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Mustard, Garlic, Lime Marinated Chicken Breasts

posted by Liz Berg on June 29, 2021 (updated 11/3/22)

These Mustard, Garlic, Lime Marinated Chicken Breasts will rock your world. Tender and flavorful, you’ll want to grill this spectacular chicken all summer long!

This is seriously the BEST chicken marinade. The results are juicy and outrageously tasty! Add this recipe for the perfect marinated chicken breasts for grilling to your menu ASAP.

A sliced chicken breast on a white dinner plate with asparagus.

Table of Contents hide

1 Why You Must Make

2 How to Marinate Chicken

3 Expert Tips

4 Frequently Asked Questions

5 You May Also Like:

6 Mustard, Garlic, Lime Marinated Chicken Breasts Recipe

Why You Must Make

This easy chicken marinade infuses delicious flavor into your chicken.
It adds moisture so lessens the chance of dry chicken.
It’s super easy to make, but you do need to allow 6 hours for the marinade to infuse into the meat.

I admit I’m a bit of a food snob. I pore over the bell peppers at the market, looking for the most vibrant, unblemished option. I search out fragrant berries and open the packages one by one to find the most perfect, unmarred fruit. I’m sure the produce folks roll their eyes when they see me coming.

When I added these mustard, garlic, lime-marinated chicken breasts to our dinner menu, I was picky about the meat I chose. After picking out the best quality chicken within your budget, using the best chicken marinade is key. My family loved this simple combination of lime, mustards, brown sugar, and cider vinegar. And I loved how easy it was to throw together!

Overhead view of marinated chicken and sides on a white dinner plate with a fork and lime wedges.

How to Marinate Chicken

First, mix together the marinade ingredients and add to a large Ziploc bag.
Add the thawed chicken breasts to the bag.
Next, remove any excess air, seal the bag and agitate it to coat the chicken thoroughly.
Pop the bag into the fridge to soak up the delicious flavors for about 6 hours, flipping at least once.
This marinade mixture of cider vinegar, lime juice, Dijon and grainy mustard, garlic, brown sugar, olive oil plus salt and pepper had 6 hours to infuse into the chicken before I lit our charcoal grill.
Any longer than 6 hours and the acid in the marinade can start to break down the proteins in the chicken. It won’t be a disaster if you go over the 6 hours, but leaving your boneless chicken in the marinade for a few days is not advised. Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts are a bit hardier.
Grill until the internal temperature reaches 160º. I prefer to pull it off at 150º, cover it with foil for 10 minutes so the juices can be reabsorbed and the carryover heat brings the temperature up those last 10º.
Either method is fine. The goal is to cook the chicken to the temperature that will kill any bacteria that could cause food poisoning.

Expert Tips

First up, buy good quality chicken. I go to my meat market where they trim the boneless skinless chicken breasts so they’re ready to go. You can also purchase organic chicken breasts at the grocery store at the meat counter or prepackaged out of the case, but make sure to check the expiration date. Fresher is better.
Brining or marinating chicken allows for flavors to infuse into the chicken meat by the process of osmosis. Remember high school chemistry? Or have you tried to forget?! Anyway, soaking your chicken in a flavorful marinade will help tenderize as well as add lovely flavor nuances.
PRO-Tip: Check your marinade for these components: Acid, like citrus juice or vinegar, will tenderize by breaking down the protein fibers. Oil, but not too much, or your fire will flare up, will keep the chicken moist! Flavorful Ingredients and Aromatics, like mustard, garlic, onions, shallots, herbs, will help take your chicken from ordinary to extraordinary. Salt or salty liquids like soy sauce or Worcestershire are needed for the osmosis process! Soy sauce and Worcestershire also contribute umami, also known as the 5th or savory category of taste. Salt is a known flavor enhancer, too.
PRO-Tip: Beef, pork, and lamb can handle a longer marinating time. Chicken only needs about 6 hours and seafood much less.
Bring your chicken out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before grilling to take the chill off. The chicken will cook more evenly if not icy cold. If using a gas grill, preheat to medium, about 425º.
Because of the oil and bit of sugar in the marinade, your chicken can char or fire flare-up easily. Indirect heat works best, especially with a charcoal fire where you can’t just turn down the heat.
With a charcoal grill, have the coals to one side so the chicken can be cooked over the less fiery area.
Cook your chicken to an internal temperature of about 160º as there will be some carryover cooking time.
Let the grilled chicken rest under foil for 5-10 minutes, then serve! Such an easy, delicious option for our evening meal!

2 chicken breasts on a dinner plate with asparagus spears and a bamboo handle fork.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Marinate Chicken?

Yes! Though a simple dusting of salt and pepper is delicious, using a marinade helps infuse flavor into your chicken and keep it moist.

What Does Marinating Chicken Do?

Marinating is a simple technique of soaking food in a seasoned liquid. Through the process of osmosis, this process both infuses flavors into your meat and tenderizes the tougher cuts.

Can You Freeze Marinating Chicken?

Yes, but freeze immediately after placing the chicken and the marinade in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag, sealing and agitating to coat each piece. This will prevent the marinating process from starting until you are ready to defrost and cook the chicken.
You can store your marinated, uncooked chicken in the freezer for up to 6 months.