Description
This Perfect Grilled Chicken Breast recipe delivers juicy, tender chicken with a flavorful Italian-inspired marinade. Perfectly pounded for even cooking and marinated to enhance taste, this grilled dish is simple, quick, and ideal for a healthy weeknight dinner or weekend barbecue.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 6 breasts)
Marinade
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- Ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prep: Place the chicken breasts in a large 4-6 quart ziplock bag, leaving the bag open. Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to gently pound the chicken to an even thickness of ½ inch. This tenderizes the meat and ensures even cooking.
- Marinate: In a small bowl or measuring jug, combine olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, sugar, garlic powder, salt, and ground black pepper. Pour this marinade over the chicken inside the ziplock bag (checking the bag first for any holes to avoid leaks). Seal the bag tightly and massage the marinade evenly into the chicken. Refrigerate the sealed bag in a shallow dish for 4 to 12 hours to infuse flavors.
- Grill: When ready to cook, remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 20 minutes to ensure even cooking. Meanwhile, preheat your grill to high heat and lightly oil the grill grates to prevent sticking. Place the chicken breasts on the grill, cover, and cook for 2-4 minutes per side. Cook until the juices run clear and an instant-read thermometer registers 165°F internally. Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving to retain juices.
Notes
- For best flavor, marinate the chicken for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is fully cooked without drying out.
- Allowing the chicken to rest after grilling keeps it moist and tender.
- If you don’t have a grill, you can cook the chicken on a stovetop grill pan over medium-high heat.
- Adjust seasoning and spice levels according to your preference.
