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Grilled Chicken Breasts

Grilled Chicken Breasts

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Chicken breasts marinated in a bold mix of lemon, garlic, honey, paprika, and herbs, then pounded, grilled, and basted with a light honey-mustard drizzle. Learn step-by-step techniques and tips for grilling juicy chicken breasts.

  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Scale

For the marinade + chicken:

  • â…“ cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon paprika powder
  • 2 teaspoons dried Italian herbs
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 lb chicken breasts, skinless and boneless (4 chicken breasts)

For the sauce:

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 ¼ tablespoons honey

To serve with:

  • 2 medium zucchini (zucchini rounds, grilled)
  • Fresh herbs chopped, like parsley, thyme, or rosemary

Instructions

  1. Prepare the marinade: In a bowl, add olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, paprika powder, dried Italian herbs, garlic, and salt and pepper. Whisk until well combined. Reserve around 3 tablespoons of the marinade and set aside.
  2. Marinate the chicken: Place the chicken on a chopping board, cover with plastic foil, and pound until ½-inch thick. Add to the marinade, coat well, and refrigerate for 4 hours, flipping halfway through.
  3. Grill the chicken: Lightly oil the pan using a paper towel dipped in high-smoke-point oil. Preheat the grill pan over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from the marinade and discard it. Grill for 4–5 minutes per side without moving, leaving space between pieces. For thick chicken breasts, cover with a lid after flipping to cook through.
  4. Let the chicken rest a few minutes before serving.
  5. Prepare the honey-mustard sauce: In a bowl or blender, combine extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt, Dijon mustard, and honey. Whisk or blend until emulsified and thick.
  6. Serve the grilled chicken with grilled zucchini and drizzle with the honey-mustard sauce.

Notes

  • Grill the zucchini: Slice into thick rounds, toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and grill 5–7 minutes, turning once or twice.
  • Pound the chicken: Cover with plastic before pounding to prevent splatter. You can use a rolling pin if you don’t have a meat mallet.
  • Grill undisturbed: Avoid moving chicken while grilling for nice marks.
  • Check temperature: Chicken is done when it reaches 165°F internally.
  • Serve with grilled zucchini, mango avocado salad, peach salsa, or grilled peaches.
  • Storage: Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Reheating: Reheat gently with a splash of water to prevent drying.
  • Freezing: Freeze cooked chicken up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
  • Make-ahead: Marinate chicken or prepare sauce up to 24 hours ahead.
  • Author: lily
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Grilled
  • Cuisine: American