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Citrus Chicken Marinade Recipe

Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight Jessica Randhawa
July 12, 2018
4.81 from 241 votes


Last Updated June 18, 2019 | 19 Comments

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This Easy Citrus Chicken Marinade Recipe is fresh, zesty, and bursting with the many happy flavors of summertime. Enjoy this delicious and easy Citrus Marinade Recipe with chicken breasts, thighs, and drumsticks.

Citrus recipes abound on TFS and include Avocado Citrus Chickpea Salad and Citrus Smoked Salmon Salad with Sweet Orange Mustard Vinaigrette.

Citrus Chicken Marinade Recipe

(Originally posted August 25, 2015)

Fact- marinated grilled chicken is better than non-marinated grilled chicken. Actually, just kidding, I don’t know if this can actually be proven. But if my own taste buds count for anything, they tell me that marinated chicken is always better.

Several years ago, after finally purchasing a grill, I decided to start making my own marinades. This Citrus Chicken Marinade Recipe was my very first and it has since remained my summertime favorite. Bursting with ALL THE FLAVOR, I highly recommend eating this chicken on salads, wraps, sandwiches, or with a big fruit salad.

INGREDIENTS IN THIS CITRUS CHICKEN MARINADE

  • Oranges- juice + zest
  • Lemons- juice + zest
  • Limes- juice + zest
  • Garlic
  • Oil
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Sugar
  • Dried rosemary
  • Dried parsley
  • Dried basil

This humble, yet flavorful, chicken marinade is composed of three primary parts- the citrus, the garlic, and the dried herbs. In other words, a magic, winning combination.

TIPS FOR MAKING THE JUCIEST GRILLED CHICKEN

Of course, marinating chicken doesn’t guarantee that it will be juicy. However, there are a few tips and tricks for making the very best grilled chicken possible.

  1. Pound your chicken. In other words, pound it to be flat, and to an even thickness. No, not like a pancake. Chicken breasts are often super fat in the middle and thin on the outside, which makes them a terrible meat to place on a grill when prepared improperly.
  2. Don’t set the heat too high. Medium heat is the goal, aka between 300-450 degrees.
  3. Clean the grates before grilling.
  4. And lube them up a bit since, you know, chicken breasts have virtually no extra fat.
  5. Keep an eye on yo meat. Chicken cooks fast- somewhere between 3-6 minutes per side, depending on thickness. But into the chicken breasts or purchase a digital meat thermometer. Chicken breasts should read 160 degrees.
  6. Finally, don’t forget the citrus chicken marinade 😉

 

jarred citrus and garlic marinade

CHECK OUT THESE OTHER CHICKEN RECIPES

  • Loaded Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad
  • Easy Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce
  • Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Bowls
  • Chicken Molé with Homemade Molé Sauce

chicken breasts in a bag marinating in homemade citrus marinade

grilled citrus and garlic chicken

 

RECIPE CARD

Sliced Citrus Chicken breast on cutting board

Citrus Chicken Marinade Recipe

4.81 from 241 votes
AuthorAuthor: Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa
This Easy Citrus Chicken Marinade is fresh, zesty, and bursting with the many happy flavors of summertime. Enjoy this delicious and easy Citrus Marinade with chicken breasts, thighs, and drumsticks.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course Main Course, Sauce
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 392 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 6 chicken breasts - or thighs
  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice - approx. 2-3 limes
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest - finely grated
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice - approx. 2-3 lemons
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest - finely grated
  • ½ cup fresh orange juice - approx. 2 large oranges
  • 8 cloves garlic - minced
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions
 

  • First, zest one teaspoon of both the lime and lemon.  Set aside in a small bowl.  In another small bowl, combine the fresh lime, lemon and orange juice.  In a blender or food processor, combine all ingredients (yes everything) and pulse until a uniform puree forms.
  • Pour marinade into a large plastic bag (I always double-up just in case of leaks!).  Add chicken, seal bag, and turn to coat.  Allow chicken to marinate for at least 20 minutes, or overnight (be sure to keep chilled in the refrigerator).
  • Once ready, cook according to appropriate cooking time and method (this will vary between thighs and breast).  In our case, we decided to cook our chicken breasts on the grill.
  • For the grill- prepare the grill for direct cooking over medium-high heat (350-450 degrees).  Remove the chicken from the bag and discard remaining marinade.  Grill over direct medium heat with the lid closed until the meat is no longer pink in the middle, 10-15  minutes, turning once (we have fairly thick chicken breasts, so cooking times may vary).  Remove from the grill and allow 3 to 5 minutes for the chicken to rest and cool.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 392kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 144mg | Sodium: 1039mg | Potassium: 915mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 110IU | Vitamin C: 21.7mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg

(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)

Did You Make This Recipe? Tag it Today!Mention @theforkedspoon or tag #theforkedspoon and please leave your star rating in the comment section below.

About Jessica

Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight

Chef Jessica Randhawa leads The Forked Spoon. A world traveler, Jessica developed her passion for culinary arts while adventuring. With her recipes making their way onto renowned platforms such as Women's Health, Daily Mail, Al Jazeera, and Fox News, she's marked her presence in the culinary world. Jessica's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science from the University of California.

2.1K shares
Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight

About Jessica Randhawa

Chef Jessica Randhawa leads The Forked Spoon. A world traveler, Jessica developed her passion for culinary arts while adventuring. With her recipes making their way onto renowned platforms such as Women's Health, Daily Mail, Al Jazeera, and Fox News, she's marked her presence in the culinary world. Jessica's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science from the University of California.

Comments

  1. Rhia Davidson says

    April 9, 2025 at 8:16 am

    5 stars
    Loved this recipe! Thank you! We are now enjoying it on a regular basis and recommend it to friends frequently!!

    Reply
    • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

      April 9, 2025 at 9:36 am

      That’s wonderful to hearโ€”I’m so glad this recipe has become a regular favorite! Thanks for sharing it with your friends, too. That truly means a lot to me. ๐Ÿ˜Š Happy cooking!

      Reply
  2. Summer says

    March 23, 2024 at 5:26 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing! Cooked my peppers in the rest of the marinade and was so wonderful

    Reply
    • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

      March 23, 2024 at 6:16 pm

      I appreciate your amazing feedback, Summer ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  3. B says

    November 9, 2022 at 12:35 pm

    Is it okay to use fresh parsley? I donโ€™t have the dried one

    Reply
    • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

      November 9, 2022 at 12:54 pm

      Yes, that’s fine ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  4. Abigail Brandt says

    September 4, 2022 at 6:35 pm

    5 stars
    I thought I no longer liked chickenโ€ฆbut this recipe changed my mind. Loved itโค๏ธ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป

    Reply
    • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

      September 5, 2022 at 9:18 am

      Thank you for the lovely feedback, Abigail ๐Ÿ˜€

      I am happy my recipe changed your mind.

      If you like this, try my Greek Chicken!

      Reply
  5. Luz says

    March 23, 2021 at 5:55 pm

    Can you use this recipe if you bake it instead of grilling the chicken?

    Reply
    • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

      March 23, 2021 at 7:04 pm

      Yes you can Luz ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Pc says

        March 21, 2023 at 12:20 pm

        Sounds great but I don’t have a grill. What are the baking instructions for boneless breast of chicken?

      • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

        March 21, 2023 at 12:28 pm

        Preheat to 425F. Transfer the chicken to your prepared baking sheet. Cook chicken for approximately 20-22 minutes, or until internal temperature reads 160-165 degrees F with a digital thermometer. Time will vary depending on the thickness of your chicken breast.

  6. LINDA says

    December 30, 2020 at 11:03 am

    5 stars
    6 stars
    also the hint to pound the chicken breasts is a keeper

    Reply
  7. Jesse says

    August 23, 2020 at 12:30 pm

    5 stars
    This is now on our once per month summer list. The whole family looks forward to the day!

    Reply
    • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

      August 23, 2020 at 1:50 pm

      Thats awesome, Jesse, I am honored to be on the list ๐Ÿ˜€

      Reply
  8. Sean says

    June 24, 2020 at 11:12 am

    When did you add the zest? I do not see that step in the marinade.

    Reply
    • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

      June 24, 2020 at 1:38 pm

      Great question Sean. See step 1:

      ”
      In a blender or food processor, combine all ingredients (yes everything) and pulse until a uniform puree forms.
      ”

      The zest gets added with all the ingredients in the blender ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  9. Marie C says

    March 29, 2020 at 4:39 pm

    5 stars
    This was awesome!!! All five of us loved it!

    Reply
    • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

      March 30, 2020 at 8:42 am

      Thanks for the kind feedback Marie ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply

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Recipe Rating




4.81 from 241 votes (235 ratings without comment)

Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight

Welcome to The Forked Spoon! I’m Chef Jessica Randhawa, and for over 14 years, I’ve been crafting and sharing more than 1200 recipes, blending delicious flavors with practical kitchen tips and expert culinary advice to elevate your everyday cooking. Learn more about meโ†’

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