By Becky Hardin
Published Jun 3, 2023
This Grilled Chicken Breast is the perfect weeknight dinner! We’re making the best chicken marinade, made with red wine vinegar, garlic, and fresh herbs. It’s simple to make, and leads to the juiciest, most flavorful grilled chicken.
What’s in this Marinated Grilled Chicken recipe?
You only need a few ingredients to whip up the best marinade for grilling chicken. And there are only a couple of quick steps in this recipe, so it will be the juiciest, easiest dinner you make all week!
- Chicken Breasts: This recipe uses skinless, boneless chicken breasts. But you can use this marinade on other cuts of chicken too.
- Garlic: I use 4 cloves, but you can use a little more if you really love garlic.
- Red Wine Vinegar: This is our acidic component for the chicken marinade, which helps to tenderize the chicken. It also has a deliciously tangy flavor. Some common substitutes include sherry vinegar, or a mix of white wine vinegar with red cooking wine.
- Fresh Herbs : I used a mix of rosemary, thyme, parsley, and basil, but you can switch out some of the herbs as needed. I recommend fresh herbs for the most potency.
- Olive Oil: EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) works best for marinating chicken, because it’s more flavorful.
- Salt & Pepper: Just a dash to taste. Freshly ground pepper and kosher salt work best.
If the chicken breasts are too thick or uneven, you can either cut them in half, or even them out with a meat pounder.
What else can I add to this chicken breast marinade for grilling?
You can definitely make some variations to this grilled chicken breast marinade. Whether you need to use substitutions, skip the ingredients you’re missing, or add something different to adjust the flavor, marinades are the simplest thing to adjust.
- Use balsamic vinegar instead of red wine vinegar for a deeper, sweeter flavor.
- Change up the herbs . Try adding oregano, sage, or tarragon. If you use dried or ground herbs instead of fresh, increase the amount for better potency.
- Add in some fresh ginger for a tangy and fiery kick.
- To make this chicken marinade spicy , add red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
- Squeeze in some lemon or lime juice for a brighter, zestier flavor.
- If you’re looking for a slightly different marinated chicken breast recipe, try this grilled teriyaki chicken or this tequila lime chicken .
Your grill should be set at 450-500°F.
The key to juicy grilled chicken is high heat. This cooks the chicken quickly without drying out the inside. Plus the marinating time helps a lot.
That’s up to personal preference. I recommend it because pounded chicken breasts will cook more evenly.
To prevent chicken breasts from sticking to the grill, spray your grill grates with nonstick spray.
Yes, if you have a grill pan, you can make grilled chicken on the stovetop. Heat your grill pan over medium-high heat, then sear the chicken for 5-8 minutes per side, or until 165°F internally.
I recommend marinating chicken breasts for 2-8 hours. You can marinate for as little as 30 minutes if you’re short on time, but 2 hours will infuse more flavor. Any longer than 8 hours, and the chicken may get soggy or mushy.
Yes, you can use this marinade for breasts, grilled thighs , drumsticks, or wings. The best substitute for this grilled chicken breast recipe is boneless, skinless thighs. Keep in mind that they may take a few extra minutes to cook.
Because this grilled chicken marinade contains vinegar (an acidic ingredient), it will break down the chicken over time. That’s exactly what we want when marinating, but if you marinate too long, it will become mushy. Stick to about 8 hours, and definitely don’t marinate for more than 24 hours.
How to Marinate Chicken Ahead of Time
If you’re making this grilled marinated chicken for a weeknight dinner, I recommend marinading the chicken breast in the morning (it only takes a few minutes), and letting it sit in the fridge while you’re at work, so that it’s ready to grill as soon as you get home.
You can also freeze uncooked chicken breasts directly in the marinade (perfect for meal prepping ), in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Defrost before grilling (it will marinate as it thaws).
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat Marinated Grilled Chicken
Store leftover grilled chicken breasts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat on the grill, or in a 300°F oven, for 8-10 minutes, until 165°F internally.
Freeze leftovers in an airtight container or resealable bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
What to Serve with Grilled Marinated Chicken Breast
This simple, juicy chicken breast goes with any and all side dishes. It’s healthy and flavorful, so you really can’t go wrong with this for dinner. Serve it with roasted Brussels sprouts , grilled asparagus , parmesan roasted potatoes , or sautéed vegetables .
More Grilled Chicken Recipes:
- Grilled Chicken Thighs
- Beer Can Chicken
- Grilled BBQ Chicken
- Smoked Chicken Breast
- California Grilled Chicken
- All Grilled Chicken Recipes
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ▢ ¼ cup olive oil
- ▢ 4 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ ⅓ cup red wine vinegar
- ▢ ½ cup finely chopped fresh herbs like parsley, rosemary, thyme, and basil
- ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Video
Instructions
- Check the thickness of your chicken breasts. If needed, slice the chicken breasts in half to create thinner pieces, or place the breasts between parchment paper or plastic wrap and pound them to an even thinness. 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Whisk the oil, garlic, vinegar, herbs, salt, and pepper together, and pour into a sealable plastic bag or large dish. ¼ cup olive oil, 4 cloves garlic, ⅓ cup red wine vinegar, ½ cup finely chopped fresh herbs, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Add the chicken to the plastic bag or dish and marinate for 2-8 hours.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (450-500°F).
- Place the chicken on the grill and cook for around 10 minutes total, flipping the chicken halfway through.
- Ensure the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F before serving.
Equipment
- Grill or Indoor Grill Pan
- Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Becky’s Tips
- Allow the chicken to marinate for 2-8 hours. Any longer and the chicken may become mushy.
- Note that all grills are different, so cooking times are approximate. I recommend having an instant-read thermometer on hand for the best results.
- Your chicken breasts will continue to cook for a few minutes after you take them off the grill, so you can remove them when they reach 160°F internally.
- Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting into it. This will seal in the juices.
- Slice grilled chicken against the grain. This keeps the meat tender.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Chicken Recipes We Love
Chicken recipes happen to be our specialty. We pride ourselves on being experts at the easiest, juiciest, and best chicken recipes on the internet. Which one will you try first?
- Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
- Crockpot Chicken Breast
- Chicken Tacos
- Chicken Soup
- Baked Chicken Wings
- Oven Fried Chicken
- Breaded Chicken Thighs
- See all of our Chicken Recipes !
Grilled Chicken with an Easy Marinade
Equipment
- Grill or Indoor Grill Pan
- Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ⅓ cup red wine vinegar
- ½ cup finely chopped fresh herbs like parsley, rosemary, thyme, and basil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Check the thickness of your chicken breasts. If needed, slice the chicken breasts in half to create thinner pieces, or place the breasts between parchment paper or plastic wrap and pound them to an even thinness. 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Whisk the oil, garlic, vinegar, herbs, salt, and pepper together, and pour into a sealable plastic bag or large dish. ¼ cup olive oil, 4 cloves garlic, ⅓ cup red wine vinegar, ½ cup finely chopped fresh herbs, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Add the chicken to the plastic bag or dish and marinate for 2-8 hours.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (450-500°F).
- Place the chicken on the grill and cook for around 10 minutes total, flipping the chicken halfway through.
- Ensure the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F before serving.
Video
Notes
- Allow the chicken to marinate for 2-8 hours. Any longer and the chicken may become mushy.
- Note that all grills are different, so cooking times are approximate. I recommend having an instant-read thermometer on hand for the best results.
- Your chicken breasts will continue to cook for a few minutes after you take them off the grill, so you can remove them when they reach 160°F internally.
- Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting into it. This will seal in the juices.
- Slice grilled chicken against the grain. This keeps the meat tender.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
