Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs Recipe

Lemon pepper grilled chicken is a simple and flavourful recipe that is made with a handful of ingredients like fresh lemon juice, black pepper, chicken thighs, olive oil and salt. The fresh lemon adds a bright citrus flavour and garlic, black pepper gives the chicken a delicious taste. Enjoy this grilled chicken with rice, salad, roasted vegetables, pasta or even with roti for an easy and filling meal. 

Lemon Pepper Chicken

This chicken dish can be made in a jiffy, Just few ingredients for the marination but it really packs tons of flavour from the pepper, garlic and lemon juice. So good when it hits the hot grill and the heat does the magic. Taste best when served hot.

Jump to:

• About Lemon pepper grilled chicken
• Ingredients
• Step by Step Pictures
• Expert Tips
• FAQ 
• 📖 Get Recipe

If you love the flavour of lemon and pepper, then try these recipes like pan fried lemon garlic chicken, lemon chicken, greek lemon chicken, pepper chicken as well. 

About Lemon pepper grilled chicken

Lemon pepper Grilled chicken is an easy recipe where the chicken is marinated in a simple mix of fresh lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt and black pepper. It has simple marination but the taste is just perfect together.

The secret to the recipe is allowing the chicken to marinate for a few hours so it can absorb all the flavours before it hits the grill. As the chicken cooks on the grill, it develops a charred exterior and moist chicken.

It is great for quick dinners, weekend family barbecues or healthy meal prep for the week. Serve it with rice, roasted vegetables, pasta, salad.

Similar Recipes

• Pepper Chicken Recipe
• Grilled Potato Sandwich Recipe
• Grilled Vegetable Masala Sandwich Recipe
• Grilled Chicken Wrap Recipe
• Easy Chicken Fry Recipe

I like to switch up the marinate every time I make. I add red pepper flakes, fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme to the chicken, chilli powder to make spicy grilled chicken.

This recipe is so customizable that even if you don't have a grill, you can easily cook it in tawa, air fry or bake it in the oven. Also this dish is great for meal prep, you can make a big batch of the grilled chicken and store in fridge.

Ingredients

• Boneless skinless chicken thighs : I have used chicken thighs for this recipe. You can also use chicken breast, chicken leg pieces, and wings if preferred. Just adjust the cooking time as needed. 
• Olive oil : Olive oil keeps the chicken moist and creates a light golden colour when grilled. 
• Lemon juice : Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds a bright, tangy flavour and also helps to tenderize the meat. 
• Freshly crushed black pepper : Freshly crushed pepper is the key ingredient that gives this recipe its classic pepper taste. 
• Garlic grated : Freshly grated garlic adds a rich aroma and savoury flavour to the marinade.
• Salt : Salt enhances the overall flavour of the chicken and brings all the marinade ingredients together. 

Step by Step Pictures

1)Start by making the marinate. Take olive oil in a bowl.

2)Pour in lemon juice. Make sure to use freshly squeezed lemon juice.

3)Add freshly ground black pepper.

4)Sprinkle salt over the lemon juice.

5)add in grated garlic. You can use garlic paste as well.

6)Mix this well. Taste and adjust the seasoning, lemon juice at this point.

7)Now add in chicken in to this marinate and toss well to coat. Leave this to marinate for 2 hours or overnight in fridge.

8)Now heat a grill pan on hight heat. or outdoor grill till smoking hot. Now place the chicken on the hot grill. Cook on medium high heat for 7 to 9 minutes.

9)Now flip it over and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes on low medium heat. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach about 170°C. Once it is cooked, remove the chicken from pan and let it rest for 10 minutes.

10)Now serve hot with some salad or fries.

11)Juicy chicken is ready to serve.

Expert Tips

• Let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours for best flavour and texture. This gives the chicken enough time to absorb all the flavors and make it even more juicy and tasty. 
• Make sure to use freshly crushed black pepper instead of pre ground pepper. It gives a strong aroma and rich flavour. 
• For an extra burst of flavour, squeeze fresh lemon juice and sprinkle a little black pepper over the chicken after grilling. 
• You can also add cayenne pepper, red chilli flakes, thyme, rosemary or parsley for flavour variation. 
• If the chicken pieces stick to the grill, let it cook for another few minutes. Once it is properly seared, it will release easily. 
• Once the grilling is done, brush some melted butter before serving.

Serving and Storage

Let the leftover grilled chicken cool completely before storing. Transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for 2 to 4 days. Reheat them in the microwave so the chicken stays juicy and doesn't dry out. 

FAQ 

Q. How long should I marinate the chicken ? 

Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours for the best flavour and juicy texture. 

Q. Can I use chicken breast instead of chicken thighs ?

Yes, chicken breast also works well and turns juicy when cooked properly on the grill. 

Q. How do I know when the chicken is done ? 

Check the chicken with a thermometer and it should reach 170 degree celsius when fully cooked. 

Q. Can I bake or air fry this instead of grilling ? 

Absolutely ! You can bake or air fry at 180 degree celsius. Flip the chicken pieces halfway through the cooking and ensure the chicken is completely cooked.

📖 Get Recipe

If you have any questions not covered in this post and if you need help, leave me a comment or mail me @aarthi198689@gmail.com and I'll help as soon as I can.

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook,Pinterest ,Youtube and Twitter for more Yummy Tummy inspiration.

IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE OR ANYTHING FROM YUMMY TUMMY, MAKE SURE TO POST IT AND TAG ME SO I CAN SEE ALL OF YOUR CREATIONS!! #YUMMYTUMMYAARTHI AND @YUMMYTUMMYAARTHI ON INSTAGRAM!

More Chicken Recipes