Easy Lemon Garlic Chicken Breasts

One of my friends was recently asking me for some easy weeknight dinner ideas.

I described a few of the things I usually make--like these Easy Lemon Garlic Chicken Breasts, but when she asked me for a link to the exact recipe, I realized I didn't have it.

These are the kinds of dishes that I usually just throw together and then eat without taking the time to photograph or write down. But I know that a lot of you might find them useful, so I'm trying to be better about that.

This recipe is one we eat a lot at home, and it was designed to meet some super basic dinnertime requirements, meaning that it's quick, low-carb, and doesn't leave us with a sink full of dishes.

The trick to this chicken is the easy marinade--all the ingredients go right in the blender jar and are pureed until smooth. Then I pour them into a big tupperware container to which I add thin chicken breasts. If you do this the same day you come home from the grocery store, you can then just pull out the chicken and pop it onto a hot skillet or grill pan.

Throw together a salad while the chicken grills, and dinner is ready in less than 15 minutes, with basically NO mess!

Want more easy dinner recipes? Click here for my 24 Easiest Ever Dinner Recipes.

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Easy Lemon Garlic Grilled Chicken Breasts
Serves 4

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds thin-cut chicken breasts or cutlets
3 large garlic cloves
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
Zest and juice of 1 whole large lemon
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions
Place chicken breasts in a large zipped gallon-size bag or a tupperware container with a lid.

Combine garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, lemon juice and zest, and olive oil in a blender and puree until smooth. Pour marinade over the chicken and toss to coat. Seal and marinate in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to 48 hours.

(Tip: You can also freeze the raw chicken in the marinade and pull out for cooking at a later date.)

When ready to cook, heat a heavy skillet or grill pan (I love this one from Calphalon!) over medium-high heat. Drizzle with 1-2 teaspoons of oil or cooking spray, and cook chicken, about 3-4 minutes per side, until fully cooked. Remove to a serving platter and let rest 2 minutes before serving.

Serve alongside salad greens or your favorite vegetable side dish.