Grilled Chicken with Lemon and Thyme

Name: Grilled Chicken with Lemon and Thyme
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 4 pieces skin-on bone-in chicken breasts; 1 to taste kosher salt and pepper; 2 whole lemons; 4 cloves garlic; 3 sprigs thyme; 1 cup Castelvetrano olives

Succulent grilled chicken breasts marinated with fresh lemon, thyme, and garlic, served with charred lemon slices and Castelvetrano olives. This Mediterranean-inspired dish combines bright citrus flavors with aromatic herbs and briny olives.

4 servings

1 hr 50 min

Published October 4, 2025

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Ingredients

•3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
•4 pieces skin-on bone-in chicken breasts
•1 to taste kosher salt and pepper
•2 whole lemons
•4 cloves garlic
•3 sprigs thyme
•1 cup Castelvetrano olives

Cooking Instructions

1.
Prepare a grill for 2-zone heat (for a gas grill, set one burner to medium-high and one or two burners to low; for a charcoal grill, bank most of the coals on one side). Lightly oil grate. Pat chicken breasts dry; season generously all over with salt and pepper. Place on a rimmed baking sheet; let sit at room temperature at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
45 min
2.
Thinly slice 1 lemon crosswise into rounds; pluck out seeds. Place half of lemon slices in a small bowl. Add garlic and 1 Tbsp. oil and toss to coat; season with salt and pepper. Set remaining lemon slices aside for serving. Slice remaining lemon in half and squeeze juice into another small bowl (you should have about 1/4 cup). Set aside.
10 min
3.
Pat chicken dry again (the salt will have drawn out more moisture) and rub with 2 Tbsp. oil. Grill oiled lemon slices over hot side of grill, turning once, until charred in spots, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Grill chicken on cooler side of grill, skin side down, until skin is browned and starting to crisp, 15-20 minutes. Turn chicken over, cover, and continue to grill until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of breasts registers 160°F, 8-10 minutes longer. If desired, uncover grill, move chicken over to hotter side, and lightly char a minute or two. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 10-15 minutes.
35 min
4.
Pull chicken meat from bones and slice 1/2" thick. Place on a rimmed platter, shingling slices. Scatter thyme sprigs, olives, grilled lemon slices, and reserved fresh lemon slices over. Season with more salt and pepper; drizzle reserved lemon juice and remaining 1/2 cup oil over. Let sit at least 15 minutes and up to 1 hour before serving.
20 min

Grilled Chicken with Lemon and Thyme

4 servings

1 hr 50 min

Published October 4, 2025

Be the first to rate this recipe

Cooking Instructions

Prepare a grill for 2-zone heat (for a gas grill, set one burner to medium-high and one or two burners to low; for a charcoal grill, bank most of the coals on one side). Lightly oil grate. Pat chicken breasts dry; season generously all over with salt and pepper. Place on a rimmed baking sheet; let sit at room temperature at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.

45 min

Thinly slice 1 lemon crosswise into rounds; pluck out seeds. Place half of lemon slices in a small bowl. Add garlic and 1 Tbsp. oil and toss to coat; season with salt and pepper. Set remaining lemon slices aside for serving. Slice remaining lemon in half and squeeze juice into another small bowl (you should have about 1/4 cup). Set aside.

10 min

Pat chicken dry again (the salt will have drawn out more moisture) and rub with 2 Tbsp. oil. Grill oiled lemon slices over hot side of grill, turning once, until charred in spots, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Grill chicken on cooler side of grill, skin side down, until skin is browned and starting to crisp, 15-20 minutes. Turn chicken over, cover, and continue to grill until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of breasts registers 160°F, 8-10 minutes longer. If desired, uncover grill, move chicken over to hotter side, and lightly char a minute or two. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 10-15 minutes.

35 min

Pull chicken meat from bones and slice 1/2" thick. Place on a rimmed platter, shingling slices. Scatter thyme sprigs, olives, grilled lemon slices, and reserved fresh lemon slices over. Season with more salt and pepper; drizzle reserved lemon juice and remaining 1/2 cup oil over. Let sit at least 15 minutes and up to 1 hour before serving.

20 min