Creating a quick and flavorful Chicken Marinade is effortless with the simple combination of an Italian dressing packet, fresh lemon, and garlic. By mixing these ingredients together, you’ll infuse the chicken with a tangy and herbaceous profile, perfect for grilling, baking, or sautéing.
This is no wimpy marinade! It will seep into the center of your chicken and flavor it all the way thru, end to end, not just the first couple bites.
Marinating the chicken not only tenderizes the meat but also marinates it with a delicious taste that will elevate any dish with minimal effort. Serve your grilled chicken with a side of horseradish cream sauce, grilled veggies and crispy potatoes.
Ingredients
Good Seasonings Zesty Italian Dressing Packet: IMO this is the Swiss army knife of the kitchen! It is not only good for making Italian dressing and marinating chicken, it makes an amazing all-in-one seasoning for recipes like:
Lemon Zest and Juice: use both the zest and the juice from a lemon to get the most flavor! Just make sure to zest the lemon and then juice it!
Garlic: fresh garlic is a must in this chicken marinade. We crush the garlic instead of mincing or chopping, that way you can remove it before grilling the chicken. Minced or chopped garlic can burn on the grill quickly.
Olive Oil- not only helps deliver the marinade flavors all of the chicken, it is a good non-stick ingredient for grilling your chicken.
How to Make Marinated Chicken
Before you get started…
make sure you have at least 12-24 hours to let your chicken marinate in the fridge. This is the ideal amount of time to get the most flavor into your chicken.
- Mix Seasonings
- Add Garlic and Chicken
- Refrigerate
In a glass baking dish, either 9×9 or 9×13, or a Ziploc baggie, combine the olive oil, Italian Dressing Seasoning packet, lemon zest and all the lemon juice.
Crush the garlic cloves with the flat side of a knife, do not chop or mince the garlic.
Marinating with Garlic
By crushing the garlic instead of mincing it, you are able to get all the garlic flavor in the marinade but are still able to remove it before grilling. Minced garlic will burn on the grill quickly!
Add the crushed garlic cloves, squeezed lemon halves, and chicken into the marinade. Stir it around so that the marinade coats the chicken completely on all sides.
Cover the dish with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate for 12-48 hours. I like to flip the chicken in the pan at least one time while it is marinating to ensure the chicken is completely marinated thru.
Before grilling remove the garlic cloves and any lemon seeds that have stuck to the chicken.
Tips for Grilling Marinated Chicken Breasts
Whether you are using charcoal or gas, grilling is the tastiest way to prepare chicken.
Here are a few tips to ensure your chicken is grilled to perfection:
- If you are using a charcoal grill, try using a charcoal chimney like this one from Amazon. It helps you prepare your charcoal without using any lighter fluid or chemicals. You simply fill the top of the chimney with charcoal, light some paper in the bottom portion, and wait for the coals on the top to turn grey/white hot, about 15 minutes. Then you dump the charcoal out into your grill and you are ready to cook.
- Spread your charcoal into a flat thick layer across the bottom of the grill, giving you an even medium heat.
- If you are cooking with gas, set your grill to medium heat, around 425°.
- I like to cook my chicken for 7 minutes on the first side, then flip to the other side, and grill for an additional 6 minutes.
- When your chicken is cooked thru remove it from the grill and let it rest, uncovered, for 5 minutes before slicing or eating. This will redistribute all the juices into the chicken.
Cooking Chicken Safely
Make sure your chicken is cooked all the way thru at the thickest part. Using a meat thermometer test that the thickest part is 165°F.
Grilled Marinated Chicken for Dinner
Once you have grilled your marinated chicken the possibilities are endless. 101 chicken dinners, anyone?!
Here are a few of my favorites:
- This recipe for Grilled Chicken & Vegetables with a Horseradish Cream Sauce is a perfect match for this marinade recipe.
- I will never turn down a grilled chicken sandwich! Grab some brioche buns, add a grilled marinated chicken breast, lettuce, tomato, and some mayo or this Horseradish Sauce recipe – Heaven!
- Slice the grilled marinated chicken and add to a green salad. This Chicken Bacon and Avocado Salad from Cafe Delites would be a great salad for this grilled chicken recipe.
More Marinated Chicken Recipes
Easy Chicken Marinade Recipe
Ingredients
- 4-6 fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 0.7 ounce Good Seasonings Italian Dressing Packet
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of 1 fresh lemon - do not throw away, you can add the whole lemon to the marinade
- 4 plump garlic cloves - smashed
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large 9×9 or 9×13 glass baking dish or Ziploc baggie add the Italian Seasoning packet, olive oil, and the zest and all the juice of 1 lemon. Stir to combine0.7 ounce Good Seasonings Italian Dressing Packet, 3 tablespoon olive oil, zest of 1 lemon, Juice of 1 fresh lemon
- Smash the garlic cloves with the side of a large knife, do not mince or chop the garlic, you will want to be able to remove the garlic before grilling.4 plump garlic cloves
- Add the garlic, whole lemons, dash of black pepper and chicken to the olive oil mixture. Stir to coat the chicken with the marinade.4-6 fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts, black pepper to taste
- Cover the pan and refrigerate for 12-24 hours, turning the chicken once, about half way thru the marinating time.
Grilling
- Remove the chicken from the marinade, making sure to remove the whole garlic cloves and any lemon seeds that have stuck to the chicken.
- Grill the chicken over medium direct heat for approx. 7 minutes on the first side and 6 minutes on the second side. Using a meat thermometer check that the chickens internal temp, at the thickest part, is 165℉ to know it is safe to eat.
- Let the chicken rest, uncovered, for 5 minutes before cutting or eating.
Lisa Huff says
Can’t wait for the weather to get better to start grilling again! This chicken marinade looks perfect!
Susie says
It is so easy to throw together. Great to put together Wednesday night or Thursday morning for Friday night grilling.. with drinks!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest says
Great simple marinade and I love the grilling tips!
Susie says
Thank you! I love using my charcoal grill… my little neighbor girl calls it an old fashioned grill.. lol!!
Chris says
Pinned these tips for later! PERFECT for summer coming up!! Always on the hunt for an easy and delicious chicken marinade!
Susie says
This one could not be easier and truly flavors your chicken all the way thru!
Susie says
Thank you for pinning : )
Vicky says
This looks like a flavorful marinade. I think I will make a nice amount of chicken and save the leftovers for a salad the next day.
Susie says
It will marinate 2-4 chicken breasts really well. This chicken is PERFECT for salads.. cold or warm.
Christina Shoemaker says
Nothing better than marinated grilled chicken! You have me totally ready for more warm days so we can get grilling! And I love that you let your chicken marinade for at least 24 hours. So much flavor!
Susie says
It is soooo much better if you let it marinate for that amount of time! I am ready for warmer days too… really, they should be here already.