Mediterranean Grilled Chicken
Simple, light and flavorful, this Mediterranean grilled chicken recipe is a weeknight win. This is one of those dishes that comes together very quickly and tastes amazing. Made from simple, clean ingredients, you’re going to love this healthy meal.
The chicken is marinated in a combination of extra virgin olive oil, fresh squeezed lemon juice, Italian seasoning, kosher salt and cracked black pepper. The marinade softens the chicken making it tender and juicy. Topped with a bright and fresh tomato and cucumber salad, your entire family will love this dish.
Ingredients Needed for Mediterranean Grilled Chicken
Chicken – You’ll need about one pound of Smart Chicken’s chicken breasts for this recipe. Be sure to butterfly the breasts into thin cutlets. This will allow for faster, more even grilling.
Marinade – Combine extra virgin olive oil, fresh squeezed lemon juice, Italian seasoning, kosher salt and cracked black pepper. Whisk well and coat the cutlets. Cover and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.
Simple Salad – Combine diced English cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, halved kalamata olives, mozzarella pearls, chopped Italian parsley, extra virgin olive oil, fresh squeezed lemon juice, kosher salt and cracked black pepper. Toss until well coated. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
How to Grill Chicken: Pro Tips for Making Perfectly Grilled Juicy Chicken
Preheat the grill to 400-450 degrees. Carefully brush the grill grates with avocado oil right before you add the marinated chicken. This will prevent the meat from sticking to the grates. Be careful it can flare up. Grill for 5-6 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooking time will vary based on the thickness of your cutlets.
When marinating the chicken, be sure to use a glass or ceramic bowl that you can seal with a lid or cover with saran wrap. Option you can use a sturdy stay open Ziplock bag too. DO NOT use a metal, cast iron or aluminum to marinate your food. These are reactive materials and can alter the flavor of the chicken as it marinates over time.
Longer isn’t always better. DO NOT over marinate this recipe. Since it has fresh squeezed lemon juice (acid) in the marinade the protein in the chicken will break down quickly. If you marinate for too long, the chicken could get mushy. Under four hours is best!
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ’s
Why do you use avocado oil for grilling? Avocado oil has a high smoke point and does not impart any flavor on the protein.
What tools do you use for grilling? I use a variety of tools for grilling, everything from metal tongs, grill baskets, and burger presses and more. Here are some of my favorite grilling items.
What tools do you recommend for marinating? Only use glass, ceramic, or plastic for marinating. Stainless steel is OK too. Here is a list of marinating essentials.
Can you over marinate your proteins? YES! Over marinating is a common problem. Longer isn’t always better. For chicken, when you are using an acidic marinade, do not marinate over four hours. The protein in the chicken can break down quickly making it soggy if it is over marinated.
How to Make Mediterranean Grilled Chicken
Make the Salad
Combine diced English cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, halved kalamata olives, mozzarella pearls, chopped Italian parsley, extra virgin olive oil, fresh squeezed lemon juice, kosher salt and cracked black pepper. Toss until well coated. Add to an airtight sealable container and refrigerate until ready to use.
Prepare the Chicken
Butterfly your chicken breasts into thin cutlets. This will promote faster, more even grilling.
Marinate the Chicken
Combine extra virgin olive oil, fresh squeezed lemon juice, Italian seasoning, kosher salt and cracked black pepper. Whisk well and coat the cutlets. Cover and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.
Prepare the Grill
Preheat the grill to 400-450 degrees. Carefully brush the grill grates with avocado oil right before you add the cutlets. Grill for 5-6 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooking time will slightly vary based on the thickness of your cutlets.
Assemble the Dish
Remove the cutlets from the grill. Place them on a serving platter. Top with the simple tomato salad and serve hot. Enjoy these cutlet alongside my Lebanese Rice, Sautéed Vegetable Salad, or my Easy Potato Salad.
Storage
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for three to four days. Reheat chicken in the microwave until warmed through. Store any leftover salad or dressing in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days.
Looking for more grilled chicken recipes?
Mediterranean Grilled Chicken
Ingredients
Mediterranean Grilled Chicken
- 1-1.5 lbs. chicken breasts, butterflied into cutlets
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh squeezed
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
Simple Tomato Salad
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup English cucumber, diced
- ½ cup kalamata olive, pitted and halved
- ¼ – ½ cup mozzarella pearls
- 2 tablespoons Italian parsley, chopped small
- 1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh squeezed
- kosher salt, to taste
- cracked black pepper, to taste
Equipment
- 1 glass bowl for marinating the chicken
- 1 gas grill
- 1 mixing bowl for salad
Instructions
How to Make Mediterranean Grilled Chicken
Make the Salad
- Combine diced English cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, halved kalamata olives, mozzarella pearls, chopped Italian parsley, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and black pepper. Toss until well coated. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Prepare the Chicken
- Butterfly your chicken breasts into thin cutlets. This will promote faster, more even grilling.
Marinate the Chicken
- Combine olive oil, fresh squeezed lemon juice, Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper. Whisk well and coat the cutlets. Cover and refrigerate for 15-30 minutes.
Prepare the Grill
- Preheat the grill to 400-450 degrees. Brush the grill grates with avocado oil right before you add the cutlets. Grill for 5-6 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooking time will slightly vary based on the thickness of your cutlets.
Assemble the Dish
- Remove the cutlets from the grill. Place them on a serving platter. Top with the simple salad and serve hot.
One Comment on “Mediterranean Grilled Chicken”
We had this for dinner tonight and it was absolutely delicious. I can’t believe how tender the chicken was off the grill. I tend to dry things out when grilling. This was so good. I think the next time I will make some pasta to go with it.