Ultimate Zesty Lemon Garlic Herb Chicken Marinade
This simple, homemade marinade uses fresh lemon, garlic, and herbs to tenderize chicken and create a bright, flavorful result perfect for grilling or baking.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 20 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Marinating
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, rosemary, oregano, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if you are using them.
- Place your chicken pieces (breasts, thighs, or tenders) into a large zip-top bag or a shallow dish.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken, making sure all pieces are fully coated.
- Seal the bag or cover the dish.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for best flavor penetration. Do not marinate longer than 4 hours due to the lemon juice content.
- Remove chicken from the marinade before cooking. Discard the remaining marinade.
- Cook the chicken using your preferred method: grill, bake, or pan-sear until done.
Notes
- For best results when grilling, allow the chicken to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes after removing it from the refrigerator before placing it on the heat.
- This marinade works well for meal prepping; you can marinate the chicken the night before and cook it the next day.
- If you are cooking for a larger group, simply double the ingredient quantities.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 oz cooked chicken (after marinating)
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 0.5
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 1.5
- Unsaturated Fat: 8.5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 1
- Fiber: 0.2
- Protein: 22
- Cholesterol: 65