grilled chicken with garlic, lime, and sesame marinade

I have had so much fun grilling this summer that I am a little sad at the thought of letting our grill sit dormant all winter long. I’ve entertained thoughts of becoming “that crazy neighbor” who bundles up and charges outside in the freezing winter temperatures with a full tank of propane and a plate of burgers to grill. As long as my scarf doesn’t catch on fire I’ll live to tell the tale.

To finish the summer grilling season off well, I present to you a simple yet delicious chicken marinade. It’s incredibly easy to throw together; really the only “work” required is a little bit of planning so the chicken can marinade overnight (or at least all day). It’s not a flashy, decades old family BBQ recipe handed down as prized heirloom- that will (hopefully) come later when I finally convince my dad to spill the beans. I use this in my regular rotation- either for just Patrick and I on a weeknight or dressed up with garnishes for company. It’s a consistent and mouth-watering favorite around our house with savory umami flavoring (thank you Worcestershire, onion powder, and soy sauce) and a zesty kick from the lime, garlic, and cayenne. Happy labor day weekend everyone, and happy grilling!

GRILLED CHICKEN MARINADE WITH GARLIC, LIME, AND SESAME

marinade:
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon lime zest
1/4 cup chopped green onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup toasted sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
1/4 cup Worcestershire
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
1 tablespoon honey

meat: 2- 2.5 lbs chicken breasts (about 4-5 medium breasts)

garnish (optional):
toasted sesame seeds
green onion

Whisk all marinade ingredients together in a medium bowl. Lay the chicken breasts in a baking dish and pour the marinade evenly over the chicken. Cover the dish with foil and place in the refrigerator. Let the chicken marinade overnight (ideally), or at least for 6-8 hours. Flip the chicken over approximately halfway through it’s marinating process.

After marinating, grill the chicken at 400F for 10 min each side, check that middles are no longer pink and juices run clear. Serve sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds and green onion.