Grilled Lemon-Garlic Chicken with Herb Quinoa Salad
Juicy grilled chicken marinated with lemon and garlic paired with a refreshing herb quinoa salad, perfect for a healthy family dinner. This Mediterranean-inspired Father’s Day recipe (high-protein), ready in about 60 minutes, pairs boneless skinless chicken breasts, lemon juice, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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 (6 oz each) boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped
- 1 medium cucumber, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp lemon zest
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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 medium bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup lemon juice, 4 minced garlic cloves, 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Add 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts and coat thoroughly. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- Step 2: Meanwhile, rinse 1 cup quinoa under cold water. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil, add quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
- Step 3: In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa with 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint, 1 diced medium cucumber, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, and 1/4 cup finely diced red onion. Drizzle with 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil and mix in 1 tsp lemon zest. Toss gently to combine.
- Step 4: Preheat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade and grill for 6-7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
- Step 5: Serve sliced grilled chicken atop the herb quinoa salad for a bright, balanced meal.









