Grilled Lemon Chicken

Juicy chicken marinated in a zesty lemon blend and grilled to perfection. This recipe features a whole chicken cut into pieces and marinated in a mixture of fresh lemon, oil, and seasonings for maximum flavor.

8 servings

9 hr 21 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•1 tablespoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
•½ cup fresh lemon juice
•½ cup vegetable oil
•1 whole large egg
•1 tablespoon salt
•1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
•¼ teaspoon white pepper
•1 whole chicken
•8 pieces chicken pieces

Cooking Instructions

1.
Combine all ingredients except chicken in a blender and blend until emulsified.
5 min
2.
Put chicken pieces in a nonreactive bowl or dish or a large sealable plastic bag. Add marinade and turn chicken once or twice to coat. Marinate, covered and chilled, at least 8 hours. Bring chicken to room temperature 30 minutes before grilling and discard marinade.
480 min
3.
Open vents on bottom of grill and on lid. Light a large chimney starter of charcoal (80 to 100 briquettes). Leaving about one quarter of grill free of charcoal, bank lit charcoal across rest of grill so that coals are about 3 times higher on opposite side.
20 min
4.
When charcoal turns grayish white (about 15 to 20 minutes) and you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds, sear chicken on lightly oiled grill rack over coals, uncovered, turning occasionally, until browned, 4 to 8 minutes total. Move chicken to side of grill with no coals underneath and cook, covered with lid, turning occasionally, until just cooked through, about 12 minutes for wings, 18 to 20 minutes for breasts, and 20 to28 minutes for dark meat. Transfer chicken as cooked to a platter.
28 min
5.
Preheat all burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then adjust heat to moderately high. Sear chicken on lightly oiled grill rack, uncovered, turning over once, until well browned, 4 to 8 minutes total. Turn off 1 burner (middle burner if there are 3) and arrange chicken on rack above shut-off burner. Cook, covered with lid and turning over occasionally, until just cooked through, about 12 minutes for wings, 18 to 20 minutes for breasts, and 20 to 28 minutes for dark meat. Transfer chicken as cooked to a platter.
28 min

Cooking Instructions

Combine all ingredients except chicken in a blender and blend until emulsified.

5 min

Put chicken pieces in a nonreactive bowl or dish or a large sealable plastic bag. Add marinade and turn chicken once or twice to coat. Marinate, covered and chilled, at least 8 hours. Bring chicken to room temperature 30 minutes before grilling and discard marinade.

480 min

Open vents on bottom of grill and on lid. Light a large chimney starter of charcoal (80 to 100 briquettes). Leaving about one quarter of grill free of charcoal, bank lit charcoal across rest of grill so that coals are about 3 times higher on opposite side.

20 min

When charcoal turns grayish white (about 15 to 20 minutes) and you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds, sear chicken on lightly oiled grill rack over coals, uncovered, turning occasionally, until browned, 4 to 8 minutes total. Move chicken to side of grill with no coals underneath and cook, covered with lid, turning occasionally, until just cooked through, about 12 minutes for wings, 18 to 20 minutes for breasts, and 20 to28 minutes for dark meat. Transfer chicken as cooked to a platter.

28 min

Preheat all burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then adjust heat to moderately high. Sear chicken on lightly oiled grill rack, uncovered, turning over once, until well browned, 4 to 8 minutes total. Turn off 1 burner (middle burner if there are 3) and arrange chicken on rack above shut-off burner. Cook, covered with lid and turning over occasionally, until just cooked through, about 12 minutes for wings, 18 to 20 minutes for breasts, and 20 to 28 minutes for dark meat. Transfer chicken as cooked to a platter.

28 min