A lemon and garlic marinade and a few simple tricks keep these chicken breasts tender and juicy. The lean meat is perfect for adding protein to salads, sandwiches, rice bowls, and more. Make sure to give yourself at least 30 minutes to marinate the chicken–it needs some time to soak up all that flavor.
Prep time: PT10M
Cook time: PT8M
Total time: PT48M
Rating
4.9 stars (64 reviews)
Keywords
chicken breast recipe
Ingredients
2 lemons
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
5 large garlic cloves (crushed or minced)
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes ((optional))
1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley, (plus more for garnish)
Make the marinade: Zest and juice one of the lemons into a large bowl (save the other lemon for later). To the bowl, add olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and parsley and whisk to combine. Set aside.
Slice the breasts into cutlets: Place the chicken breast flat on a cutting board and position your non-dominant hand on top to hold it firmly. Using a sharp knife in your dominant hand, carefully slice the chicken breast horizontally starting with the thicker end and all the way through to the thin end. You should end up with two thin cutlets for each chicken breast. If the cutlets still need to flatten a bit, cover with plastic wrap and pound with a kitchen mallet (optional).
Dry and season the chicken: Use a paper towel to pat the chicken dry. Season with a big pinch of kosher salt and black pepper on both sides. Add the chicken to the marinade and turn to coat. Cover the bowl and place in the fridge for 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.
Cook the chicken: In a large cast iron skillet set over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Once the oil begins to shimmer, arrange the chicken pieces in the skillet. Do this in batches if you need to, as you do not want to crowd the pan. Sear for about 4 minutes on each side, or until both sides are golden brown and the chicken is nearly cooked through. (Its juices should run clear.)
Rest: When the internal temperature reaches 160°F, remove from the heat. Tent with foil and let the chicken rest for another 5 minutes. The chicken will come up to 165°F while it’s under the foil. There should be no pink on the inside. While it rests, slice the remaining lemon.
Garnish and serve: Garnish the chicken with chopped parsley and lemon slices. Serve.
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 268.8 kcal
Carbohydrates: 4.8 g
Protein: 32.8 g
Fat: 13.1 g
Saturated Fat: 2.1 g
Trans Fat: 0.02 g
Cholesterol: 96.8 mg
Sodium: 181 mg
Sugar: 1 g
Unsaturated Fat: 9.3 g
Reviews
Rita Keil on 2026-08-10 (5 stars): I’m looking to make more of my meals in the Mediterranean style, and this recipe is fantastic!!! I love lemons and it mixes so well with grilled chicken and veggies. I’m looking forward to making more Mediterranean meals for my husband and family.
KELLY SCHUMAN on 2026-07-06 (5 stars): Quick, easy and delicious!
Numi on 2026-03-11 (5 stars): Quick and easy recipe that tastes amazing! Since I’ve discovered this recipe two weeks ago I’ve made it 4 times- definitely a favourite.
Lynne Roberts on 2026-01-21 (5 stars): great recipe, easy to follow and very tasty.
TB on 2026-01-16 (5 stars): This is absolutely amazing!!
Vanessa on 2025-12-30 (5 stars): I made this recipe using chicken breast that was already cut into pieces, so I skipped the cutting part. Otherwise I followed it to a "t". I knew that the chicken was going to be reheated before being served so I did not tent it when I removed it from the pan.
I added the leftover marinade to the pan after removing the chicken and brought it to a boil and simmered for a couple of minutes before adding it to the chicken. This kept the chicken super moist even after being reheated.
The flavor was great, fully infused into the chicken, and it looked very pretty on the platter with the lemons and some fresh parsley sprinkled on top.
Highly recommend marinating for the full 2 hours.
Alysha Correa on 2025-10-11 (5 stars): Tried this recipe for lunch and my kids just absolutely loved it. Being a mum of 4 boys there's always so much to do around the house. This recipe is great for a busy mum like me as it requires very little prep....and its DELICIOUS. Thank you so much. looking forward to trying out more of your recipes.
Tania on 2025-10-06 (5 stars): Made this recipe tonight for dinner using chicken leg fillets. I marinaded the chicken for 2 hours and it was beautiful.
Mrs J beels on 2025-08-23 (5 stars): Delicious !
Nikki Miller on 2025-08-18 (5 stars): This is honestly the most flavorful lemony garlic chicken breast I've ever made. It really was bursting with flavor & quite tender.
Thanks for sharing this!
Cindy on 2025-08-18 (5 stars): My family thinks this chicken is great! It's so tender and flavorful. I've made this several times and never have to worry about leftovers 😉
Natalie Watson on 2025-08-17 (5 stars): Look’s tasty!! Easy to make