These Lemon Garlic Marinated Chicken tenders are super easy to make and can be paired with so many sides to make a perfect meal. They are also a super delicious finger food option and easy for gatherings with friends who can top them on their salad!
More about this Lemon Garlic Marinated Chicken Recipe
This Lemon Garlic Marinated Chicken is an easy marinated chicken recipe that’s full of herbs and spices and is the perfect main course or addition to soups, salads, sandwiches and more! Could you imagine these on ciabatta bread with cheese and grilled? That would make the perfect adult grilled cheese!
What would you pair these Lemon Garlic Marinated Chicken tenders with? Share your creative recipe idea with me, I would love to hear about it. So many of you can be so creative and are amazing cooks and you don’t even know it!
If you love spice in your food, try adding some cayenne pepper to this and you will love it even more! I love hot and spicy food but unfortunately, my kids won’t be happy if I make everything too spicy!
There different ways we have this chicken. The kids love having them with sweet potatoes or mashed potatoes. On the other hand, I prefer them over salad or some quinoa and veggies. So healthy and delicious. These Lemon Garlic Marinated Chicken would be great to use for your meal prepping as well.
What do you eat lemon chicken with
Lemon garlic chicken can be paired with so many sides. Options are endless. Try roasted veggies or roasted potatoes. Serve over salad or quinoa. If you are looking to keeping it low carbs you can serve over zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice.
Here are a few sides you can try this lemon garlic chicken with:
- Roasted Smoked Sweet Potato
- Eggplant and Zucchini Gratin
- Hasselback Potatoes
- Green Beans and Tomato Salad
How to make the Lemon Chicken Marinade
The ingredients you will need to make the lemon garlic chicken marinade recipe are: olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, and salt and pepper.
Place the chicken in a bowl, then add all the ingredients mentioned above. Then, mix well until the chicken is soaked through with the marinade. Cover the bowl and allow to marinade, or you can add into a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Seal and shake to combine before you let marinade.
Some Frequently asked questions
No need to go looking for some questions you may have. I have tried to answer a few for you below that are asked most frequently about lemon chicken.
Does Lemon Dry out Chicken?
Lemon may have a drying effect on a chicken especially if the chicken is overcooked. You can use lemon powder or as long as you use some kind of oil within the chicken recipe you are preparing it should be ok.
How to cook lemon chicken
There are different ways you can cook your lemon chicken recipe. Most common ways are to either grill them using an outdoor grill, bake in the oven for about 20 minutes at 350 F, use an indoor grill, or pan-sear them.
What makes chicken chewy
If your chicken comes out chewy because it has most likely been overcooked. Try not to cook your chicken too fast and allow it to cook over low heat so it retains moisture, don’t overcook and turn out too dry.
Make and share this easy chicken recipe
Do you have a favorite marinated chicken recipe your family loves? Share it with me below. I would love to try out different recipe ideas. Tag me on Instagram if you make this lemon garlic chicken recipe.
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Also, if you love chicken as much as we do, I have a few other chicken recipes you could check out and try later:
- Chicken Fajitas
- Asian Chopped Chicken Salad
- Easy Greek Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Chicken Lemon Rice Soup
- Easy Chicken Chili
- Easy Chicken Asparagus Stir Fry
- Healthy Kung Pao Chicken
Finally, how to make this Lemon Garlic Chicken :
Lemon Garlic Marinated Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 pound Chicken boneless, skinless
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning dried, or equal parts garlic powder, dried basil and dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons Garlic Minced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Lemon Zest
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 tablespoon parsley chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, honey and salt and pepper in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Seal and shake to combine.
- Place the chicken in the bag. Seal the bag and move the chicken around to coat in the marinade.
- Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.
- Heat a grill or indoor grill pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side or until done. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.
Nutrition
Beck & Bulow says
Oh yum! I could eat all of these wings all by myself They look so delicious!
Grace says
I have cooked quite a few of your chicken recipes, I prefer to cook them in the oven and always everyone at home enjoys them very much. Also, I used the one with lemon juice in salmon and was delicious (no garlic)
Thanks, Rena, you are a big
Rena says
Hi Grace. Thank you so much. Glad you loved it
Laila Clark says
If you want something quick to fix for dinner that tastes good then here’s your pick! Easy quick and tasty! I didn’t follow the measurements because it’s just one of those recipes that calls for eyeing your own requirements. I did use all the ingredients and my hubby kept saying how good it was. That counts! Thanks Violet Kenow!
Cait says
This recipe looks amazing and I’m looking forward to making it for my wedding next month! I’ll be making it 24 hours in advance. Do you have any recommendations on the best way to reheat without drying it out or making it rubbery? Thanks!
Rena says
Hi. The way I personally reheat any leftover chicken breast for my kids is I wrap them just in foil and bake for 15 minutes. It reheats the chicken and retains the moisture. Keep them in the foil packs until you are ready to plate. I hope it helps
Stefani Chavez says
Hello,
How much lemon zest do I use? Should I zest the whole lemon?
Rena says
yes. zest of one lemon. You may use half if you don’t like it zesty
Christine T. says
Hi,
Can the chicken be baked instead of grilled?
Rena says
Hi there. You can bake them!
Ashleigh says
Hi Rena how long do you bake them for and at what temp do you put on the oven
Rena says
Hi. You can bake at 350 for about 18-20 minutes. Keep an eye on it though because everyone’s oven is different.
Randi Mager says
Whatever you do… do NOT use an indoor grill pan with this marinade. Olive Oil mixed with the Med-high heat was a smoky disaster. My whole home was hazy and still smells 24 hours later! Use an oil with a higher smoke point if using a grill pan.
Chicken was juicy and delicious though!
Joanie M says
I just finished grilling halibut tonight; with my own version of this marinade. I use lemon zest, minced garlic, olive oil & coconut oils plus other spices like corriander, basil & cumin. I cooked it on my indoor smokeless grill & had no problem at all. A few weeks ago; I grilled chicken with the same recipe & no problems. It may be your grill? I use a Hamilton Beach Smokeless Grill I bought at Walmart a couple years ago for $68 … Amazon also carried them last year for about $80. It is a nice heavy grill for the price. 🙂
Primrose says
Can you substitute the honey with sugar there?
Rena says
Yes you can
Can says
You should make a mobile app for your site.
GUy says
OMG there are so many ads and pop ups and excessive words that its taken me like 5 minutes to find the recippe!!! All I want is the freaking recipe, I don’t need to read a whole blog post about it while being bombarded with ads!
Rena says
Hi there. We have a “jump to recipe” button at the very top. We hope you get to use that feature next time for a quick access to the recipe.
Mike says
Is there a button to skip over the toe fungus ads? Jeez.
Rena says
So sorry about that. I will look into this
Marcelle says
Can you freeze this in a zip lock and then throw into the slow cooker / pressure cooker when needed?
Rena says
Yes you can.
Victoria Nordquist says
I will try that on Thanksgiving this month since I ll be alone. Something to look forward to! Wish me luck! 🙂
Vicki
Rena says
Sounds like a great plan
Reginald May says
Will be doing this recipe for Christmas Barbeque. I know it will be a winner.
Marilynn says
A very good marinade!! I marinated for 4 hours, let it come to room temp, pounded the breasts to tenderize and grilled, came out great. I also skipped the lemon zest as I had already zested my lemons but added more lemon juice. They were tender and moist.
I
Rena says
Thank you!
Shilpa says
I left the chicken overnight in the marinade it was absolutely divine!! With the garlic powder, I added some fresh garlic too, it just gave a bit more of a kick. This is definitely a go to recipe! Love it!! Thanks Rena!
Rena says
That’s awesome. So glad you liked it
Brian says
This is my quick go-to marinade, thanks for sharing!
Rena says
Thanks! Glad you liked it.
Sam says
How much lemon zest should one use? Can I skip this if I don’t have any lemons or a peeler?
Rena says
Yes you can skip the lemon zest
A says
Hi so this uses a pound of chicken and makes 4 servings, so would you say 1 serving is 4oz of chicken?
Thanks!
Rena says
Yes, I would say so. Sometimes 2 large breasts come out to 1 lb. each can be sliced thinner into 2 to make 2 servings per large breast
Laura says
I marinated the chicken for a little over 2 hours then grilled it. The marinade smelled good but the chicken didn’t have much flavor. Will try to marinate it longer next time
Rena says
Hi Laura. Try adding more garlic if the flavor wasn’t there for you. No need to marinate it longer.
Antonella Russo-Ball says
is this for breast chicken or OK for thighs and legs? the cooking time cannot be 4-5 minutes for each side if so??
Rena says
Do you plan on using bone in the thighs and legs? If so yes they take much longer to cook.
Brooke SMITH says
Hi, this looks delicious! On the nutrition facts what is the serving size?
Rena says
Hi Brooke. It makes about 4 servings, depending, about 3-4 pieces
Victoria says
Used the recipe, and oh my goodness I definitely found one of my favorite marinate for my chicken!!!!!!!!!
Rena says
Thanks for the feedback Victoria. Glad you liked it.