This juicy grilled lemon rooster has at all times been my household’s go-to grilled rooster recipe for summer season. Bursting with recent taste and herbs, the garlicky lemon rooster marinade is fast and simple to make.


In honor of Might Day, I’m marinating juicy rooster with loads of lemon and tossing it onto the grill. Might Day is mainly European Labor Day. One whiff of this garlicky lemon rooster on the grill takes me proper again to our vacation picnics in Macedonia.
My mother would grill this lemon rooster alongside kebapi (kebabs) and eggplant for our Might Day picnic. The celebrations meant all of the grilled meals, shopska salad, and crimson pepper relish we might match into 24 hours. I believe you’re going to like this family-favorite grilled lemon rooster simply as a lot as I do.
The Story Behind This Grilled Lemon Rooster Recipe
- Expend additional lemons. I don’t learn about you, however I’m at all times sitting on a heap of recent lemons within the summertime. This lemon marinade is an effective way to make use of the entire lemon– zest, juice, and slices.
- A recipe on repeat. Now we have this meal twice every week throughout the summer season (alternating with piri piri rooster), and nobody ever complains as a result of it’s past scrumptious. Easy elements and a straightforward cooking methodology make it a go-to.
- Outdoor or indoors. Ever since I bought a grill pan, I’ve been grilling all the things from steak to scallops and lobster on the stovetop! I share tips on how to prepare dinner this lemon rooster on a cast-iron grill pan, too.
5-Star Evaluation
“Completely DELICIOUS! I used a cast-iron skillet. After eradicating the rooster, I made a lemon ‘gravy’ in the identical pan with the drippings, leftover marinade, and rooster inventory, combined with flour. It was so tasty with the rooster and the roasted sliced potatoes/crimson onion I made as a facet.” – Debbie


Lemon Marinade Components
These are the straightforward elements you’ll have to take advantage of unimaginable grilling marinade for rooster. Scroll to the recipe card for the printable recipe with the precise quantities.
- Olive Oil – I want the herby taste of olive oil in marinades. Nevertheless, one other cooking oil, like canola, will work as properly.
- Lemons – Contemporary lemon is a should for this recipe, as you’ll want the juice and zest. Zest the lemons earlier than you juice them. For a milder lemon style, use much less.
- Garlic – Freshly minced. In a pinch, you may substitute every clove with ½ teaspoon of garlic powder or 1 tablespoon of jarred garlic.
- Parsley – Freshly chopped. If you happen to’re utilizing dried herbs, you’ll want about ⅓ the quantity of recent (within the case of this recipe, about 4 teaspoons of dried parsley). If parsley isn’t your factor, go together with thyme, rosemary, or basil.
- Salt and Pepper – Be happy so as to add additional seasonings, like chili flakes, along with salt and pepper in case you’d like. You would even use a mix, like this selfmade rooster seasoning.
Totally different Forms of Rooster
Along with grilled boneless rooster breasts and thighs, you should use this lemon marinade on nearly any rooster you intend on grilling. Strive it on spatchcock rooster, rooster kabobs, or rooster skewers. The primary factor to recollect when marinating totally different cuts is that the cooking instances will fluctuate relying on the dimensions of the rooster and whether or not it’s bone-in.


What to Serve With Lemon Rooster
Mother’s grilled lemon rooster was at all times a spotlight of Might Day, and it’s been on common rotation all through grilling season ever since. The recent, vibrant flavors pair properly with so many meal concepts.
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Marinate the rooster. In a big ziploc bag, mix rooster, olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Seal the bag and shake all of it up till properly mixed. Place the bag within the fridge and marinate for about 4 hours or in a single day.
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Put together the grill. Preheat the grill to about 375ºF to 400ºF. Brush the grill grates with olive oil.
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Grill the rooster. Take away the rooster breasts from the marinade and place them on the recent grill; prepare dinner with out touching the grill till they begin to get grill marks, about 5 minutes.
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Flip. Flip the rooster breasts over, cowl the grill, and allow them to end cooking, about 7 extra minutes, relying on the thickness of the rooster. The rooster is completed when a meat thermometer registers 165 levels Fahrenheit.
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Relaxation the rooster. Take away rooster from grill; cowl and let relaxation for five minutes earlier than chopping and serving.
Grill Pan Directions
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Prep. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease a grill pan with cooking spray and set it over medium-high warmth.
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Sear the rooster. Add the rooster and prepare dinner for 4 minutes; flip, and proceed to prepare dinner for two extra minutes, or till frivolously browned.
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End within the oven. Place the grill pan within the oven and prepare dinner for 18 to twenty minutes or till the rooster is cooked via. Take away from oven and let relaxation 5 to eight minutes earlier than chopping and serving.
- If you don’t want a robust lemon style, use much less lemon zest and fewer lemon juice.
Serving: 1Rooster Breast | Energy: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 24g | Fats: 11g | Saturated Fats: 1g | Ldl cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 133mg | Potassium: 446mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 190IU | Vitamin C: 8.3mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.6mg
Dietary information is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values could fluctuate in keeping with the elements and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
How To Make Grilled Lemon Rooster
I make this grilled rooster recipe with boneless, skinless rooster breasts. You can also make grilled rooster thighs in case you want, with out a lot distinction in cooking time.
- Marinate the rooster. Seal the rooster and marinade elements inside a big ziploc bag. Give {that a} shake so the rooster is evenly coated, after which place the bag into the fridge. I let this rooster marinate for at the least 4 hours, typically in a single day.
- Preheat the grill. Whenever you’re able to prepare dinner the rooster, warmth the grill to 375ºF to 400ºF and grease the grates.
- Grill the rooster. Discard the marinade. Then, place the marinated rooster on the recent grill. Now, this subsequent step is tremendous necessary: Don’t contact it! Let the rooster prepare dinner and char for five minutes.
- Flip. Flip the rooster breasts over. Cowl the grill, and let the rooster end cooking, about 7 extra minutes.
- Relaxation the rooster. When the interior temperature of the rooster reaches 165ºF, take it off the grill. Permit the rooster to relaxation for 5-10 minutes earlier than you narrow it. That is one other necessary step for extra-juicy rooster. That’s it. You’ve finished it, now eat it!
Use a Grill Pan As an alternative
I like my cast-iron grill pan for stovetop grilling. I even purchased one for my mother! When used the appropriate method, a grill pan provides rooster a good looking char just like the outside grill, when grilling outdoor isn’t an possibility. Right here’s my failproof approach that I exploit for good “grilled” rooster, each time:
- Switch the pan to the oven. Subsequent, place the grill pan right into a 350ºF oven and prepare dinner for 18 to twenty minutes. Take a look at that the interior temperature reads 165ºF utilizing an instant-read thermometer.
- Preheat the pan. That is key! Grease an oven-safe grill pan (ideally cast-iron) with cooking spray and set it over medium-high warmth. If the rooster doesn’t sizzle the second it hits the pan, it means the pan isn’t sizzling sufficient.
- Sear the rooster. Add the rooster to the pan. Cook dinner for 4 minutes, flip, and prepare dinner for two extra minutes to get the skin good and browned.


Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Permit the grilled rooster to chill utterly after which retailer it hermetic. Maintain leftovers within the fridge for as much as 4 days. I prefer to serve the leftover lemon rooster chilly over salads!
- Reheat. To heat up leftover rooster, reheat it within the microwave in increments, or you may heat it within the oven at 350ºF till sizzling all through.
