Grilled Lemon Rosemary Chicken is all about your senses. When you close your eyes and breathe in the delicious aroma of this chicken, your mouth will start to water. The flavor is just summer on a plate.
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Why this Lemon Rosemary Chicken Recipe is a Keeper
A key component in this marinated chicken recipe is the grilled lemon. If you have never tried it, you will love it. When you grill the lemon it becomes caramelized and sweeter, making it the best lemon chicken breast you’ve ever tried. It is not only great in this marinade but also for drinks and side dishes too!
- 30 Minute Meal: It is a quick and easy recipe that only takes a few minutes.
- Easy Ingredients: All find clean simple ingredients that you have on hand for an easy dinner.
- Adaptable: Can make it with different herbs and can add it to so many different dishes and casseroles.
- Makes Great Leftovers: Use remaining lemon chicken in salads, sandwiches or tacos. The chicken is great for parties as the recipe looks as good as it tastes.
If you’re looking for more roasted chicken recipes, try these Chipotle Oven Chicken Kabobs, Lemon Garlic Chicken and Grilled Balsamic Chicken with Strawberry Salsa.
What temperature should the chicken be done to?
The best way to take the internal temperature of chicken is with a meat thermometer. In general, you want to probe the chicken in the thickest part of the meat. It should reach a temperature of 165 degrees.
Simple Ingredients for Roasted Chicken
The key is the simple but very fresh Mediterranean ingredients that add so much flavor. The tang of lemon and the rich woodsy flavor of the rosemary sprig are enhanced by the grilling experience.
- Chicken Breast: You will need skinless chicken breast for this lemon chicken marinade.
- Rosemary: Use rosemary to season the chicken.
- Lemon: The fresh lemon is perfect for this rosemary lemon chicken.
- Whole Cloves of Garlic: Fresh cloves of minced garlic will enhance the flavor of this recipe.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for this Roasted Lemon Chicken
You can make this easy chicken dinner in minutes. You will love this recipe for tender chicken. Making this dish is so easy. The lemon roasted chicken is the recipe to make when you want something quick and easy but also impressive.
- Air Fry: You can roast in the air fryer or bake in the oven or use a grill pan to cook the chicken.
- Different herbs: Use an fresh herbs that your family enjoys such as tarragon or fresh parsley. Kosher salt and pepper are also great for this grilled lemon chicken.
- Skewers: Make cubes of the rosemary chicken breast and put on skewers.
- Use Boneless Thighs: Boneless skinless chicken thighs can replace the chicken breasts.
- Seasonings: Dried rosemary or lemon pepper seasoning are great for this lemon-rosemary-garlic chicken. Moisten with a little chicken broth to reheat.
Special Equipment Needed
You can put directly on the grill or have the chicken in a baking dish.
- Grill: Any type of grill. Charcoal or gas grill. Make sure that you preheat before cooking the chicken.
Chicken Breast Pro Tip
After grilling, transfer the chicken to a bowl and cover it with foil to allow it to finish cooking and rest.
How to Make Lemon Rosemary Chicken Cutlets
A key component in this marinated chicken recipe is the grilled lemon. If you have never tried it, you will love it. When you grill the lemon it becomes caramelized and sweeter, making it the best lemon chicken breast you’ve ever tried. It is not only great in this marinade but also for drinks and side dished too!
These are the basic steps for making easy lemon rosemary chicken recipe. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions. If you made this recipe, let us know below.
1. Make the Flavorful Chicken Marinade
First, grill lemons, cut side down, over hot fire until deep brown and caramelized, 5-8 minutes. Next, squeeze 3 tablespoons juice from grilled lemons into a medium bowl and then stir in sugar, salt along with, my All Purpose Seasoning and black pepper and whisk to combine. Then add fresh minced garlic and next add your fresh chopped rosemary and slowly add in oil, whisk in oil until emulsified; reserve 1/3 cup.
2. Prepare the Boneless Skinless Chicken
Pat chicken dry with paper towels and then pour the marinade over chicken in bowl or zip top bag and let marinate for 30 to 60 minutes.
3. Preheat the Grill for the Lemon Rosemary Roasted Chicken
Next, remove chicken from marinade and discard. Grill chicken over a medium high heat until well browned and cooked through (meat should measure 160 degrees). Adjust cook time until internal temperature is reached. Finally, during the last 5 minutes brush chicken with the remaining marinade. Remove chicken from grill and place the chicken on a platter and drizzle on remaining marinade. Let the chicken rest and then garnish with lemon slices.
Recipe FAQs
Store in an airtight container for up to four days.
Of course, try using lime in place of lemon. Also, you can use whatever fresh herbs that you enjoy. The lemon rosemary chicken is infused with so much flavor.
The internal temperature of the chicken that is 165°F. Therefore, keep a meat thermometer handy. It takes out the guess work and remember no one likes under or overcooked meat.
Expert Tips for Making This Lemon Garlic Marinade for Baked Chicken Recipe
- This Recipe Can be Doubled: Make as many versions of this recipe as you need, just increase the recipe card below.
- Add Lemon Zest: Finish the dish with some fresh lemon zest and extra lemon juice.
- Different Chicken: Bone-in chicken breasts, chicken thighs can also work.
- Grill Pan: Cook inside using a grill pan or bake in the oven.
- Extra: Grill more lemons and even the rosemary and use as garnish or for drinks. Reserve some of the leftover garlic lemon marinade for basting the chicken while grilling for extra flavor.
- Try it on Everything: While this recipe works great on chicken, the lemon rosemary garlic marinade is great for steak, pork, fish or vegetables or even a whole chicken.
- Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or extra garlic to the marinade for a touch of heat.
- Leftovers: Use leftovers in chicken salad.
What to Serve with Rosemary Lemon Chicken
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Grilled Lemon Rosemary Chicken
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Ingredients
- 1 lemon, halved
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, minced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon House Seasoning Blend
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 4 thin boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium high heat.
- Grill lemon halves, cut side down until deep brown and caramelized, about 5-8 minutes.
- Squeeze juice from grilled lemon halves into medium bowl.
- Stir in mustard, rosemary, garlic, sugar and House Seasoning Blend.
- Slowly whisk in oil until emulsified.
- Reserve 1/3 cup of marinade.
- Place chicken in bowl or zipper bag and pour over marinade.
- Marinate for 30 – 60 minutes.
- Remove chicken from marinade and discard.
- Grill chicken on medium high heat for about 6-7 minutes per side.
- During the last five minutes of grilling, baste chicken with reserved marinade.
- Remove chicken when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Drizzle with remaining reserved marinade.
Christina’s Notes
- This Recipe Can be Doubled: Make as many versions of this recipe as you need, just increase the recipe card below.
- Add Lemon Zest: Finish the dish with some fresh lemon zest.
- Different Chicken: Bone-in chicken breasts, chicken thighs can also work.
- Grill Pan: Cook inside using a grill pan.
- Extra: Grill more lemons and even the rosemary and use as garnish or for drinks.
- Try it on Everything: While this recipe works great on chicken, it is great for steak, pork, fish or vegetables.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Perfect for summer grilling. This was delicious. Next time I will double to have leftovers for salad.
It was really delicious. I used 6 chicken thighs and doubled the recipe. I also added 4 cloves of chopped garlic to add more flavor. I would highly recommend.
Loved the flavors on this chicken!! Great way to mix it up from my normal seasonings
Love this grilled chicken recipe. So flavorful!
So glad you like it!