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Grilled Mediterranean Chicken Breasts

Written By: Byron | November 14, 2023
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Slices of grilled Mediterranean chicken breast sit in a bowl with some salad.

Juicy grilled Mediterranean chicken breasts cooked to perfection with a delicious (and easy to make) marinade made with a few simple pantry staples. This no-fuss recipe uses a marinade made with fresh lemon, paprika, garlic, oregano, extra virgin olive oil, and plenty of fresh parsley to flavor the breast meat. 

This recipe is ideal for weeknight dinners and can be made in under 1 hour, although for best results leave your chicken to marinate for at least a few hours to soak up the flavors. Cook your marinated chicken breasts on a grill or in a skillet for around 5 minutes per side, and you’ll have juicy tender chicken breasts grilled to perfection and oozing with flavor that’ll transport your tastebuds straight to the Mediterranean. 

 

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Serving:

Main for 2

Ready in:

50 minutes

Skill level:

Very easy

Serve with:

Rice, salad, veg

A bowl of uncooked chicken breasts sits beside some fresh lemons, garlic, spices, and olive oil.

How to Make Grilled Mediterranean Chicken Breasts

Ingredients (serves 2)

Equipment needed

Method

Step 1 – Marinate Chicken

  • Turn the chicken breasts over and cut several incisions into the meat (around ½  inch deep). This helps the meat absorb the marinade and also aids with cooking. 
  • Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix well to ensure the herbs and spices are evenly covered over the chicken breasts. 
  • Marinate for at least 30 minutes (a few hours or even overnight is ideal)

Step 2 – Grill Chicken

  • Grill chicken for around 5 minutes per side or until your chicken is cooked through. 
  • Set aside for 10 minutes before slicing. 

Cooking notes: If the chicken breast meat is more than 1 inch/2.5 cm thick, allow extra cooking time on each side. Your chicken is fully cooked once it has reached an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C (you can use a meat thermometer to check).

 Watch step-by-step recipe video

If you’re looking for this recipe’s video and many other great recipe ideas, why not check out our Spanish Radish YouTube Channel? We’ve got everything from quick and easy tapas recipes, delicious main meals, and incredible Spanish dessert options too.

Mediterranean Chicken Breast 

Chicken is a popular choice for many here in Spain, and throughout the greater Mediterranean area, with each country having its own unique offering of chicken recipes. Here at Spanish Radish HQ, we love a good chicken recipe, and we have made plenty of chicken thigh recipes, but this chicken breast recipe is just as easy to make, and just as tasty! 

Mediterranean Herbs and Spices Used

This quick and easy recipe uses herbs and spices commonly found in the Mediterranean diet. Freshly crushed garlic, good quality extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and a simple selection of spices really help to create a fresh, juicy, and just slightly charred chicken breast on the outside.  

The spices we used were paprika, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and white pepper. We opted for sweet paprika, but you could use smoked paprika to enhance the smoky flavors of the dish.

Best Grill to Use

The beauty of this recipe is it can be cooked outdoors on the grill (or BBQ) or indoors in a pan/skillet or on an electric griddle. We opted for a large Electric Griddle (as you can see in the video) as it cooks over the entire surface evenly. 

If you’re using a pan or skillet, a heavy-bottomed skillet (such as a cast iron skillet) will work best. Remember, these types of skillets do take longer to heat up, so give them a few minutes to get to the desired temperature before you start grilling. Once hot, chicken breast around an inch (2.5 cm) thick should cook for around 5 minutes per side on medium-high heat.

Serving suggestions

This recipe is a great main with plenty of protein and served with your choice of grain (rice, couscous) and some fresh vegetables it makes a well-balanced meal. We suggest using this grilled chicken breast recipe to make a Mediterranean rice bowl (see pictures).

Here are a few more serving suggestions:

FAQs

How long does this chicken breast recipe take to make?

  • Prep time: 5 minutes
  • Marinate time: 30 minutes (minimum, we suggest overnight)
  • Cook time: Approx 10-15 minutes (depending on breast thickness)
  • Total time: 50 minutes

What temperature to set your electric griddle?

Use a medium-high heat source when you are cooking chicken thighs. When using an electric griddle, set it to around 150°C/302°F. That will be around the medium-high heat setting on induction hobs. 

Is chicken breast meat healthier than chicken thighs?

Chicken breast meat is considered leaner compared to chicken thigh meat. Chicken breast meat is also packed with protein.

Slices of grilled Mediterranean chicken breast sit in a bowl with some salad.
Slices of grilled Mediterranean chicken breast sit in a bowl with some salad.

Grilled Mediterranean Chicken Breasts

Byron
Juicy grilled Mediterranean chicken breasts cooked to perfection with a delicious (and easy to make) marinade made with a few simple pantry staples. This no-fuss recipe uses a marinade made with fresh lemon, paprika, garlic, oregano, extra virgin olive oil, and plenty of fresh parsley to flavor the breast meat.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
marinating time 30 minutes
Total Time 49 minutes
Course dinner, Main Course, meat
Cuisine Authentic Spanish recipe, Mediterranean, Spain
Servings 2 main
Calories 483 kcal

Equipment

  • Medium-sized bowl (for marinating)
  • Pan/skillet, BBQ, or electric griddle

Ingredients

  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
  • 1 lemon juice only
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves crushed
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon white pepper
  • Small handful of fresh parsley chopped fine

Instructions
 

Step 1 - Marinate Chicken

  • Turn the chicken breasts over and cut several incisions into the meat (around ½ inch deep). This helps the meat absorb the marinade and also aids with cooking.
    2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
  • Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix well to ensure the herbs and spices are evenly covered over the chicken breasts.
    1 lemon, 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 3 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon sweet paprika, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon white pepper, Small handful of fresh parsley
  • Marinate for at least 30 minutes (a few hours or even overnight is ideal)

Step 2 - Grill Chicken

  • Grill chicken for around 5-7 minutes per side or until your chicken is cooked through.
  • Set aside for 10 minutes before slicing.

Video

Notes

Cooking notes: If the chicken breast meat is more than 1 inch/2.5 cm thick, allow extra cooking time on each side. Your chicken is fully cooked once it has reached an internal temperature of 65°F/74°C (you can use a meat thermometer to check).
Keyword 1 hours recipe, chicken, Chicken breast, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, lemon, Marinade, mediterranean, mediterranean cuisine, Mediterranean marinade, spices
Slices of grilled Mediterranean chicken breast sit in a bowl with some salad.

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