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Home Recipe Index Chicken & Turkey

Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade

★★★★★ 5 /5 Updated: 12/11/22
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This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Fresh lemon, garlic, thyme, salt, and olive oil in small bowls
lemon garlic marinade in mason jar and in a freezer bag with chicken

Thanks to fresh lemon, garlic, thyme, and more, this bright and flavorful marinade completely transforms any cut of chicken. Use this Lemon Chicken Marinade recipe the next time you need a zesty, healthy protein!

lemon garlic marinade in mason jar and in a freezer bag with chicken

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Disclaimer: We are an affiliate of ButcherBox and have included links in this post.

Ingredients in Lemon Chicken Marinade

Marinating chicken is THE key to infusing flavor into typically lean, bland poultry cuts. This light and citrusy marinade only requires a few ingredients and yet turns that lackluster cut into something that makes your tastebuds sing.

The star ingredients of Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade are:

  • Fresh lemon juice and zest – Using a fresh lemon really is best!
  • Olive oil – You can also use avocado oil
  • Minced garlic – Adds a lot of flavor
  • Fresh thyme – Here is a little hack on how to get thyme leaves off a stalk.
  • Salt and Pepper – Pretty much in all of our chicken marinades!

How to Store the Marinade

If you find that you are using this chicken marinade frequently, you could make a large batch of it (scale it up 2-3x) and store it for future use. There are two main ways to store the marinade: The refrigerator or the freezer.

lemon garlic marinade in small mason jar

1. Store in the Refrigerator

The marinade will store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in a jar to use when ready.

2. Store in the Freezer

Here is an out of the box idea: make a big batch of marinade and freeze it in small portions! If you freeze it in a mason jar, be sure to allow at least 1 inch of headspace at the top because the contents will expand. Scaling up the recipe is a great use of time and resources too. Just one of the many reasons we love freezer meals!

chicken breasts in freezer bag with lemon garlic marinade

When ready to use the marinade, let it thaw (if necessary) and pour it over chicken in a zip-top bag or container with a lid. Let it marinate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours to infuse flavor.

Use Lemon Chicken Marinade in a Freezer Meal

Another great use of your time is prep a few freezer meals out of this marinade. Like most of our chicken freezer meals, simply combine the ingredients (the marinade & the chicken) and freeze for later. No need to let the chicken marinate before freezing either. When you want to use it, let the chicken thaw one of these safe ways.

Then, grill, slow cook, pressure cook, or bake your marinated Chicken. You choose your method! We’ve included instructions for how to cook boneless chicken breasts any of these ways in the recipe below.

chicken breasts in freezer bag with lemon garlic marinade

Ways to Cook Chicken Breast

There are so many ways to cook your marinated chicken. Here are some basic guidelines.

1. Bake Chicken Breast in the Oven

Preheat oven to 400°F. Place chicken in a casserole dish or on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake uncovered for about 20-25 minutes, until done.

2. Cook Chicken Breast in the Slow Cooker

Place chicken and marinade in slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Really! That’s all it takes to get it done, otherwise you’ll overcook and dry it out. Here is a whole post about how long to cook chicken in the Crockpot if you’re interested!

3. Cook Chicken Breast in the Instant Pot

Place chicken, marinade, and 1/3 cup chicken broth in a 6 quart Instant Pot. (Note: If using an 8 quart, add an additional 1/2 cup of broth.) Lock and seal the lid. Cook at high pressure for 7 minutes and use a quick release of the pressure when the cook time is up. (Note: It will take 10-15 minutes to come to pressure before the cook time starts.)

4. How to Grill Chicken Breast

Pound out the chicken to about 3/4 inch thick (or cut it in half lengthwise) to help with fast and even cooking. Preheat grill to medium-high heat and clean the grates well. Grill for about 4-5 minutes per side, maybe longer depending on the thickness, until done.

More Chicken Marinades You Must Try

Try some of our other favorite healthy chicken marinades to mix things up:

  • Honey Dijon Chicken Marinade
  • Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade
  • Balsamic Herb Chicken Marinade
  • Asian Sesame Chicken Marinade
  • Southwest Chicken Marinade
  • The BEST Savory Chicken Marinade

Get 7 of Our BEST Chicken Marinades Sent to Your Inbox!

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chicken breasts in freezer bag with lemon garlic marinade
★★★★★ 5 from 3 reviews

Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade

Thanks to fresh lemon, garlic, thyme, and more, this bright and citrusy marinade completely transforms any cut of chicken. This amount of marinade works for 1.5 – 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts, thighs, or tenders. 

Yield: 4–5 servings 1x
Prep: 5Total: 5
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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • Juice and zest of 2 lemons (about 1/4 cup)
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves (sub: 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme or 1/4 tsp ground thyme)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 – 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts, thighs, or tenders

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

Make It Now:

  1. Add the olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper to a gallon-sized freezer bag, seal, and shake. Either seal and refrigerate until ready to use, OR add 1.5-2 pounds chicken to the bag, seal, and squish around to make sure the chicken is covered in marinade. (Freezing instructions begin here.)
  2. Place the bag in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.
  3. Cook the chicken however you’d like (grill, slow cook, pressure cook, or bake). See tips below in the Notes.

Freeze For Later: Follow step 1. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Prepare From Frozen: Thaw, using one of these safe thawing methods, and follow Step 3. No additional marinating time needed once it is thawed!

Equipment

Fresh Menu Kitchen Reusable Freezer Bags

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Freezer Bag Stand

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Meat thermometer

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Notes/Tips

  • How to Know If Chicken Is Done: Chicken is done when it reaches 165°F internal temperature. (A digital meat thermometer is a must to help cook chicken perfectly.)
  • How to Cook Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts:
    • Bake in Oven: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place chicken in a casserole dish or on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake uncovered for about 20-25 minutes, until done.
    • Slow Cooker: Place chicken and marinade in slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Really! That’s all it takes to get it done, otherwise you’ll overcook and dry it out.
    • Instant Pot: Place chicken, marinade, and 1/3 cup chicken broth in a 6 quart Instant Pot. (Note: If using an 8 quart, add an additional 1/2 cup of broth.) Lock and seal the lid. Cook at high pressure for 7 minutes and use a quick release of the pressure when the cook time is up. (Note: It will take 10-15 minutes to come to pressure before the cook time starts.)
    • Grill: Pound out the chicken to about 3/4 inch thick (or cut it in half lengthwise) to help with fast and even cooking. Preheat grill to medium-high heat and clean the grates well. Grill for about 4-5 minutes per side, maybe longer depending on the thickness, until done.
  • Storage Tip: A great way to store this freezer meal or leftovers is in our favorite reusable freezer bags.
  • Where We Get Our Chicken: We get our meat from ButcherBox. The chicken is organic and curated from small, trusted farms. We highly recommend this service to source healthy meat–like uncured bacon, wild salmon, and grass-fed beef–and have used it for years ourselves. A woman standing on her front porch holding a box from Butcher Box meats.
© Author: Thriving Home
Cuisine: American Method: No cook

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Fresh lemon, garlic, thyme, salt, and olive oil in small bowls
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Rachel Tiemeyer

Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

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  1. AvatarTracy says

    Posted on 9/13/22 at 5:03 pm

    Great new marinade to add to my rotation for grilled chicken. Very flavorful.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 9/13/22 at 5:48 pm

      Whoop whoop! Happy to know it’s a win for you.

      Reply
  2. AvatarAnne Marie Monello says

    Posted on 8/27/22 at 1:49 pm

    This is the 2nd time I’m cooking this chicken in 2 weeks, it’s that delicious. I will try the other marinades next. Thank you. Anne Marie

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 8/28/22 at 12:41 pm

      Thanks for the feedback, Anne Marie. 🙂 Another of my favorites is the Southwest Chicken Marinade, if you’re looking for another one to try.

      Reply
  3. AvatarMalissa Peacock says

    Posted on 8/13/22 at 12:56 pm

    Wonderful recipe. Just the right balance of acid and fat — love the thyme. We grilled it and it came out perfectly according to the time on the recipe. Would make it once a week — very fresh taste

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 8/13/22 at 3:18 pm

      Great to hear that, Malissa! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.

      Reply
  4. AvatarJSimon says

    Posted on 6/22/22 at 11:23 am

    Loved this recipe, my Daughter loved it also and she shared it with me. This is the second time I’m going to make it.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 6/22/22 at 11:51 am

      Thanks for the feedback. Glad to hear that!

      Reply
  5. AvatarDiana says

    Posted on 5/22/22 at 1:06 am

    I overcooked the chicken in Balsamic Herb Recipe..as well as the marinade..should you cook the marinade separately..I cooked covered on stovetop..

    Reply
  6. AvatarAimee McPoland says

    Posted on 12/4/21 at 6:25 pm

    For freezing instructions, ate you freezing the marinade?? Or the chicken in the marinade?

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 12/4/21 at 8:10 pm

      You can freeze the chicken in the marinade. Or you can just freeze the marinade if you want to make a giant batch to have on hand for anytime.

      Reply

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