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Lemon Soy Marinated Chicken Breasts

LIZ DELLA CROCE

08/01/2023

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Updated:

11/24/2024

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Easy to prepare for yourself or a crowd, these lean lemon soy marinated chicken breasts can be grilled or broiled until tender and juicy.

Forkful of lemon soy marinated chicken breasts.

Table of Contents

One can never have too many chicken recipes, am I right? We eat chicken at least 2-3 nights a week because it’s versatile, affordable, and packed with protein. Today’s chicken recipe is one of my favorite quick and easy go-to marinades. All of the ingredients are usually already in my fridge or pantry, and it’s easy to cook both outside on the grill or inside in the oven depending on the weather and season.

Ingredients

Chicken breasts: Low in fat and calories, but high in protein, chicken is a great affordable and accessible choice of meat.
Soy sauce: Full of umami, salty flavor, soy sauce tastes great as a sauce or marinade on all sorts of things including chicken.
Olive oil: Helps to add volume to the marinade to coat all of the chicken.
Garlic: Pungent, aromatic, and nutty, garlic tastes great with almost anything, but it pairs especially well with soy sauce.
Lemon juice: Fresh, bright, acidic flavor that tenderizes the chicken and balances out flavors in the marinade.

How to Make Lemon Soy Marinated Chicken Breasts

Start your Lemon Soy Marinated Chicken Breasts by whisking together soy sauce, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic in a large bowl with a little salt and pepper. Add your thawed chicken breasts to the bowl and toss several times to coat.

Marinade in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or overnight. You could also let the chicken sit to marinate in a large freezer bag.

When the chicken has marinated long enough, you can either throw it on the grill pre-heated to high heat, or cook it in the oven on broil for 4-5 minutes per side.

When chicken has reached an internal temp of 165 on a meat thermometer, you can remove it from the grill or oven. Garnish with some fresh scallions or sesame seeds, serve, and enjoy your Lemon Soy Marinated Chicken Breasts!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I grill chicken without a grill?

The broiler in your oven is essentially an indoor grill! Working with the same type of direct heat, you’ll simply cook the chicken breasts under the broiler for about 4-5 minutes per side, flipping once, until chicken reaches an internal cooking temperature of 165 degrees.

Does chicken go bad if marinated too long?

Yes. Marinating any form of meat for too long causes the actual protein fibers to start to break down, and the meat can get mushy. I wouldn’t marinate anything longer than 48 hours, and usually no longer than 24.

Does marinating chicken overnight make a difference?

It might not make a huge difference in the tenderness or texture of the chicken, but it usually will in flavor.

More easy Chicken Recipes

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Delicious, easy, and quick to prepare, my Lemon Soy Marinated Chicken Breasts make a great dinner for the whole family.

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Lemon Soy Marinated Chicken Breasts

4.65 stars average

Liz Della Croce

Lean chicken breasts are marinated in a lemon-soy marinade then grilled or broiled until tender and juicy.

PREP: 35

COOK: 15

TOTAL: 50

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4

Ingredients

▢ 4 chicken breasts (about 6 ounces each)
▢ ¼ cup soy sauce (low sodium)
▢ 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
▢ 3 cloves garlic (grated)
▢ ¼ cup lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
▢ Toasted sesame seeds (optional garnish )

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a large zip-lock bag and marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or as long as you wish.
4 chicken breasts, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 3 cloves garlic, 1/4 cup lemon juice
Grill or broil on medium-high heat until chicken breasts are fully cooked, about 4-5 minutes per side.
Garnish with toasted sesame seeds.
Toasted sesame seeds
Leftovers taste great in sandwiches or on salads.

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Nutrition

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Hi, I’m Liz!

Hey there, I’m Liz Della Croce and I’m thrilled to have you here! My aim is to motivate and ignite your passion for cooking amazing meals for your loved ones. I believe in the power of real, wholesome ingredients that are bursting with flavor and won’t break the bank. Whether it’s a traditional Lebanese recipe from my family or a culinary creation from across the globe, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover that nutritious food can be exciting, affordable, and easy to prepare.

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4.65 from 118 votes (116 ratings without comment)

2 responses to “Lemon Soy Marinated Chicken Breasts”

Barbara

Favorite chicken recipe ever! So tender, so flavorful, so easy! Broiling after tenderizing is perfect!
Bon appétit!

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Leigh

Tender and full of flavor! I loved the flavors and tenderness of the chicken the next day. I used the chicken in soup the next day after cutting it into small thing strips. Thank you for sharing this recipe!

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