Grilled Back of Chicken with Lemon-Thyme Marinade
Juicy grilled chicken back marinated in a bright lemon and fresh thyme mixture for a flavorful and tender result. This chicken recipe, ready in about 26 minutes, pairs chicken backs, lemon juice, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 290 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4 pieces (about 2 lbs) chicken backs
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 3, minced garlic cloves
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a bowl, combine 1/4 cup lemon juice, 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to create the marinade.
- Step 2: Place 4 chicken backs (about 2 lbs) in a resealable bag or shallow dish and pour marinade over them, ensuring all pieces are coated. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
- Step 3: Preheat grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Remove chicken from marinade and shake off excess.
- Step 4: Grill chicken backs for 6-8 minutes per side, turning once, until internal temperature reaches 165°F and skin is nicely charred.
- Step 5: Remove from grill and rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute.









