Grilled Italian Chicken Breast Recipe

By Rena Awada | Updated On April 24, 2022

This simple and easy grilled Italian Chicken Breast Recipe is tender, juicy, and cooked to perfection. Makes for a perfect addition to pasta and salads, and can be enjoyed as the main meal for lunch or dinner. Low in carbs, high in protein, and gluten-free.

top view of grilled chicken breast


We love how simple and easy it is to grill chicken breasts. The key to the perfect and most tender and juicy chicken breast is marinating and not overcooking the chicken. Whether you cook these Italian flavored chicken breasts indoors or outdoors we assure you that you will love it. Perfect to serve as a salad topper for lunch, or serve as a main meal over dinner any day of the week. There are many flavorful ways of cooking chicken breasts and we will be sharing some great options with you further down below.

Why you will love this Italian Chicken Breast

  • Easy to make: All you need to do is make the marinade and marinate the chicken breasts. Then grill them.
  • Tender and juicy: You will love how tender and juicy this chicken breast recipe is. The flavor is so authentic and delicious.
  • Healthy: No hidden ingredients in this grilled chicken recipe. It is made with only a handful of herbs, and simple ingredients for the marinade. Low in carbs, low in fat, and high in calories.
top view of grilled chicken breast over a plate. one chicken breast sliced thin

Ingredients you will need to make this chicken breast recipe

  • Oil: we used olive oil, but you may also use any other oil like grapeseed oil or avocado oil.
  • Red wine vinegar: if you don’t have this on hand, use white distilled vinegar.
  • Lemon juice: use fresh lemon juice if possible
  • Garlic: it is best if you use fresh garlic, but if you must, you may use garlic powder.
  • Seasnonings: dried oregano, crushed red pepper, salt, black pepper, and dried basil
  • Chicken: we used boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you may also use skinless and bonelss thighs.
  • Dried parsley: used to garnish.
  • Lemon wedges: to garnish if you like so squeeze some fresh lemons over the final grilled chicken.
ingredients to make the italian grilled chicken breasts

How to make this easy grilled Chicken breast recipe

  • In a medium glass bowl, combine the ingredients for marination; 1/4 cup olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Mix it well until well combined.

  • Add the chicken breasts to the marination and allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour or overnight.
  • Heat a large skillet (preferably a grill pan) on medium heat, and add the remaining two tablespoons of olive oil.

  • Once the oil is heated, add the chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes. Flip to the other side and cook for an additional 5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
  • Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and serve the chicken with some veggies on the side.

one chicken breast sliced on a white plate with a side of broccoli

frequently asked questions

Is grilled chicken healthy?

Grilling chicken is a much healthier way of preparing your chicken when compared to frying or other ways of cooking. You can grill your chicken breast with very minimal amounts of oil or high-calorie ingredients. Grilled chicken breasts are low in calories, low in carbs, low in fat, and high protein.

Can you put raw chicken on the grill?

Yes. You can place raw chicken right on the grill or grill pan to cook the chicken. Do not worry about cross-contamination. The grill is hot enough to take care of any germs.

Should you marinate chicken before grilling?

There isn’t one right way to cook chicken. Many cook their chicken differently but it’s the end result that really matters and what you prefer. We do recommend marinating your chicken for at least 30 minutes for the best flavor and to get tender and juicy chicken.

Should I put oil on my chicken before grilling?

Yes. Oiling your chicken a little will be very helpful and prevents the chicken and herbs from sticking to the grill or grill pan. A little goes a long way and you do not have to add a ton of oil.

close up sliced chicken breast with a side of steamed broccoli

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fork holding a slice of chicken breast on a plate with broccoli

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close up grilled chicken breast over a white dish

Recipe Notes and tips

  • Do not overcook the chicken. If you do, you will end up with dry and chewy chicken. The best way to check for doneness is to use a food thermometer and check when the internal temperature reaches 165 F.
  • We do recommend the marinating time. Or at least marinate it for 30 minutes. If you are really pressed for time you can skip the marinating process. Marinating does wonders though.
  • If you prefer using chicken thighs you can use that instead. They tend to be juicer but they are higher in fat and less lean compared to chicken breast.
  • You may use an outdoor or indoor grill. Want to Bake them? You can do that too. Bake in a preheated oven for 350 F for 25-30 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
  • Want to use your air-fryer? you can. Here is a recipe for an air fryer chicken breast you might be interested in.
close up grilled chicken breast on a plate

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top view of 4 grilled chicken breast in a gold pan

Grilled Italian Chicken Breast Recipe

Simple and easy to make chicken breasts marinated in an Italian Season blend and then cooked to perfection over a grill pan for a total of 12 minutes. Tender, juicy, and so good.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Gluten-Free, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Gluten Free, Low Fat
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
marinate: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 22 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 256kcal
Author: Rena

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup olive oil + 2 tbsp
  • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Chopped parsley, to garnish
  • Lemon wedges, to garnish

Instructions

  • In a medium glass bowl, combine the ingredients for marination; 1/4 cup olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Mix it well until well combined.
  • Add the chicken breasts to the marination and allow the chicken to marinate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
  • Heat a large skillet (preferably a grill pan) on medium heat, and add the remaining two tablespoons of olive oil.
  • Once the oil is heated, add the chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes. Flip to the other side and cook for an additional 5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
  • Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and serve the chicken with some veggies on the side.

Notes

  • serving size: one chicken breast 
  • can be cooked indoors on a grill pan, or on an outdoor grill.
  • olive oil can be substituted for avocado oil.
  • you may skip the marination time if you are pressed for time. 
  • the chicken breast can be substituted with boneless and skinless chicken thighs.

Nutrition

Calories: 256kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 428mg | Potassium: 452mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 120IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg
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close up sliced chicken breast recipe

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