Easy Grilled Chicken Breast
So tender and juicy, this healthy Easy Grilled Chicken Breast is going to become your new favorite quick and easy meal! Seasoned with garlic, smoked paprika, and Italian seasonings with a secret touch of lemon zest, this flavorful grilled chicken recipe is incredible!
Servings: 4
Calories: 258kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts boneless and skinless (about 6 ounces each)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest from one lemon
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken. Place the breasts into a large ziplock bag and add all the remaining ingredients. Now, squeeze the chicken marinade around in the bag to mix everything together and fully coat the breasts. Then place the bag with the chicken in the fridge to marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
- Preheat your grill. Oil the grates and then heat your grill to medium-high to get nice and hot.
- Grill the chicken. Remove the breasts from the ziplock bag and discard the excess marinade. Now, place the breasts on the hot grill to cook for 5 to 7 minutes with the cover on. Then lift the cover and flip the breasts to cook for another 5 minutes on the other side. The cooking time will depend on the size of the breasts you use. Also note, that when you go to flip the chicken it should not be sticking. If it is sticking that means that the chicken needs to cook a bit longer for the grill marks to form, which helps to indicate that the chicken has cooked long enough on that side.
- Check the internal temperature. When you think the chicken is done cooking, use an instant-read digital meat thermometer to check the temperature of the chicken, which needs to be at least 165℉ when inserted into the center of the breast. If it hasn't reached 165℉ allow the chicken to cook for another 2 to 3 minutes and check the temperature again.
- Rest and serve. Once the chicken breasts are fully cooked, transfer them to a plate, cover them with foil, and allow them to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Marinating does matter. For the best flavor make sure to marinate your chicken breast for at least 30 minutes. And the longer you let it marinate, the more intense the flavor. You can even prep the breasts the night before.
- Temp your chicken. I can’t say this enough. To ensure the chicken is fully cooked, you will want to use an instant-read digital meat thermometer to make sure the chicken has reached 165℉. Temping the chicken also helps to keep you from overcooking it as well.
- Oil your grill grates: This helps to keep the chicken from sticking. Another grilling secret is to cut an onion in half and rub it back and forth over the grates after you oil them. This not only seasons the grill grates but also helps to clean them too.
- You can store leftover grilled chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months!
Nutrition
Serving: 1breast | Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 424mg | Potassium: 467mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 537IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg