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5 from 1 vote

LEMON BASIL GRILLED CHICKEN

The chicken is best if it’s marinated a day ahead. I’ve added a lemon basil butter recipe to serve with the chicken after it’s grilled but feel free to leave it out if you don’t want the extra calories; the chicken is delicious without it. The nutritional information includes the lemon basil butter and shows the nutritional information for 1 chicken thigh.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time16 minutes
MARINADE TIME8 hours
Total Time8 hours 31 minutes
Course: Main Course
Servings: 8
Calories: 228kcal
Author: Lovoni

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric
  • 1 cup basil leaves, chopped, plus fresh leaves for garnish
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest, cut up the lemon into wedges when it’s been zested
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons white sugar
  • 6 garlic cloves, crushed or finely grated
  • 8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs
  • 1 or 2 lemons, thickly sliced, optional
LEMON BASIL BUTTER (optional)
  • 1 stick butter, softened 1/2 cup/113g
  • 3 tablespoons finely chopped basil
  • 2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
  • 2 garlic cloves finely grated

Instructions

To make the lemon basil butter:

  • Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl. Scrape the mixture out onto a piece of parchment or waxed paper. Roll up the butter mixture into a log shape about 6 inches (15cms). Chill for 2 hours or overnight.
  • Combine basil, oil, zest, seasoning, sugar and garlic in a medium bowl. Add the chicken and the lemon wedges and stir to make sure the chicken is well coated. Cover and place in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours. Or put it in a re-sealable bag.
  • Preheat a grill to high. Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade. Cook the chicken on a greased grill for about 8 minutes per side until the chicken is tender and cooked thoroughly. Cook the lemon sliced on the grill for a few minutes each side until grill marks appear. Place the chicken on a platter.
  • Cut the butter log into 8 slices and top each piece of chicken with the butter (optional). Garnish with the lemon slices and extra basil leaves if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 228kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 103mg | Potassium: 316mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 185IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg