This Marinated Citrus Chicken comes together in about 30 minutes and is great for the grill for a quick weeknight dinner that your family will love! Switch up the citrus fruits to suit your taste or use it as a “clean out the fridge” meal to get rid of any leftover veggies lying around. Seriously, it’s that flexible!
Ingredients Breakdown
What You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need to whip up this marinated delight:
- 1 red onion
- 1/2 bell pepper: Use any color you have! It’ll bring a bit of crunch and sweetness to the dish.
- 1/4 bunch parsley
- 6 allspice berries
- 8 tablespoons honey
- 1 1/2 tablespoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/2 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 lemons, juiced
- 3 oranges, juiced
And that’s it! It’s super simple, right?
Making This Marinated Citrus Chicken
Alright, let’s get cooking! Here’s how I make this recipe:
Chop It Up: In a mixing bowl, combine the finely chopped red onion (it should be a lovely purple color by now!), diced bell pepper, chopped parsley, and the allspice berries. Stir it all together until it’s nicely mixed!
Squeeze Those Lemons and Oranges: Now, squeeze the juice from the lemons and oranges into the mixture. Trust me, it smells incredible! Stir it well to combine all the flavors. You’ll want it to be bright and refreshing.
Marinade Time: Pour that lovely marinade all over your chicken (or whatever protein you’re using) in a shallow dish or a resealable bag. Make sure it’s well-coated!
Chill Out: Cover it up and pop it in the fridge to marinate for at least 2 hours, but if you can leave it overnight, even better, more flavor!
Cook It Up: When you’re ready to eat, take out the chicken, toss it on a hot grill (or bake it at 375°F for about 25-30 minutes). Cook it until it’s fully done. You want it to be golden and juicy with a hint of char, yum!

There you go! Enjoy it straight off the grill or let it cool and slice it up for salads or sandwiches. The flavor is just wow!
Why I Love This Recipe
This is my go-to recipe. I mean, who doesn’t love a quick, flavorful meal that will wow the family? Whenever I need a pick-me-up on a busy weeknight, I turn to this comforting dish! It’s truly a family favorite around here. The best part? You can use whatever ingredients you have on hand, so I feel like a culinary ninja getting to clean out the fridge a bit. Plus, if you’re anything like me, you’ll absolutely love its versatility, whatever you’ve got works!
If you loved this Marinated Citrus Chicken, be sure to check out my Puerto Rican Chicken, my Cuban Chicken Fricassee, or my Louisiana Dirty Rice!
Why This Recipe Works
Quick & Easy
This marinated citrus chicken comes together in under 30 minutes of prep! Who doesn’t love that on a busy weeknight? You just whip up the marinade, let it hang out with the chicken, and then grill or bake it. Easy peasy!
Customizable
The beauty of this dish is that you can use whatever ingredients you have. Maybe you’re saving some sad-looking veggies? Toss them in! Fresh herbs? Absolutely! You can adapt this recipe to include whatever yumminess is already in your fridge.
Budget-Friendly
This dish is made with affordable, everyday ingredients that you can usually find at any grocery store. It definitely doesn’t break the bank, and that’s super important when feeding a family!
Make-Ahead Friendly
I love that this recipe is perfect for meal prep, too! You can marinate the chicken a day or two in advance, which means you can just throw it on the grill when you’re ready to eat. It gets even more flavorful when the marinade hangs out with the chicken for a while.
Comfort Food
Honestly, this is comfort food at its best, it’s loaded with tons of flavor, and the citrusy goodness has a way of brightening even the longest days. A bit of sweetness, a touch of zest… it’s everything you could want in a quick weeknight meal!
Serving & Storage Tips
What to Serve With This
This marinated citrus chicken is versatile enough to pair with just about anything! I love it with a fresh green salad, some fluffy rice, or even on a bed of quinoa. You could also serve it with roasted veggies or some grilled corn if you’re feeling fancy!
Storage
Leftovers (if there are any…!) keep really well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Just make sure to store it in an airtight container.
Reheating Instructions
To reheat, I recommend warming it in the oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes or until heated through. You could also toss it back on the grill briefly, just to warm it without overcooking.
Freezer Friendly
Yes, you can freeze this! Just pop the marinated chicken in a freezer bag before cooking and it can last up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat, just thaw it overnight in the fridge before cooking.
Conclusion
There you have it! This Marinated Citrus Chicken is perfect for busy weeknights or those laid-back weekends with family. Each bite is just bursting with flavor and makes my kitchen smell absolutely divine. And hey, if you make it, let me know how it turned out! Enjoy cooking, friends!
This recipe is not only easy to follow, but it’s also a delightful addition to your family’s weekly menu, loaded with flavor, and oh-so-simple to make! Remember, cooking should be an adventure, and this Marinated Citrus Chicken is your perfect companion. Happy cooking! Follow Us in our Pinterest For more Recipes.
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Marinated Citrus Chicken
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten-Free
Description
A quick and easy Marinated Citrus Chicken recipe that’s great for grilling, perfect for busy weeknights!
Ingredients
- 1 red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 bunch parsley, chopped
- 6 allspice berries
- 8 tablespoons honey
- 1 1/2 tablespoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/2 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 lemons, juiced
- 3 oranges, juiced
Instructions
- Chop it up: In a mixing bowl, combine the finely chopped red onion, diced bell pepper, chopped parsley, and allspice berries. Stir it all together until it’s nicely mixed!
- Squeeze those lemons and oranges: Squeeze the juice from the lemons and oranges into the mixture. Stir it well to combine all the flavors.
- Marinade time: Pour that lovely marinade all over your chicken in a shallow dish or RESEALABLE bag. Make sure it’s well-coated!
- Chill out: Cover it up and pop it in the fridge to marinate for at least 120 minutes, preferably overnight.
- Cook it up: When you’re ready to eat, take out the chicken, toss it on a hot grill or bake it at 375°F for 25-30 minutes until fully done.
Notes
Try adding whatever veggies you have on hand to the marinade for added flavor and nutrition.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 65mg



