Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade

Name: Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice; 1 teaspoon lemon zest; 1/2 cup olive oil; 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard; 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/4 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary; 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

by Deborah Duncan on June 14, 2026 0 comments

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This is our go-to Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade that can be made in a pinch. We use fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, Dijon mustard, seasonings and extra-virgin olive oil. If you love all things lemon, you’ll want to make this recipe. It makes the best grilled chicken for all your summer cookouts!

Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade in a clear glass bowl.

This is a recipe you’ll want to keep in your back pocket or commit it to memory. It’s simple to make and it makes the most flavorful and tender chicken. We use it for our Grilled Lemon Chicken.

Why We Love This Recipe

Simple Ingredients. This lemon garlic chicken marinade is made with just a handful of ingredients. Many you may already have on hand in your pantry.
Great Flavor. If you love all things lemon, you will love this lemon garlic marinade.
Great For Sharing. This lemon garlic marinade makes the best grilled chicken for summer cookouts. Or oven roast the marinated chicken on busy weeknights. Either way, the chicken turns out juicy and flavorful every time!

Lemon And Garlic Chicken Marinade Recipe Ingredients

Chicken. Use whatever cut of chicken you like, bone-in, skin-on or skinless and boneless.
Olive Oil. Use a good olive oil, extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil.
Lemon Juice AND Lemon Zest. This flavor is the base of this marinade. Lemon juice also helps to tenderize the chicken. Use fresh squeezed lemon juice – not the bottled stuff from the grocery store. Lemon zest adds a bright pop of flavor.
Dijon Mustard. We add just a little Dijon mustard which adds another layer of flavor to the chicken.
Seasoning. We use a simple mix of dried oregano, thyme, dried crushed rosemary, salt and pepper.
Garlic. Garlic adds a lot of flavor to the chicken as it marinades.

Find printable recipe with the measurements below.

How To Make Lemon And Garlic Chicken Marinade

Make marinade. Whisk together the ingredients for the marinade in a medium bowl. You can also blend the ingredients in a blender if you like.
Marinate Chicken. Put the chicken in a large bowl and pour the marinade over the chicken making sure that all of the pieces are coated in the marinade. Put plastic wrap over the bowl and place in the refrigerator to marinate for 30 minutes, but not longer than 1 hour.

Tips For Cooking Marinated Lemon Garlic Chicken

Make sure to pat the chicken good and dry with paper towels before adding it to the marinade.
Marinate the chicken for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Make sure the grill, cast iron skillet pan or cast iron skillet is hot before adding the chicken to it.
For thinner cutlets, grill the chicken approximately 5-8 minutes each side, and for thicker whole boneless skinless chicken breasts, grill them approximately 9-12 minutes on each side. If you use boneless skinless thighs, cook them 5-7 minutes on each side.
Check the chicken for doneness using a digital meat thermometer. It should register 165°F on a meat thermometer at the thickest part of the chicken. If you don’t have a digital thermometer, then cut a piece of chicken at the thickest part to check for doneness. It should not be pink inside and the juices should run clear.

How To Grill Marinated Lemon Garlic Chicken

Dry Chicken With Paper Towels. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels to eliminate most of the moisture on it.
Marinate Chicken. Place the boneless chicken breasts in a large bowl and pour the marinade over it, making sure all of pieces are coated. Refrigerate the chicken for 30 minutes.
Grill Chicken. Preheat the grill (outdoor grill or cast iron grill pan) and place the chicken on the hot grill. Grill the chicken 2-3 minutes on each side for thinner cutlets and 5-7 minutes on each side for thicker boneless breasts. Check the temperature of the chicken for doneness. It should register 165°F on a digital thermometer. Transfer the grilled lemon chicken to a serving platter.

How To Cook Chicken In The Oven

Pan Sear Chicken. If you use skin-on and bone-in chicken and want a nice sear, then heat 1-2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat for a minute or two, then using tongs or a fork, carefully add the chicken breasts (or thighs) to the oil and let them cook 7-9 minutes on each side or until the chicken lifts easily from the pan and the cooked side is a light golden brown.
Add Butter To Pan. Add 1 tablespoon butter to the pan and swirl it after you lift the chicken from the pan. Set the chicken back in the pan and cook another minute longer in the butter so the chicken turns a rich golden brown color. Using tongs or a fork, turn the chicken over to the other side and cook another 5-6 minutes. Add more butter and swirl and set the chicken back in the pan and cook another 30-60 seconds longer.
Transfer To Oven. Transfer the chicken to an oven-proof baking dish and cook in the oven at 350°F for another 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. If you are cooking skinless, boneless chicken breasts or thighs then skip the pan-searing step and just transfer the chicken from the marinade to an oven-proof baking dish and cook uncovered in the oven for 2o-30 minutes. Length of time will depend on the thickness of the chicken. Check the temperature of the chicken for doneness. It should register 165°F on a digital thermometer. Transfer the grilled lemon chicken to a serving platter.
Rest Chicken. Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest in the pan for 3-5 minutes before serving.

Yield: 8 Servings