Honey Lemon Basil Grilled Chicken

Grilled chicken is the perfect meal for summer! Add a simple marinade of the best flavors, and you’ll be making this Honey Lemon Basil Grilled Chicken all summer long! It is a healthy and easy chicken recipe your whole family will enjoy!

Our easy grilled lemon pepper asparagus or our simple roasted garlic veggies make the perfect side dishes for this easy grilled chicken.

The marinade is made with just 4 ingredients and produces tender, juicy and plump chicken that is delicious on its own, or it can be sliced up and added to your favorite salad or pasta. Try it in our Lemon Chicken Caesar Panzanella Salad or in our 20 Minute Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta! It is also great just over some simple white rice.

One thing I like about Utah is that there are definitely 4 distinct seasons. While I enjoy certain seasons more than others (winter, I’m looking at you!), there is at least one thing I love about each season. Grilling is one of the things I love about summer!

Pulling the grill out or the Traeger just makes me happy! I love the smoky flavor of food on the grill, and I love getting friends or family together for a fun BBQ. Let’s get to the details of making this simple grilled chicken!

How to Marinate Chicken?

Creating perfectly grilled chicken starts with a good marinade. A marinade infuses the chicken with flavor and helps the chicken stay tender. For this easy grilled chicken recipe, just a few simple ingredients are needed. You probably have them in your house already. No need for a trip to the grocery store!

• Lemon zest: adds bright fresh flavor
• Fresh lemon juice: helps tenderize the chicken
• Honey: adds natural sweetness and helps caramelize the chicken
• Montreal seasoning: adds flavor

Combine all the marinade ingredients together and reserve a couple of tablespoons for later. Place the chicken thighs in a glass dish and pour the marinade over the chicken. Flip the thighs over so they get coated on each side. Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for at least an hour (up to overnight).

Is It Healthy to Eat Grilled Chicken?

Yes! Skinless chicken is a healthy protein, though a chicken thigh is going to have more fat than a chicken breast. If you want a lean meal, go with a chicken breast. Our motto is balance and moderation in all things. Eating grilled chicken for every meal everyday wouldn’t be a healthy practice and pretty extreme, but a nice piece of grilled chicken paired with some healthy fruits and veggies makes a well-balanced nutritious meal. Try this Fruit Salad with Lemon Dressing…to die for! If you’re looking for more chicken recipes, we have you covered!

How Do You Keep Chicken Moist on the Grill?

There are few tips that help keep chicken moist while grilling it.

• First, place the thighs between two sheets of wax paper and pound them with a meat tenderizer or rolling pin so that each piece has a uniform thickness. Then they will cook evenly and not dry out in the thinner areas while the thicker parts are still cooking. No duh, right?! But it really makes a huge difference and is a step that is often skipped.
• Second, marinate the chicken! I know we just talked about the marinating process, but if you want juicy chicken, then marinating is a must. Don’t skip it!
• Third, set your grill to medium high heat. People often cook their chicken at a temperature that is too high so it gets totally dried out by the time it cooks through. Low and slow is the name of the game here. You want a nice sear on the outside while the inside gets cooked through perfectly.
• Fourth, baste the chicken while grilling. This is where that reserved marinade comes in. Use it to baste the chicken while it is cooking. It will add extra flavor!
• Fifth, and most important of all – LET IT REST! I promise this is life-changing. Let the chicken rest for 3-5 minutes on the counter before you ever serve it up and it will be perfection!

How Long Do You Cook Chicken Breasts on the Grill?

For these grilled chicken thighs, 4-6 minutes on each side should do the trick, but always check the internal temperature to be sure it is 165 degrees. You can also head to our post on cooking chicken in a pan, and all the same principles apply to cooking on the grill.

How Do You Know When Grilled Chicken Is Done?

The most precise way to tell if chicken is done is to use a thermometer. Chicken should be grilled to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Another way to tell is to slice into it. When cut, the juices should be clear. This should only be done as a last resort because slicing the chicken always precious juices to drip out. We want to keep all those juices inside if possible!

One last tip for knowing when you’re grilled chicken is done…it will release from the grill naturally. If you go to move it and it is still stuck to the grill, it isn’t ready yet.

Why Does Grilled Chicken Need to Rest?

When the chicken is done on the grill, move it to a plate and tent the chicken with some foil. Allow the chicken to rest for a couple of minutes. Resting allows the juices to redistribute through the meat making it more juicy. Once it has rested, you can top each piece with fresh basil leaves that have been chiffonade. Chiffonade is a fun and fancy way of saying it has been sliced very thinly into ribbons.

We did a quick and easy post on what is chiffonade- how to chop herbs so for sure take a quick peek over there. 

Can I Use Chicken Breasts Instead of Thighs?

Chicken breasts can definitely be used instead of thighs. We love this recipe with both. Thighs have a richer and deeper flavor that we prefer, but breasts are a little healthier. The meat tenderizing step is especially crucial when you use chicken breasts so that each chicken breast has a uniform thickness. You will still want an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Will Honey Go Bad?

Honey will never go bad on its own.

Honey has been found in ancient Egyptian tombs and it is still perfectly good.

Can You Eat Grilled Chicken When Pregnant?

If the chicken has been cooked properly, it is safe to eat while pregnant.

Can I Cook This Chicken on the Stovetop?

Yes, this chicken recipe works great on the stovetop. Grab a grill pan or large skillet and place it on the stove over medium-high heat. Add a little olive oil to help the chicken not stick and cook on one side for 4-6 minutes and then flip and finish cooking on the other side. You can follow the rest of the recipe instructions as written in the recipe card.

Can You Freeze Grilled Chicken?

Grilled chicken freezes quite well as long as you follow a few simple tricks.

• Freeze the thighs whole. Do not cut them up before freezing them. This reduces the surface area of the chicken that could get freezer burn.
• Freeze the thighs separately so that they aren’t touching each other. This will allow the chicken to thaw more evenly. Stick them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze them for 4-5 hours. Once they are frozen, you can throw them all into a ziploc back. Get as much air out of the bag as possible or even better, use a Food Saver!
• Store frozen chicken for up to 1 month. Anything past that is going to start losing its flavor.

What to Eat with Honey Lemon Basil Grilled Chicken

Grilled chicken goes with just about anything, but these are some of our favorite things to eat with this dish:

Storage Tips

Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It also freezes very well. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let it thaw in the refrigerator. I prefer to reheat chicken in the oven in a covered baking dish at 350 degrees until heated through. I usually add a little chicken broth to the baking dish too just to help keep it from drying out.

Watch How this Recipe Comes Together…

The combination of honey, lemon and basil is one of my favorites! You have your sweetness, your acid and your seasoning which are the three things you need to make the best grilled chicken recipe in town. This dish is simple enough to make the fam on a busy weeknight but spectacular enough to impress your friends at your next BBQ. You’ll love the taste of this tender chicken! Happy grilling!

More Marinated Chicken Dishes You’re Sure to Love:

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