken breasts.
The grilling time varies and depends on the thickness of your chicken breast, from about 3-4 minutes on each side for thin slices (¼-1/2-inch) or 5-6 minutes for thicker slices (¾-inch). Make sure to check the internal temperature of the chicken using a cooking temperature and register at 165°F before removing it from the grill.
Also, don't forget to flip them at the halfway point to achieve those beautiful sear marks on each side of the chicken.
Check Out More Delicious Chicken Recipes:
- HEALTHY BAKED CHICKEN TENDERS (AKA CHICKEN STRIPS)
- CHICKEN SHAWARMA (OVEN-ROASTED + INSTANT POT INSTRUCTIONS) - WITH VIDEO 🎥
- OVEN-BAKED CHICKEN BREAST (SO TENDER AND JUICY!)
- HARISSA CHICKEN RECIPE - WITH RECIPE VIDEO 🎥
- CREAMY CHICKEN MARSALA
- MEDITERRANEAN ROAST CHICKEN WITH VEGGIES
Here are some steps to make this recipe:
1. In a small bowl, mix dried thyme, oregano, salt, oil, black pepper, and minced garlic. Stir to combine.
2. Place the chicken breast inside a large freezer gallon bag, and add the marinade seasoning. Rub the chicken with the paste and marinate in the fridge for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
3. Preheat the grill.
4. In a small bowl, add melted butter, honey, and lemon.
5. Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade.
6. Place marinated chicken breasts on the grill. Brush with honey butter about 4-5x aside.
7. Flip the chicken breast at halfway point and make sure the meat is registered at 165°F before removing from the grill.
Storing Leftover:
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
What to Serve with Grilled Chicken Breast:
- TOMATO CUCUMBER SALAD (WITH RECIPE VIDEO 🎥)
- CAPRESE SALAD - FRESH TOMATO, MOZZARELLA WITH BASIL
- ELOTES MEXICANOS - MEXICAN CORN SALA
📖 Recipe
Grilled Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- 1¾ pounds chicken breast
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¾ teaspoon dried thyme (or about 6 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped and chopped)
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano (or about ½ tablespoon fresh oregano)
- 1¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (melted and cooled at room temperature)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ¾ tablespoon honey
Method
- Make the marinade. Whisk all the ingredients together in a small bowl; set aside.
- Pound the chicken thin. Working with 1 chicken breast at a time, place a breast inside a gallon zip-lock bag. Use a meat mallet, rolling pin, saucepan, or skillet to slightly flatten the breast to an even thickness from end to end. It should be around ¼ to ½-inch thickness.
- Marinate the chicken. Place the chicken in the zip-lock bag with the marinade, massage to coat. Seal the bag and place in the bowl to prevent leakage. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. In this recipe, I marinated the chicken overnight. Do not marinate for more than 24 hours!
- Prepare the grill (indoor or outdoor). Preheat the grill on high for 10-15 minutes, then scrape any debris from the grill grates and oil well.Or if you use a grill pan, set over medium-high heat.
- Grill. Remove the chicken breasts from marinade and place the chicken breast on the prepared grill. Brush the chicken all over with the honey butter and grill. Flip the chicken breast at halfway point. Cook the chicken about 3 minutes each side or until the meat is registered at 165°F before removing from the grill. Do not overcook!
- Rest the chicken. Transfer the cooked chicken to a platter, let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Emily Liao says
This chicken breast is absolutely delicious! So easy to make on the grill and it turned out very tender. Loved the grill marks on it too 🙂
Rika Livingston says
I am so glad that you liked this recipe, Emily!
Lisa Huff says
Ohhh that honey butter! What a great idea to brush on the chicken. Going to try that!
Cil Douglas says
This is now my favorite recipe for grilled chicken! Only very large breasts were available, so I flattened them to slightly less than 3 1/2 inches then halved. Marinated for 4 hours as suggested, then grilled for 3 1/2 minutes per side Wonderful flavor! A winner recipe!
Rika says
Hi Cil,
I am glad that you liked this recipe. Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback and what you did!
Best,
Rika
Tara says
Such a gorgeous coloring on this chicken! It has been way too long since I have cooked chicken on the grill. Love all your tips.
Denay DeGuzman says
Your grilled chicken marinade looks easy and delicious! My husband and I will be making this next weekend as we celebrate the 4th of July.
Jamie says
This looks incredible juicy and flavorful! I have some chicken breast in the fridge that I'll be grilling today using your recipe!
Laurence Gaunce says
Thanks for sharing this! I've been bbqing all year and looking forward to it again this weekend! Excited to try burgers for my next bbq.
Rika says
You're welcome, Laurence :). I am glad to hear that you're going to make it again this weekend. I highly recommend trying this Crispy Grilled Chicken Wings recipe as well (readers' fave)
Best,
Rika
Elizabeth McCready says
Loved this recipe! Really easy and flavorful, and it makes for great leftover grilled chicken on a salad the next day.
Rika says
Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you so much! I'm thrilled to hear that you loved the grilled chicken recipe. And you're absolutely right, the leftovers make for a fantastic addition to salads.
Best,
Rika