This juicy grilled lemon hen has all the time been my household’s go-to grilled hen recipe for summer time. Bursting with contemporary taste and herbs, the garlicky lemon hen marinade is fast and straightforward to make.

In honor of Could Day, I’m marinating juicy hen with loads of lemon and tossing it onto the grill. Could Day is principally European Labor Day. One whiff of this garlicky lemon hen on the grill takes me proper again to our vacation picnics in Macedonia.
My mother would grill this lemon hen alongside kebapi (kebabs) and eggplant for our Could Day picnic. The celebrations meant all of the grilled meals, shopska salad, and pink pepper relish we may match into 24 hours. I feel you’re going to like this family-favorite grilled lemon hen simply as a lot as I do.
The Story Behind This Grilled Lemon Rooster Recipe
- Dissipate additional lemons. I don’t learn about you, however I’m all the time sitting on a heap of contemporary lemons within the summertime. This lemon marinade is an effective way to make use of the entire lemon– zest, juice, and slices.
- A recipe on repeat. Now we have this meal twice every week in the course of the summer time (alternating with piri piri hen), and nobody ever complains as a result of it’s past scrumptious. Easy substances and a straightforward cooking technique make it a go-to.
- Open air or indoors. Ever since I bought a grill pan, I’ve been grilling every thing from steak to scallops and lobster on the stovetop! I share the way to prepare dinner this lemon hen on a cast-iron grill pan, too.
5-Star Overview
“Completely DELICIOUS! I used a cast-iron skillet. After eradicating the hen, I made a lemon ‘gravy’ in the identical pan with the drippings, leftover marinade, and hen inventory, combined with flour. It was so tasty with the hen and the roasted sliced potatoes/pink onion I made as a aspect.” – Debbie

Lemon Marinade Elements
These are the straightforward substances you’ll must take advantage of unbelievable grilling marinade for hen. Scroll to the recipe card for the printable recipe with the precise quantities.
- Olive Oil – I favor the herby taste of olive oil in marinades. Nonetheless, one other cooking oil, like canola, will work as nicely.
- Lemons – Contemporary lemon is a should for this recipe, as you’ll want the juice and zest. Zest the lemons earlier than you juice them. For a milder lemon style, use much less.
- Garlic – Freshly minced. In a pinch, you’ll be able to exchange every clove with ½ teaspoon of garlic powder or 1 tablespoon of jarred garlic.
- Parsley – Freshly chopped. Should you’re utilizing dried herbs, you’ll want about ⅓ the quantity of contemporary (within the case of this recipe, about 4 teaspoons of dried parsley). If parsley isn’t your factor, go along with thyme, rosemary, or basil.
- Salt and Pepper – Be at liberty so as to add additional seasonings, like chili flakes, along with salt and pepper should you’d like. You might even use a mix, like this do-it-yourself hen seasoning.
Completely different Sorts of Rooster
Along with grilled boneless hen breasts and thighs, you should use this lemon marinade on nearly any hen you propose on grilling. Strive it on spatchcock hen, hen kabobs, or hen skewers. The principle factor to recollect when marinating totally different cuts is that the cooking occasions will differ relying on the dimensions of the hen and whether or not it’s bone-in.

What to Serve With Lemon Rooster
Mother’s grilled lemon hen was all the time a spotlight of Could Day, and it’s been on common rotation all through grilling season ever since. The contemporary, vibrant flavors pair nicely with so many meal concepts.
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Marinate the hen. In a big ziploc bag, mix hen, olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Seal the bag and shake all of it up till nicely mixed. Place the bag within the fridge and marinate for about 4 hours or in a single day.
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Put together the grill. Preheat the grill to about 375ºF to 400ºF. Brush the grill grates with olive oil.
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Grill the hen. Take away the hen breasts from the marinade and place them on the recent grill; prepare dinner with out touching the grill till they begin to get grill marks, about 5 minutes.
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Flip. Flip the hen breasts over, cowl the grill, and allow them to end cooking, about 7 extra minutes, relying on the thickness of the hen. The hen is finished when a meat thermometer registers 165 levels Fahrenheit.
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Relaxation the hen. Take away hen from grill; cowl and let relaxation for five minutes earlier than chopping and serving.
Grill Pan Directions
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Prep. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease a grill pan with cooking spray and set it over medium-high warmth.
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Sear the hen. Add the hen and prepare dinner for 4 minutes; flip, and proceed to prepare dinner for two extra minutes, or till frivolously browned.
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End within the oven. Place the grill pan within the oven and prepare dinner for 18 to twenty minutes or till the hen is cooked by means of. Take away from oven and let relaxation 5 to eight minutes earlier than chopping and serving.
- If you do not need a powerful lemon style, use much less lemon zest and fewer lemon juice.
Serving: 1Rooster Breast | Energy: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 24g | Fats: 11g | Saturated Fats: 1g | Ldl cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 133mg | Potassium: 446mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 190IU | Vitamin C: 8.3mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.6mg
Dietary data is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values could differ in keeping with the substances and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
How To Make Grilled Lemon Rooster
I make this grilled hen recipe with boneless, skinless hen breasts. You may make grilled hen thighs should you favor, with out a lot distinction in cooking time.
- Marinate the hen. Seal the hen and marinade substances inside a big ziploc bag. Give {that a} shake so the hen is evenly coated, after which place the bag into the fridge. I let this hen marinate for at the least 4 hours, typically in a single day.
- Preheat the grill. If you’re able to prepare dinner the hen, warmth the grill to 375ºF to 400ºF and grease the grates.
- Grill the hen. Discard the marinade. Then, place the marinated hen on the recent grill. Now, this subsequent step is tremendous necessary: Don’t contact it! Let the hen prepare dinner and char for five minutes.
- Flip. Flip the hen breasts over. Cowl the grill, and let the hen end cooking, about 7 extra minutes.
- Relaxation the hen. When the inner temperature of the hen reaches 165ºF, take it off the grill. Permit the hen to relaxation for 5-10 minutes earlier than you chop it. That is one other necessary step for extra-juicy hen. That’s it. You’ve completed it, now eat it!
Use a Grill Pan As a substitute
I like my cast-iron grill pan for stovetop grilling. I even purchased one for my mother! When used the fitting method, a grill pan provides hen a stupendous char just like the out of doors grill, when grilling outside isn’t an choice. Right here’s my failproof method that I exploit for good “grilled” hen, each time:
- Switch the pan to the oven. Subsequent, place the grill pan right into a 350ºF oven and prepare dinner for 18 to twenty minutes. Take a look at that the inner temperature reads 165ºF utilizing an instant-read thermometer.
- Preheat the pan. That is key! Grease an oven-safe grill pan (ideally cast-iron) with cooking spray and set it over medium-high warmth. If the hen doesn’t sizzle the second it hits the pan, it means the pan isn’t scorching sufficient.
- Sear the hen. Add the hen to the pan. Cook dinner for 4 minutes, flip, and prepare dinner for two extra minutes to get the skin good and browned.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Permit the grilled hen to chill utterly after which retailer it hermetic. Hold leftovers within the fridge for as much as 4 days. I prefer to serve the leftover lemon hen chilly over salads!
- Reheat. To heat up leftover hen, reheat it within the microwave in increments, or you’ll be able to heat it within the oven at 350ºF till scorching all through.

