Citrus Chicken Marinade

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.

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.

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!

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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. 
4. Allow to rest before slicing. Remove the chicken and allow it to rest for a few minutes before serving.

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

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This citrus chicken marinade combines orange, lemon, and lime juice with garlic, herbs, and oil for juicy, flavorful grilled chicken breasts.

Prep Time: 30 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 45 minutes mins

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Servings: 4

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Equipment

• Garlic press
• Meat Tenderizer

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

Chicken can also be baked at 350°F for approximately 15-20 minutes or until fully cooked or cooked in a skillet. 

Storage: Transfer the chicken to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Freezing: Freeze the chicken in a resealable freezer bag and keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 385 kcal, Carbohydrates: 2 g, Protein: 48 g, Fat: 19 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 145 mg, Sodium: 409 mg, Potassium: 867 mg, Sugar: 1 g, Vitamin A: 99 IU, Vitamin C: 11 mg, Calcium: 11 mg, Iron: 1 mg

Calories: 385

Course: Main Course, Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken on the grill, citrus chicken marinade, citrus marinade for chicken, grilled chicken breast marinade, grilled chicken recipe, grilled citrus chicken, juicy grilled chicken, orange lemon lime chicken marinade

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