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๐Ÿ Home ยป Recipes ยป Sauces, Rubs, and Seasonings Recipes

Grilled Chicken Marinade with Lemon, Garlic, and Butter

Updated: Aug 4, 2023 ยท Published: Aug 1, 2022 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan ยท 12 Comments

Jump to Recipe
Time: 40 minutes mins

The best chicken marinade is yours with only 5 ingredients and 10 minutes. With the great tastes of lemon, garlic, butter, and spices, this easy chicken marinade is perfect for chicken breasts but works great with chicken tenders or any skin-on chicken like drumsticks or thighs.

cooked chicken breasts on a blue plate

Jump To (scroll for more)
  • ๐ŸฅฃHow to make this chicken marinade recipe
  • ๐Ÿ‹Ingredients
  • ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to cook marinated chicken
  • ๐Ÿ“‹Reference Posts
  • โ“FAQs
  • Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
  • ๐Ÿ“–The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions

Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

Introduction

Let's all agree that chicken can be relatively tasteless, and a marinade is a perfect solution to this lack of flavor and some tenderizing. And marinating, if you plan right, will not add much time.

This chicken marinade recipe was our standard for grilled chicken breasts when the kids were young. The components are always in the house, so there is little thinking ahead.

We have used this recipe for about 45 years, and it remains one of our favorites. It is the perfect easy summer dinner, served with sides of veggies, like corn on the cob and grilled baby potatoes.

Just an FYI, marinate is a verb meaning the action, while marinade is the noun referring to the liquid.

๐ŸฅฃHow to make this chicken marinade recipe

  1. Add the butter cut into chunks in a non-reactive saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Add all other ingredients.
  3. Bring to a boil.
  4. Remove from heat and move ยผ of the marinade to a small bowl to be used during cooking.
  5. Allow cooling for 10 minutes before adding chicken.

๐Ÿ‹Ingredients

The ingredients are not fancy. Yes, you could use freshly squeezed lemon and crushed garlic, but that makes for too much work for this summer laid-back summer recipe.

  • Lemon Juice- 6 tablespoons of juice or the juice of 3 medium lemons.
  • Butter - use real butter with or without salt.
  • Garlic - 6-8 garlic cloves crushed, 2 tablespoons of crushed or minced garlic, or ยพ teaspoons of garlic powder
  • Seasoning Salt and Pepper - Loweys or other seasoning salt and a little black pepper.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to cook marinated chicken

Once your chicken is marinated, it is time to cook itโ€”generally, that will be on a grill. It is not that hard, but see the recipe list below if you need more details on specific details.

  1. Prepare the marinade per instructions and reserve a small amount to brush on during grilling. Be sure to let it cool some before adding the chicken.
  2. This marinade works great on any chickenโ€”like drumsticks, thighs, or tenders. We use it for skinless boneless chicken breasts. Pick breasts of about the same size. Do not brine due to the salt in the marinade. Cooking instructions for other than skinless boneless chicken breasts can be found in the "Reference Posts" below.
  3. If the chicken breasts are over ยพ inch thick, they should be thinned with a meat mallet or heavy pan to help even out the cooking times.
  4. Marinade for 20-30 minutesโ€”maximum of 3 hours.
  5. Preheat the grill to a grill surface temperature of about 450ยฐ. Clean and oil well.
  6. Place the chicken over direct heat. Flip every 5 minutes. After the first two flips, brush with the reserved marinade with every flip. Grill to 165ยฐ internal temperatureโ€”18-22 minutes usually.
  7. Instead of the grill, you can bake in an oven to 400ยฐ convection or 425ยฐ conventional for about 25 minutes to 165ยฐ.

๐Ÿ“‹Reference Posts

How to Grill Chicken Breasts

Grilled Chicken Thighs on a Gas Grill

Quick & Easy Grilled Chicken Tenders on a Gas Grill

Roasting Chicken Breasts in the Convection Oven

Guide to Grill Temperature on a Gas Grill

Chicken... To Rinse or Not To Rinse?

โ“FAQs

Can I use a charcoal grill for cooking the marinated chicken?

Yes, but you need to be very careful about surface temperature. And, of course, times will vary. On most charcoal grills, you will need to adjust the venting.

What does "bloom" garlic mean?

To "bloom" garlic, you just cook it separately for a brief time. Just get some butter or other liquid bubbling and add the garlic for 30-60 seconds. It is not to "cook" or brown the garlic, but it brings out the flavor a lot more and makes it less "raw". I will almost always do it on stovetop recipes that use raw garlic; in crockpot recipes, I don't bother.

Can I reuse the marinade?

No. Once it is used, the marinade should be considered contaminated and discarded. If you want to brush on some of the marinade during cooking, you must reserve a small amount before marinating the chicken.

How long can I marinate the chicken in the marinade?

As little as 15 minutes gives excellent flavor, but 30 minutes to 3 hours is preferred. If over 1 hour, please refrigerate for food safety.

Over 3 hours is not recommended because the acid in the lemon juice may damage the chicken. You should not marinate overnight.

Can I add other flavors to the marinade?

Sure, other chicken marinade recipes use things like thyme, rosemary, other herbs, and spices for various flavors. Some soy sauce and brown sugar will add different flavors.

If you use fresh lemons, adding some lemon zest is always good. If you don't have fresh garlic, use ยพ teaspoon garlic powder.

You can use extra virgin olive oil instead of the butter and vinegar for the lemon juice, but I don't recommend eitherโ€”what can beat lemon, garlic, and butter?

Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect
โ†‘Jump to Table of Contents

This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

Chicken Breast Recipes, Chicken Recipes, Grill Recipes, Sauces, Rubs, and Seasonings Recipes

Have you tried this recipe, or have a question? Join the community discussion in the comments.

Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

garlic with butter lemon juice and seasonings

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Simple pantry ingredients.

adding seasoning salt to other ingredients in sauce pan

In a medium-size non-reactive saucepan, melt 6 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons (about 6-8 cloves) minced or crushed garlic and bloom for 1 minute. Add 6 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon Lowrey's (or other) seasoning salt, and ยฝ teaspoon black pepper.  Whisk together and simmer over low heat for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.

moving part of the marinade to a bowl for later

Remove 2-3 tablespoons and reserve for later brushing during grilling.

Using Chicken Marinade

I have included instructions for skinless boneless chicken breasts. This amount of marinade works well for 2 to 4 breasts depending on size. Other chicken like drumsticks, thighs, or tenders also will work well with this marinade, but cooking instructions will be differentโ€”links in the post.

flattening thick chicken breast in a plastic bag with a meat mallet

Trim the skinless chicken breast and pat dry with paper towels. If the chicken is over ยพ inches thick, flatten some with a meat mallet in a zip-top bag to avoid splatter.

two chicken breasts in pan with marinade

Add chicken breast, stir well, and ensure the breasts are coated with the marinade. Marinade for 30 minutes to 3 hours, but as little as 15 minutes will give good results. A one-gallon zip-top bag also works well for marinading. If marinading longer than 1 hour, please refrigerate for food safety.

clean and oil grill crates

Preheat the grill for 10 minutes on medium-high heat for a surface temperature of about 450ยฐ. Clean well and oil grill grate well.

placing marinated chicken breasts on grill

Place the marinated chicken over direct heat with the lid closed for 5 minutes per side.

brushing chicken breast with reserved marinade

After the first two flips, brush with the reserved marinade after each flip until you run out of marinade. Continue to cook until the internal temp of 165ยฐ is measured with a meat thermometerโ€”about 18-22 minutes.

cooked chicken breasts on blue plate next to grill

Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

โ†‘Jump to Table of Contents

๐Ÿ“–The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions

cooked chicken breasts on a blue plate

Grilled Chicken Marinade with Lemon, Garlic, and Butter

4.50 from 2 votes
From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
The best chicken marinade is yours with only 5 ingredients and 10 minutes. With the great tastes of lemon, garlic, butter, and spices, this easy chicken marinade is perfect for chicken breasts but works great with chicken tenders or any skin-on chicken like drumsticks or thighs.
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings #/Adjustable :4 servings
Print | Pin | Email share | Like and save for later Saved!

Ingredients

US Customary - Convert to Metric

Marinade

  • 6 tablespoons butter - ยพ stick
  • 6 tablespoons ReaLemon juice - juice of 3 medium lemons
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic - or 6-8 cloves crushed garlic
  • 1 tablespoon Lowrey - Seasoning salt
  • ยฝ teaspoon black pepper

Chicken

  • Skinless boneless breasts or use drumsticks, thighs, or tenders. - This marinade works fine on skin.

Step-by-Step Instructions
 

  • Simple pantry ingredients.
    garlic with butter lemon juice and seasonings
  • In a medium-size non-reactive saucepan, melt 6 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons (about 6-8 cloves) minced or crushed garlic and bloom for 1 minute. Add 6 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon Lowrey's (or other) seasoning salt, and ยฝ teaspoon black pepper.ย  Whisk together and simmer over low heat for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.
    adding seasoning salt to other ingredients in sauce pan
  • Remove 2-3 tablespoons and reserve for later brushing during grilling.
    moving part of the marinade to a bowl for later

Using Chicken Marinade

  • I have included instructions for skinless boneless chicken breasts. This amount of marinade works well for 2 to 4 breasts depending on size. Other chicken like drumsticks, thighs, or tenders also will work well with this marinade, but cooking instructions will be differentโ€”links in the post.
  • Trim the skinless chicken breast and pat dry with paper towels. If the chicken is over ยพ inches thick, flatten some with a meat mallet in a zip-top bag to avoid splatter.
    Flattening thick chicken breast in a plastic bag with a meat mallet.
  • Add chicken breast to marinade, stir well, and ensure the breasts are coated with the marinade. Marinade for 30 minutes to 3 hours, but as little as 15 minutes will give good results. A one-gallon zip-top bag also works well for marinading. If marinading longer than 1 hour, please refrigerate for food safety.
    two chicken breasts in pan with marinade
  • Preheat the grill for 10 minutes on medium-high heat for a surface temperature of about 450ยฐ. Clean well and oil grill grate well.
    clean and oil grill crates
  • Place the marinated chicken over direct heat with the lid closed for 5 minutes per side.
    placing marinated chicken breasts on grill
  • After the first two flips, brush with the reserved marinade after each flip until you run out of marinade. Continue to cook until the internal temp of 165ยฐ is measured with a meat thermometerโ€”about 18-22 minutes.
    brushing chicken breast with reserved marinade
  • Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
    cooked chicken breasts on blue plate next to grill

Recipe Notes

Pro Tips

  1. Use for almost any chicken, but cooking instructions for the chicken will vary. I have included only instructions for skinless boneless breasts. Drumsticks, thighs, or chicken tenders are other good choicesโ€”links in the post for cooking instructions.
  2. To "bloom" garlic, you just cook it separately for a brief time. Just get the butter bubbling and add the garlic for 30-60 seconds. It is not to "cook" the garlic, but it brings out the flavor a lot more and makes it less "raw". I will almost always do it on stovetop recipes that use raw garlic; in crockpot recipes, I don't bother.
  3. Let the marinade cool before adding the chicken.
  4. You can use the marinade for basting the chicken while cooking, but to do this, you must reserve some before adding the chicken to the marinade for safety.
  5. No brining is allowed here. There is lots of salt in the marinade already.
  6. Cooking on the grill or baking in the oven.
  7. Leftovers are wonderful on salad.
  8. Nutrition is calculated for marinade only. Most experts estimate that less than 10% of marinade is absorbed, so this is way overstated. But if you are on a restricted sodium diet, decreasing the seasoning salt or using a salt-free substitute is wise.

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To adjust the recipe size:

You can adjust the number of servings above; however, only the amount in the ingredient list is adjusted, not the instructions.

Nutrition Estimate (may vary)

Calories : 167.3 kcal (8%)Carbohydrates : 4.2 g (1%)Protein : 0.8 g (2%)Fat : 17.1 g (26%)Saturated Fat : 10.8 g (54%)Polyunsaturated Fat : 0.7 gMonounsaturated Fat : 4.4 gTrans Fat : 0.7 gCholesterol : 45.1 mg (15%)Sodium : 1140 mg (48%)Potassium : 61.6 mg (2%)Fiber : 0.3 g (1%)Sugar : 0.7 g (1%)Vitamin A : 528.2 IU (11%)Vitamin C : 11 mg (13%)Calcium : 21.1 mg (2%)Iron : 0.2 mg (1%)

Originally Published May 20, 2010. Updated with expanded options, reshot photos on July 31, 2022, and a table of contents to help navigation.

Dogs playing in the yard
Hoggy needs some chicken
This is Hoggy, who was visiting dog the day this recipe was originally published.

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  1. Jaime says

    January 12, 2020 at 8:30 pm

    5 stars
    Made this tonight and they were mighty tasty.

    Reply
  2. Hollee says

    September 19, 2015 at 6:39 pm

    Had to google that, lol.

    Reply
  3. jim humphrey says

    August 27, 2015 at 2:14 pm

    4 stars
    If you want to use the gas as a charcoal starter, you may get a nicer result, don't be toooo lazy. I am in the charcoal biz, lol But it IS much better!

    Reply
    • DrDan says

      August 27, 2015 at 10:00 pm

      Suum cuique

      DrDan

  4. Gs says

    August 03, 2015 at 2:12 am

    Thank you! I took the time to read a bit more about your interests and the blog. Great work, you earned a follower today! :)

    Reply
  5. Gs says

    August 02, 2015 at 8:54 pm

    Hi,
    Tried two of your recipes so easy and kids loved it. Thank you :). What type of grill you are using, charcoal or gas, brand? The pic shows uniformly packed round things under grill bar? ??

    Yummy!

    Reply
    • DrDan says

      August 02, 2015 at 9:41 pm

      I currently use a Weber Summit with natural gas. The picture in this post is a MHP and it was also natural gas. It had a great 12 yr life span. The little round things are ceramic heat diffusers that I replace the lava rock with. I found they cut down the hot spots lot. My current Weber uses metal heat diffusers. It is very hot and can get 650 with no problem

      I'm too lazy for charcoal and I was always running out of propane gas. So when we built a new home, I had natural gas piped to the deck.

      DrDan

  6. Dr Dan says

    May 23, 2010 at 12:09 pm

    The extra one was indeed great on my lunch salad. The size of the breasts is somewhat important. I repeated this yesterday for company but I had bought the chicken at Sam's. They were huge so I ended up doing cutlets. They cook faster that way but don't have the charring I love. They were great as sandwiches.

    Reply
  7. Chris says

    May 23, 2010 at 10:11 am

    I like quick acting marinades like that. Perfectly cooked chicken, look how juicy on the inside and a slight char on the outside. I hope you threw an extra one on to have for leftover grilled chicken alfredo or salad. Looks great.

    Reply
  8. Christine says

    May 21, 2010 at 5:36 pm

    Oh! I like the pic of my doggie. But, he is being a bit spoiled over there with you and mom!

    Reply
  9. Dr Dan says

    May 21, 2010 at 4:49 pm

    Just marinade for the 10 minutes that you preheat and prep the grill. Take the marinade off the heat before putting the chicken in. It may cook slightly but not significantly.

    Reply
  10. Christine says

    May 21, 2010 at 2:27 pm

    I can't remember how long you leave the chicken in the marinade. Last time I did this I kept the chicken on the heat in the marinade and ended up semi-boiling them after 5 minutes, the outside was stringy. Definitely not the way mom made this when we were little. Are you leaving it in the marinade just about 5 minutes or so?

    Also, you forgot to mention how yummy this is as a sandwich. I love to put this on a bun with some mayo, and if I'm very adventuresome I'll add some mozz cheese.

    Reply

DrDan imageHi, I'm DrDan.
Welcome to 101 Cooking for Two, the home of great everyday recipes with easy step-by-step photo instructions.
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