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    Home » Chicken Recipes » Grilled Chicken Breast

    Grilled Chicken Breast

    Last updated: Aug 21, 2023 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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    This easy grilled chicken breast recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes, making it ideal for a weeknight dinner.

    When making it, I use a simple marinade of olive oil and soy sauce that keeps the chicken nice and juicy.

    Grilled chicken breast served on a white plate with a serving fork.

    I often make chicken recipes, including Greek chicken, pizza chicken, Cajun chicken, and blackened chicken. But sometimes simple is best!

    Grilled chicken breast is always an excellent choice. It's substantial and filling, and my entire family enjoys it. This easy recipe's simple marinade of olive oil, soy sauce, and garlic greatly enhances the chicken's flavor.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Variations
    • Grilled Chicken Breast Instructions
    • Expert Tip
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storing Leftovers
    • Using The Leftovers
    • More Chicken Breast Recipes
    • Recipe Card

    Ingredients

    Here's an overview of the ingredients needed to make this recipe. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below.

    • Chicken breasts: I use boneless skinless chicken breasts, just like in this baked chicken breast recipe.
    • Olive oil: I love cooking with this delicious oil. You can use avocado oil instead if you prefer an oil with a higher smoke point.
    • Soy sauce: I use reduced-sodium soy sauce in most of my recipes. You can use a gluten-free alternative.
    • Seasonings: Black pepper and garlic powder. I prefer garlic powder to fresh minced garlic. It better coats the chicken and doesn't burn as quickly.
    The ingredients needed to grill chicken breasts.

    Variations

    • You can use avocado oil or melted ghee instead of olive oil. I especially like the nutty richness of ghee.
    • Add more spices. Good options that I tried and liked include onion powder, smoked paprika, and dried cumin. You can use ½ teaspoon of each. I don't recommend using dried herbs, which can quickly burn on the hot grill.
    • I like to add a tablespoon of hot sauce to the marinade. If you go this route, be aware that this can create chili fumes, and make sure to air out the kitchen if you're grilling indoors.

    Grilled Chicken Breast Instructions

    This is such an easy recipe! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

    • Cut three shallow slits across the top of each chicken breast to help the marinade better penetrate the meat. (Photo 1).
    • In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, soy sauce, black pepper, and garlic powder. Brush the chicken pieces on both sides with half the marinade. (Photo 2).
    • Heat your grill on medium-high heat and lightly grease it.
    • Grill the chicken until it is cooked through and no longer pink, flipping it midway through cooking. (Photos 3,4).
    • Use a clean pastry brush to coat the chicken with the unused portion of the marinade. (Photo 5).
    • Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving it. (Photo 6).
    A six-photo collage showing the steps for grilling chicken breasts.

    Expert Tip

    Note that there's no salt in this recipe. This is not an omission. No salt is needed because the soy sauce adds plenty of saltiness, even when using reduced-sodium soy sauce.

    In many recipes that call for high-sodium ingredients such as soy sauce, canned anchovies, cooked ham, or dry-grated parmesan cheese, there's no need for added salt, or you can use just a pinch.

    Recipe FAQs

    Should I marinate the chicken before grilling it?

    I flavor the chicken with a simple marinade of olive oil and soy sauce. I simply brush the marinade on the chicken and immediately cook it.

    But you can marinate the chicken in the fridge for a few hours in a resealable bag placed on a rimmed plate.

    How can I prevent the chicken from drying out?

    The secret to juicy chicken is to get your grill hot and grill the chicken just until cooked through, for 5-6 minutes on each side (5-6 minutes total in a dual-contact grill). It's also important to allow the chicken to rest for 5-10 minutes before digging in.

    How do I know when the chicken is done?

    It's best to use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the chicken is fully cooked and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

    I wrote this recipe for 8 oz chicken breasts. If yours are much larger, they will need more time on the grill, and you'll need to lower the grill's temperature to prevent them from burning.

    Serving Suggestions

    This is such a versatile dish. It goes with anything. If your grill is large enough, it's easiest to serve the chicken with grilled vegetables such as:

    • Vegetable kabobs
    • Balsamic grilled zucchini
    • Grilled broccolini
    • Grilled okra

    Salads are another excellent option:

    • Cucumber tomato salad
    • Broccoli salad
    • Arugula salad
    • Asparagus salad

    Storing Leftovers

    You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered at 50% power, or enjoy them cold with some sriracha mayo.

    You can also freeze the leftovers in freezer bags for up to three months. Thaw them overnight in the fridge.

    Using The Leftovers

    The leftovers are lovely in salads (such as this chicken cobb salad), wraps (such as moo shu chicken or lettuce wrap), stir-fry recipes, and casseroles (such as this enchilada casserole).

    Grilled chicken breast served on a white plate with a serving fork.

    More Chicken Breast Recipes

    • Broiled chicken breast served on a white plate with a garnish of parsley.
      Broiled Chicken Breast
    • Blackened chicken, sliced, served with a fork.
      Blackened Chicken
    • Baked chicken breast served on a white plate with a fork.
      Baked Chicken Breast
    • Bacon-wrapped chicken breast served on a white plate.
      Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breast

    👩🏻‍🍳 I aim to publish a new recipe once or twice a month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Recipe Card

    Grilled chicken breast, sliced and served on a white plate.
    4.99 from 618 votes
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    Grilled Chicken Breast Recipe

    This easy grilled chicken breast recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes, making it ideal for a weeknight dinner.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time12 minutes mins
    Rest time5 minutes mins
    Total Time27 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 382kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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    Ingredients

    • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (8 ounces each)
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce (or a gluten-free alternative)
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions

    • Cut three shallow slits across the top of each chicken breast to help the marinade better penetrate the meat.
    • In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, soy sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper. Divide the mixture between two small bowls. Use one of them and a pastry brush to brush the chicken breasts on both sides with the marinade.
    • Heat a dual-contact electric grill or a grill pan on medium-high heat and lightly grease the grill.
    • Grill the chicken breasts until cooked through and no longer pink, flipping them midway through cooking. For medium (8 oz) chicken breasts, this should take a total of about 6 minutes on a dual-contact grill or 6 minutes per side in a grill pan.
    • Transfer the chicken pieces to a sheet of foil and use a clean pastry brush to coat them with the unused portion of the marinade. Cover them with another sheet of foil and let them rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.

    Video

    Notes

    If the pan gets too hot, lower the heat to medium. The best way to ensure that the chicken is fully cooked is to use an instant-read thermometer. It should read 165 degrees F.
    If your chicken breasts are larger than 8 oz, they will need more time on the grill. Add one extra minute per side (on a dual-contact electric grill, flip them and cook for 2 more minutes), then check their temperature to see if they're fully cooked. Lower the grill temperature to medium to prevent the chicken from burning. 
    You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered at 50% power, or enjoy them cold. You can also freeze the leftovers in freezer bags for up to three months. Thaw them overnight in the fridge.

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    Nutrition per Serving

    Serving: 1chicken breast | Calories: 382kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 53g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 719mg
    SubscribeI aim to publish a new recipe once or twice a month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.
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    DisclaimersMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

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    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sarah

      August 17, 2023 at 7:36 am

      5 stars
      This recipe looks great. Can I grill the chicken breasts on a traditional outdoor grill?

      Reply
      • Vered DeLeeuw

        August 17, 2023 at 9:41 am

        You can. Follow the instructions for a grill pan (6 minutes per side on medium-high heat for 8-ounce chicken breasts) and check with an instant-read thermometer to ensure they are fully cooked. Add more time for larger chicken breasts, lowering the grill to medium.

        Reply
    2. Kevin

      June 22, 2023 at 10:19 am

      5 stars
      I really enjoyed this recipe. The chicken came out perfect - very juicy. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Vered DeLeeuw

        June 22, 2023 at 12:46 pm

        I'm glad you enjoyed this recipe, Kevin!

        Reply

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    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered DeLeeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


    👩🏻‍🍳 I aim to publish a new recipe once or twice a month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.

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