Citrus Marinated Chicken is a versatile and flavorful protein that can be paired with everything from cauliflower rice to mac and cheese.
Grilled chicken with a citrus marinade is a lean, healthy protein, and even better, we’ve got two ways to make it for you – on the grill (of course) or in the Instant Pot. Either way, you have a delicious main course that you can match with any of your favorite sides or serve on top of a salad.
Why You’ll Love Citrus Marinated Chicken
Juicy & Flavorful – Whether you grill it over gas or coal, or let the Instant Pot do the work, this chicken comes out tender and juicy, with the light, refreshing flavors of lemon and garlic.
Versatile – You can do pretty much anything with this protein. It pairs just as well with healthy sides like grilled veggies and cauliflower rice and leafy green salads, as it does with comfort food dishes like scalloped potatoes and macaroni and cheese.
Quick & Easy – Just 10 minutes on the grill or 7 minutes in the Instant pot and this chicken is ready to eat. And prep requires minimal effort. Just toss all the ingredients in a Ziploc bag and let it marinate! Clean-up is a breeze.
Healthy – Chicken is a lean protein that will help keep you fuller longer. You can serve it on it’s own or with vegetables like asparagus or zucchini and keep your calories low, and nutrient density high.
Citrus Marinated Chicken Ingredients Notes
Grilled citrus chicken is such a simple recipe that there are really no notes to include, but here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Two lbs chicken breasts (2 large breasts): Boneless, skinless, I use Open Nature® Air Chilled Chicken
Citrus Chicken Marinade
- 2 lemons: zest from one; juice from both
- Crushed garlic cloves
- Dried oregano
- Extra-virgin olive oil
Refer to the citrus chicken marinade recipe card below for a complete ingredients list with measurements.
How To Make Citrus Marinated Chicken
- Marinate: Add all ingredients except chicken to a Ziploc Bag; mix well, add chicken, and refrigerate for up to an hour.
- Grill: Remove chicken from the bag and grill and toss the marinade away.
- Or Add To The Instant Pot: If using this method, add water to pot, place chicken inside on a trivet, pour marinade into pot over chicken, and cook on high for 7 minutes.
- Serve: Remove the chicken from grill or instant pot and serve with your choice of side.
Variations, Substitutions & Cooking Tips
Change Up Your Chicken – You can use chicken thighs for this recipe if you prefer. They’ll be extra juicy!
Grilling Tips – Grill over hot coals for about 5 minutes on each side or until cooked through. If grilling with gas, use a medium high flame. Try not to flip it more than once and avoid over-grilling.
Instant Pot Tips – Be sure to use a trivet to keep the chicken raised from the bottom. You can use chicken broth instead of water if you prefer.
Switch Up Your Seasonings – You can add a variety of extra flavors to this recipe. A few you might want to consider are lemon pepper; cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for a bit of heat; rosemary; tarragon; saffron; ginger; or dill.
What To Serve With Citrus Grilled Chicken
As I mentioned before, this is a super versatile protein that can be served with almost anything. It is delicious served with simple veggies, rice, or potatoes on the side, or sliced and added to tacos, burritos, salads, and wraps. Here are a few of our favorite things to serve it with.
- Cauliflower rice
- Mashed potatoes
- Grilled Asparagus
- Grilled Avocado
- Garlic snap peas
- Tomato burrata salad
- Chopped veggie salad
- Smoked corn on the cob
- Crispy smashed potatoes
- Rice and mushroom casserole
- Smoked cabbage with chili lime butter
- Sauteed green beans and mushrooms
- Sugar snap pea salad with poblanos and corn
- Roasted cauliflower with garlic herb browned butter
- Zucchini ribbons with lemon & black pepper vinaigrette
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftover chicken in the refrigerator in an air tight container. To reheat, you can zap it in the microwave in 45 second increments until heated through, or place in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes until warmed.
Easy Citrus Marinated Chicken Recipe
Citrus Marinated Chicken is not only incredibly easy to prepare but also a healthy meal option, a perfect pairing with dishes like cauliflower rice or mac and cheese.
Ingredients
- 1 pkg Open Nature® Air Chilled Chicken, (2 breasts)
- 2 lemons, (zest from one; juice from both)
- 2-3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Place all ingredients except chicken into a large, resealable plastic bag; mix ingredients. Add chicken, seal bag and toss gently to coat. Place in refrigerator for 30-60 minutes.
For the grill:
- Remove chicken from marinade and discard bag and marinade. Grill over hot coals until thoroughly cooked, turning once after about 5 minutes.
For Instant Pot:
- Set trivet inside Instant Pot, then add 1/2 cup water to pot. Remove the chicken from the bag and set it on the trivet. Pour marinade over chicken and into pot.
- Close and lock the lid of the Instant Pot. Press "Manual" and immediately adjust the timer to 7 minutes. Check that the cooking pressure is on "high" and that the release valve is set to "Sealing".
- When the time is up, release the pressure using quick release. Carefully remove the chicken and serve.
Notes
I like to serve this Citrus Grilled Chicken over cauliflower rice with lots of pepper and a little more lemon juice.
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