This Grilled Chicken Breast is anything but basic. A simple citrus marinade keeps it tender, juicy, and full of flavor—ready in 30 minutes. Say goodbye to dry, boring chicken for good!
Chicken marinade for grilling
The secret’s out—this grilled chicken breast recipe is anything but boring. I first made it back in my country club chef days for a big golf outing. I needed something juicy, flavorful, and easy to eat between holes—and it was a hit. I’ve been making it ever since! The citrus marinade makes it bright, tender, and perfect for summer meals. I started calling it “Bahama Chicken” because it reminded me of island flavors.
Pair it with our Crunchy Asian Salad or slice it over this Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad.
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Ingredients
- LEMONS: fresh squeezed lemon juice
- LIMES: fresh squeezed lime juice
- BROWN SUGAR: light brown sugar or dark brown sugar
- HARD GRAIN MUSTARD: you can also use dijon mustard
- GARLIC: fresh garlic cloves, chopped or minced
- VINEGAR: apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar works best
- OLIVE OIL: use the best quality extra virgin olive oil you can afford
- CHICKEN BREASTS: boneless, skinless chicken breasts
*see recipe card for quantities.
🔪Top tip
This marinade recipe is very versatile. Don't just limit it to chicken breasts! Use it on bone-in chicken, chicken wings, chicken thighs, or pork chops
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, mustard, garlic and mix together
- Add Lemons and Limes: Add juice of two limes and two lemons, leaving skins in bowl. Add vinegar and mix together
- Add Olive Oil: Drizzle olive oil in slowly while whisking mixture together.
- Add Chicken and Refrigerate: Place chicken breasts in marinade and cover and refrigerator overnight (or for at least 2 hours).
- Grill: Remove chicken from marinade and grill until fully cooked (about 6-8 minutes per side).
🔥 How long to grill chicken breast
Grilling chicken breast to the ideal internal temperature is the best way to ensure that it is perfectly tender and juicy every time.
- Preheat Grill to Medium Heat: (approximately 400°F)
- Grill Chicken Breasts: for 10-15 minutes over direct heat, flipping half way through (6-8 minutes per side)
- Check the Temp: check the internal temperature of the chicken using a meat thermometer. Once the temperature reaches 165°F, remove from the grill
- Let it rest: let the grilled chicken breasts rest for several minutes to seal in the juices.
Variations
- Top it: with grilled lemon and lime wedges or Fresh Pineapple Salsa
- Slice it: serve sliced Grilled Chicken Breast on top of Crunchy Asian Salad, Brussels Sprouts Flatbread Pizza, or Pasta Pomodoro.
- Save it: use leftover Grilled Chicken Breast for Chicken Street Tacos or Crispy Chicken Taquitos.
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Storage
- Store: refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Make ahead: marinate chicken and refrigerate for up to 12 hours in advance.
- Reheat: in a sauté pan with a little olive oil or in the microwave
FAQ
Grill chicken breast for about 6-8 minutes per side over medium heat, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. The exact time may vary based on the thickness of the chicken breasts.
To keep grilled chicken breast moist, marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours before grilling. Cooking at medium heat and using a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F will also help prevent dryness.
It's best to thaw chicken breast before grilling to ensure even cooking. Thawing in the refrigerator overnight is recommended for the best results.
Yes, you can grill chicken breast on a stovetop using a grill pan. Preheat the grill pan over medium-high heat and cook the chicken for 6-8 minutes per side.
Healthy side dishes to serve with grilled chicken breast include Mexican Street Corn, Asian Salad, and Balsamic Glazed Carrots.
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Grilled Chicken Breast recipe
This grilled chicken breast is anything but basic. A simple citrus marinade keeps it tender, juicy, and full of flavor—ready in 30 minutes.
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Yield: 8 1x
Ingredients
- 2 lemons
- 2 limes
- ½ C brown sugar
- ¼ C hard grain mustard or dijon mustard
- 1 TBSP chopped garlic
- ½ C vinegar (cider or red wine works best)
- ½ C olive oil
- 8-6 oz. boneless chicken breasts
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, mustard, garlic and mix together
- Add juice of two limes and two lemons, leaving skins in bowl.
- Add vinegar and mix together
- Drizzle olive oil in slowly while whisking mixture together.
- Place chicken breast in marinade and cover. Refrigerator overnight (or for at least 2 hours).
- Remove chicken from marinade and grill it until fully cooked (about 6-8 minutes per side).
Notes
- This marinade recipe is very versatile. Don't just limit it to chicken breasts! Use it on bone-in chicken, chicken wings, chicken thighs, or pork chops
- To keep grilled chicken breast moist, marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours before grilling.
- Check the internal temperature of the chicken using a meat thermometer. Once the temperature reaches 165°F, remove from the grill
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: grilling
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 chicken breast
- Calories: 209
- Sugar: 25.4 g
- Sodium: 327.5 mg
- Fat: 3.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Protein: 13.1 g
- Cholesterol: 41.4 mg
Jackie says
This is our GO TO grilled chicken recipe. Whenever we serve it, people rave about it and ask for the recipe.