This easy Grilled Chicken Breast Recipe makes tender, juicy and flavorful chicken every time. Say goodbye to dry, boring chicken for good!

Chicken marinade for grilling
The secret is out! Our signature Grilled Chicken Breast recipe is always a hit, guaranteed to appeal to all tastes and appetites. I started making this recipe years ago as a young chef at a country club in my hometown. We were having a large golf outing, and grilling plain chicken breasts just seemed boring. I wanted to create a recipe that would be flavorful, leaving the chicken moist when grilled and eaten on a sandwich, but not be a mess for a golfer to eat in between holes. I received a lot of compliments that day, and I've been making it ever since for family and friends.
This Citrus Marinade makes every bite of chicken moist and juicy. I love this recipe because it's light, sweet, and filled with flavors that instantly transport you to an tropical island. I have always called it "Bahama Chicken" for this reason.
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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
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 find
- CHICKEN BREASTS: boneless, skinless chicken breasts
*see recipe card for quantities.
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).
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🔥 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 Grilled Caesar Salad, Asian Salad, 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.
The ideal grill temperature for chicken breast is medium heat, around 350-400°F. This allows for thorough cooking without drying out the meat.
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 Grilled Sweet Corn, Asian Salad, and Balsamic Glazed Carrots.
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Grilled Chicken Breast recipe
This easy Grilled Chicken Breast recipe makes tender, juicy and flavorful chicken every time. Say goodbye to dry, boring chicken for good!
- 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).
- 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.