Ultimate Marinated Grilled Chicken

This Ultimate Marinated Grilled Chicken is the absolute best grilled chicken breast recipe and made with only good for you ingredients. You’re going to love how flavorful it is thanks to an easy marinade!

Update: This recipe was originally published in 2019 and has been republished with all new photos.

It’s grilling season, friends! If you know me then you know that grilling chicken is one of my favorite pastimes. It’s right up there with reading books, laying in hammocks, and drinking coffee. Grilling is such an easy way to prepare healthy meals in very little time. Plus the time you spend preparing the meal is actually enjoyable! Sit outside with a glass of wine while dinner is cooking? Yes please! Sign me up for that.

I have several marinated chicken recipes on my blog but this Ultimate Marinated Grilled Chicken includes my favorite flavorful marinade. You can (and should) use it for everything.

This is the chicken we have almost weekly in my home when the weather is warm. In the morning I just dump the marinade ingredients in a bag with the chicken. Then toss it on the grill in the evening. It’s such an easy recipe and the end result is super delicious.

Plus it includes no sugar (or honey or maple syrup or any sweeteners really). It’s also dairy free, gluten free, and Whole30 compliant. So enjoy it as often as you want!

Craving more easy chicken recipes for the grill? I’ve got you covered. Try my Italian Marinated Grilled Chicken, Lemon Herb Marinated Grilled Chicken, Honey Balsamic Grilled Chicken, Best Marinated Grilled Chicken Thighs, or Chipotle Lime Grilled Chicken.

Ingredients for Ultimate Marinated Grilled Chicken

• Chicken breasts or thighs: Boneless skinless chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs both work well. You can use skin-on chicken thighs too if you’re wanting the fun of crispy skin!
• Coconut aminos: Coconut aminos is commonly considered a soy sauce substitute. It’s slightly sweet but contains a lot less sodium. Low sodium soy sauce will work here too but it will still taste saltier than coconut aminos. Most grocery stores carry it on the aisle with soy sauce or marinades.
• Balsamic vinegar: Balsamic vinegar adds a punch of tanginess to our chicken marinade recipe. It balances out the sweetness of the coconut aminos.
• Minced garlic: Minced garlic is delightful and pungent. You can mince your own fresh garlic or use a jarred variety.
• Seasonings: The incredible flavor in this simple marinade comes from a blend of a few simple seasonings. We’re also using a few dried herbs because they pack more flavor than fresh herbs. For this recipe you’ll need dried parsley, dried basil, onion powder, chili powder, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.

How to Make Ultimate Marinated Grilled Chicken

To make this easy grilled chicken recipe we’ll start by marinating our chicken. If you have very large chicken breasts you may want to slice them horizontally to create thinner cutlets to avoid a longer cook time. That’s really just a matter of preference though.

In a gallon Ziplock bag or large covered bowl combine chicken and all marinade ingredients. Flip occasionally so marinade is coating all parts of the chicken. Let marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes or as long as 12 hours.

Preheat grill to medium-high heat.

When it’s time to cook, oil the grill grates with a bit of olive oil or avocado oil to prevent sticking. Grill your chicken on an outdoor grill. I use a gas grill just because it’s so easy but a charcoal grill is a great option. To grill, remove each chicken breast from the bag and place on a hot grill over medium heat. Throw away any excess marinade remaining in the bag.

Grill with the lid closed 4 to 5 minutes on each side, flipping only once for nice grill marks. Your chicken should be a beautiful golden brown and juices should run clear.

If you find that you regularly overcook chicken I recommend getting a meat thermometer. This will ensure you get juicy chicken breasts every time! You want the thickest part of the chicken to have an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. It will continue to cook once removed from the grill so take it off at around 150/160 degrees in order to avoid it drying out.

How Long Should You Marinate Chicken?

For the most flavorful chicken I recommend marinating for at least one hour and up to 12 hours. The longer you marinate the more pronounced the flavor will be. You can of course marinate for as little as 30 minutes. I don’t recommend longer than 12 hours because your meat can start to breakdown and the texture changes if it sits in a marinade for too long. (That goes for any marinade.)

How to Prevent Chicken from Sticking to the Grill

Since this marinade does not include olive oil I like to oil the grill grates before placing on the grill. If you try to flip your chicken and you notice it’s sticking a bit just give it another minute before flipping and the chicken will usually release better then.

How to Store Leftover Grilled Chicken

Want to enjoy this grilled chicken recipe the next day or later in the week? This entree makes great leftovers and it’s perfect for meal prep! Leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a large skillet on the stovetop on low to medium-low heat until warmed through.

How to Serve Grilled Chicken

This delicious grilled chicken can be served with so many incredible sides. I think the best way to enjoy it is with my Grilled Vegetables or Grilled Zucchini and Squash. I figure if I’m already using the grill for my entree I might as well use it for my side too!

If you want to keep things extra simple opt for a bagged caesar salad (one of my favorite shortcuts) and dinner is served!

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