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–+ servings
Grilled chicken thighs infused with a savory chicken marinade, topped with lemon slices and garnished with fresh herbs and edible flowers, arranged on crumpled parchment paper.
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Easy Grilled Chicken Marinade

This easy grilled chicken marinade is bright, savory, and just a little sweet, made with lemon, honey, garlic, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs. It’s a simple marinade for grilling juicy, flavorful chicken breasts, thighs, or tenders.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Marinate30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 255kcal
Author: Stephanie Wilson

Ingredients

Chicken Marinade

  • ¼ cup olive oil extra virgin
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons Worchester Sauce
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon pepper or to taste

Grilled Chicken

  • 6 chicken thighs boneless skinless
  • lemon slices slightly grilled, for serving

Instructions

  • Combine the marinade ingredients in a bowl and whisk together. Remove half of the marinade and set aside for basting the chicken while it grills.
  • Place the chicken in a large resealable bag and pour the marinade over the top. Seal the bag securely and massage the marinade into the chicken.
  • Chill the chicken in the refrigerator and at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours. For the most flavor, 2 to 4 hours is optimum.

To Grill

  • Preheat the grill to medium high heat (about 400 degrees) and lightly oil the grates.
  • Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the remaining marinade.
  • Place chicken over direct heat and grill for 6 to 8 minutes per side. Once the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160°F, move the thighs to a low heat zone of the grill. As the chicken grills, baste with reserved marinade.
  • When cooked, remove chicken from the grill, tent with foil, and let rest about 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  1. Marinating time: Chicken can marinate for as little as 30 minutes, but 3 to 4 hours gives it even more flavor. Avoid marinating longer than 24 hours, as the texture can become soft.
  2. Reserve marinade before adding chicken: If you plan to baste the chicken while grilling, set aside a portion of the marinade before adding raw chicken. Discard any marinade that has come into contact with raw chicken.
  3. For chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts cook more quickly than thighs, so grill just until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  4. Let it rest: After grilling, tent the chicken loosely with foil and let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
  5. No grill? This marinade also works well for chicken cooked indoors on a grill pan or baked in the oven.

Nutrition

Calories: 255kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 379mg | Potassium: 262mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 230IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg