Description
How to make Key West grilled chicken with tropical citrus marinade and island spices that brings vacation vibes to your backyard grill.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to even thickness
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Tropical Citrus Marinade
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 green onion, sliced thin
Instructions
- Prep Chicken: Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then pound to even 3/4-inch thickness. This ensures uniform cooking and helps the marinade penetrate deeply for maximum flavor.
- Make Marinade: Whisk together orange juice, lime juice, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, honey, soy sauce, and all spices. The mixture should smell like vacation in a bowl.
- Marinate Chicken: Place chicken in a zip-top bag with marinade for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours. Don’t go longer or the acids will make it mushy.
- Preheat Grill: Heat grill to medium-high heat and oil the grates well. You want those beautiful grill marks without the chicken sticking and tearing when you flip it.
- Grill Chicken: Remove chicken from marinade and grill 6-7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Don’t move it too early or you’ll lose those crispy edges.
- Rest and Serve: Let chicken rest 5 minutes before slicing to keep all those juices locked in. Garnish with fresh cilantro and green onions for that perfect tropical finish.
Notes
- Don’t marinate longer than 4 hours or the citrus will break down the chicken texture.
- Reserve extra marinade before adding raw chicken to use as a sauce after boiling.
- Pound chicken to even thickness for uniform cooking and better marinade absorption.
- Let chicken rest 5 minutes after grilling to retain all the juices.
- Store leftovers refrigerated up to 4 days; flavors improve overnight.
- Grill over medium-high heat to get good sear without burning the sugars.
Allergy Information: Soy
Nutrition
- Calories: 285 calories
- Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Protein: 35g