Description
This Best Grilled Chicken Breast recipe features flavorful boneless, skinless chicken breast cutlets marinated in a tangy and sweet mixture of fresh lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, and herbs. Perfectly grilled to juicy tenderness, this versatile and easy-to-make dish is ideal for a quick and healthy main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless-skinless chicken breast thin cutlets (approximately 1 ½ – 2 pounds total weight)
Marinade
- ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
- ⅓ cup canola oil
- ¼ cup honey
- 3 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Place the boneless-skinless chicken breast cutlets into a large, heavy-duty zip-top bag and set aside.
- Make the Marinade: In a mixing bowl, whisk together fresh lemon juice, canola oil, honey, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper until fully combined.
- Marinate the Chicken: Pour the marinade over the chicken inside the zip-top bag. Seal the bag, squeezing out as much air as possible, place it on a plate, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Preheat the Grill: Heat an outdoor gas grill to 400°F.
- Grill the Chicken: Place the marinated chicken breasts on the grill and close the lid. Cook for 8 minutes on one side.
- Flip and Continue Grilling: Flip the chicken breasts and grill for an additional 8 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, ensuring the chicken is fully cooked.
- Rest the Chicken: Remove the grilled chicken to a plate, turn off the grill according to manufacturer instructions, and allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Using pre-portioned chicken breast cutlets makes preparation quick and easy. If using larger cutlets, butterfly or pound them for uniform thickness to ensure even cooking.
- The marinade quantity can be doubled or halved depending on the amount of chicken.
- This marinade produces moist and tender grilled chicken with a universal flavor profile.
- For thicker or bone-in chicken breasts, marinate up to 8 hours and increase grilling time accordingly.
- Canola oil can be substituted with olive oil, vegetable oil, or avocado oil.
- Dry thyme is used for convenience, but fresh thyme can be substituted by increasing to 2 teaspoons for comparable flavor intensity.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast cutlet
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
