Description
This grilled chicken breast recipe produces the juiciest results imaginable. The secret lies in a special marinating technique that incorporates water to keep the meat succulent, inspired by traditional culinary methods.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless chicken breasts (with or without skin)
- 1/3–1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Step: Pound the chicken breast on both sides with the back of a heavy knife or meat mallet, rotating the chicken 90° to create a crosshatch pattern to loosen the meat fibers.
- Step: Place chicken in a large bowl and gradually add water, a few tablespoons at a time, massaging it into the meat until it stops absorbing the liquid; this should take about 10 minutes.
- Step: Prepare the marinade by mixing the finely chopped fresh thyme, oregano, minced garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper into the bowl with the chicken.
- Step: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the mixture for at least 8 hours, preferably overnight.
- Step: Remove chicken from the refrigerator 1 hour before cooking, then preheat your grill to a hot temperature (400-500°F/200-260°C).
- Step: If using skin-on chicken, place skin side down on the grill, using any leftover marinade to baste the meat.
- Step: Grill for 6-8 minutes total (3-4 minutes per side), rotating once to achieve grill marks, and use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches 160°F.
- Step: Remove from the grill and let the chicken rest under an overturned plate or foil for 5-10 minutes, during which time it will rise to 165°F before serving.
Notes
Total time includes 12 hours of marinating time. The addition of water to the marinade ensures the chicken remains incredibly moist during the high-heat grilling process.
- Prep Time: PT20M
- Cook Time: PT10M
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 breast
- Calories: 296 kcal
- Sugar: 0.1 g
- Sodium: 509 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 73 mg