This citrus chicken marinade is juicy, bright, and packed with fresh flavor from orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, garlic, and herbs. If you want a citrus chicken marinade that keeps chicken breasts flavorful on the grill without tasting too heavy, this is an easy recipe to keep on repeat.
Why Is This Citrus Chicken Marinade Works
- Triple citrus flavor from orange, lemon, and lime.
- Balanced marinade with acid, oil, and seasonings.
- Made for chicken breasts so they stay juicy on the grill.
- Easy to prep ahead for cookouts and weeknight dinners.
- Works with multiple serving styles like bowls, salads, wraps, and tacos.
Ingredients for Citrus Chicken Marinade
All you need is some chicken, citrus, and standard seasonings to whip up this juicy and flavorful grilled citrus chicken dish. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Chicken Breasts, Boneless and Skinless – These are lean and cook quickly, making them perfect for absorbing the marinade’s bright, citrusy flavors.
- Orane juice
- Lemon zest
- Lemon juice
- Fresh garlic
- Lime juice
- Lime zest
- Coarse kosher salt
- Ground black pepper
- Vegetable oil
- Italian seasoning
- Water
How to Make Grilled Citrus Chicken (Step-by-Step)
It’s a cinch to make this chicken! Prep time is minimal and cooking time is so quick you won’t believe it’s already finished when you pull it off the grill!
- Prepare the chicken. Lightly tenderize the chicken using the flat head of a meat mallet. Cut slits into each chicken breast about 1/2 inch apart and only cutting half way through the breasts. Set aside. This will help the marinade sink in and cook quicker on the grill to prevent drying out.
- Marinate chicken. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the orange juice, lemon juice and zest, lime juice and zest, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, vegetable oil and water. In an airtight plastic bag or a shallow dish, place the chicken and then pour the marinade over. Turn to fully coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator.
- Cook the chicken. Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the liquids. Heat the grill to medium-high heat. Spray with grill approved cooking spray and place the chicken directly over the heat. Cook on each side, or until a digital thermometer reads 165°F.
- Allow to rest before slicing. Remove the chicken and allow it to rest for a few minutes before serving.
How Long to Marinate Citrus Chicken
Because citrus is acidic, more time is not always better. For chicken breasts, I’d aim for 30 minutes to 4 hours for the best texture and flavor. You can push it longer, but overnight can start to change the surface texture and make the outside a little mushy.
Perfect Pairings
Nearly anything can be served with grilled chicken! I personally love topping mine with a sweet mango salsa. We also love cookout sides like cowboy baked beans, vinegar coleslaw, and classic macaroni salad.
You can also opt for veggies like broccolini, asparagus, or roasted root vegetables. For heartier side dishes, try mac and cheese, parmesan risotto, or mashed potatoes.
Chef Tips for Juicy Grilled Chicken
This grilled citrus chicken is easy to make, but I do have some tips to make sure it turns out perfectly.
- Don’t skip the resting – Resting the chicken for about 5 minutes helps the juices redistribute so the meat stays juicier when sliced.
- Use a thermometer – Chicken breasts are easy to overcook. Pulling them right at 165°F gives you a much better final texture.
- Oil your grill grates well – Because the marinade contains citrus and little sugar, sticking is less about burning and more about lean chicken catching on the grill. Oiled grates help a lot.
- Don’t over-marinate – More time is not always better with citrus. Too long can soften the outer texture too much making chicken rubbery and tough.
Storage and Freezing
Storage: Transfer the chicken to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the oven, a quick flip in a skillet or on the grill. Chicken and also be microwaved, but it will impact the texture.
Freezing: Freeze the cooked chicken in a resealable freezer bag and keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat accordingly.
Common Questions about Grilled Citrus Chicken
You can marinate the chicken up to 24 in advance. The least amount of time is 10 minutes, but chicken really needs time to absorb the flavors.
Citrus helps to make the chicken super tender. It’s the key to the most moist chicken.
While the amount of bacteria may be reduced by using lemon juice or other citrus, it’s never safe to eat raw chicken. Always be sure to heat it to the recommended temperature to ensure that the chicken is safe to eat.
More Juicy Chicken Recipes
On the prowl for more delicious poultry-centered dishes? Try some of our absolute favorite chicken recipes that will have everyone reaching for seconds.
Citrus Chicken Marinade
Equipment
Ingredients
Citrus Chicken Marinade:
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice , about 1 lemon
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice , about 1 lime
- 1 teaspoon fresh lime zest
- 1-2 cloves fresh garlic , grated
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Lightly tenderize the 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts using the flat head of a meat mallet. Cut slits into each chicken breast about 1/2 inch apart and only cutting half way through the breasts. Set aside. This will help the marinade sink in and cook quicker on the grill to prevent drying out.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the 1/4 cup orange juice, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 2 teaspoons lemon zest, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, 1 teaspoon fresh lime zest, grated 1-2 cloves fresh garlic, 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt , 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1/4 cup vegetable oil and 1/4 cup water. In an airtight plastic bag or a shallow dish, place the chicken and then pour the marinade over. Turn to fully coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for a minimum of 1 hour, but up to 4 hours.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the liquids.
- Heat the grill to medium-high heat, approximately 350°F. Spray with grill approved cooking spray and place the chicken directly over the heat. Cook for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until a digital thermometer reads 165°F. Since the sizes of chicken varies greatly, so will the cooking times.
- Remove the chicken and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in comments or star ratings.
Notes
Nutrition
I can eat this grilled chicken every day and be perfectly happy! So delish!
The fresh citrus adds the absolute BEST flavor! So, so delicious!
Hi, the recipe is absolutely awesome. I can confirm that grilled is better than baked, but it’s awesome anyway. Thank you very much!
Grilled is almost always better than baked in my book, but if grilled isn’t possible, baked is a runner up! Thanks for stopping by!
You had me at “SuperFoods” Jessica. Gorgeous, delicious and healthful. Yes Please!!