Perfect Grilled Chicken

Name: Perfect Grilled Chicken
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 3 h 20 min
Yield: 8 serving(s)
Ingredients: 2/3 c. olive oil, plus more for the grill grates; 2 tbsp. honey; 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard; 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt; 3/4 tsp. ground oregano; 3/4 tsp. ground thyme; Juice of 4 lemons; 8 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Make this your go-to grilled chicken recipe for easy meals!

By Ree DrummondPublished: May 17, 2026

Be the first to review!

Jump to recipe

Yields:

8 serving(s)

Prep Time:

25 mins

Total Time:

3 hrs 20 mins

the pioneer woman's perfect grilled chicken recipe

C.W. Newell

Grilled chicken breast is single-handedly the most useful thing you can have on hand for quick meals. Just imagine the possibilities: slice it up and toss it with pasta, cube it for a salad, roll it into a wrap, stack it on a sandwich, or just eat it plain and pure and simple with a few good summer sides. This recipe is perfect for just about any way you want to use it. The marinade adds lots of flavor to the chicken, while keeping it nice and versatile. Just don’t overcook it—dry chicken is against my religion.

What makes this chicken so convenient is that you can make it ahead—a few hours or a few months in advance, depending on your needs (more on that below). You can also halve the recipe if there are just a few of you, or double or even triple it if you have lots of mouths to feed. Even when it’s just Ladd and me, I tend to make the full batch and keep some for later. Like I said: imagine all the ways you can use it!

And if you’re in the mood to switch things up, these grilled chicken recipes and marinated chicken recipes should do the trick.

How long does grilled chicken last in the fridge?

Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, grilled chicken will stay good for up to four days. If you want to store the chicken longer, transfer it to freezer-safe bags and freeze it for up to two months. I like to freeze the chicken in portions of one or two breasts so I can thaw just what I need. Let the chicken thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using or reheating it. This is one of the greatest meal prep recipes known to man.

What’s the best way to reheat grilled chicken without drying it out?

The key is to reheat chicken low and slow. For the juiciest results, place the chicken in a baking dish, add a splash of water or chicken broth, and cover it tightly with foil. Warm it in a 325°F oven until heated through. The little bit of liquid and the foil help keep the chicken moist. If you’re just warming up a piece or two, the microwave works too. Cover the chicken with a damp paper towel and heat it in short bursts.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Ingredients

Directions

1. Step 1In a large shallow container or bowl, mix together the olive oil, honey, mustard, salt, oregano, thyme, and lemon juice.
2. Step 2Working with 1 piece of chicken at a time, place a breast between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and pound with the flat side of a meat mallet, a rolling pin, or a heavy skillet to a uniform thickness. Add the chicken to the marinade and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 8 hours. (Alternatively, mix the marinade in a large measuring cup and marinate the chicken in 2 large zip-top plastic bags.)
3. Step 3Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature while preheating a grill or grill pan to medium high. Oil the grill grates.
4. Step 4Grill the chicken in batches until golden brown on one side, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip and cook until golden brown on the other side and an instant-read thermometer registers 165°F, 4 to 5 minutes more.
5. Step 5Let the chicken rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Or let the chicken cool, transfer to zip-top plastic freezer bags individually or in pairs (so it's easy to defrost the exact amount you need), and freeze for up to 2 months.