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5-Minute Grilled Chicken Cutlets With Rosemary, Garlic, and Lemon Recipe

The Food Lab

Unraveling the mysteries of home cooking through science.

J. Kenji López-Alt
5-Minute Grilled Chicken Cutlets With Rosemary, Garlic, and Lemon Recipe

Hot and juicy, flavor-packed grilled chicken that takes just five minutes to cook. [Photographs: J. Kenji López-Alt]

Even I have days in which I've spent far too long in front of a computer screen and realize that I only have half an hour before my wife gets home and it's dinnertime. This right here is the easiest, most foolproof way I know to get a hot grilled chicken dinner on the table in record time. Not only that, but it packs in more flavor than most all-day recipes.

Why It Works

  • A quick marinade performs double duty as a finishing sauce.
  • Cutting the chicken into cutlets makes for record-fast cooking time.
  • Cooking the chicken almost all the way through on one side develops plenty of browned flavor while maintaining juiciness.

Read more: The Food Lab Turbo: Grilled Chicken Cutlets (in 5 Minutes or Less!)

  • Yield:Serves 4
  • Active time: 20 minutes
  • Total time:20 minutes
  • Rated: 4.75

Ingredients

  • 3 medium cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
  • 3 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary
  • 2 tablespoons fresh juice from 2 lemons
  • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (5 to 7 ounces each), cut into 8 cutlets

Directions

  1. 1.

    Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and arrange the coals on one side of the charcoal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Alternatively, set half the burners on a gas grill to the highest heat setting, cover, and preheat for 10 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate.

  2. 2.

    Whisk together garlic, rosemary, lemon juice, and olive oil in a large bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer half of mixture to a separate container and set aside. Add chicken to the large bowl and turn pieces to thoroughly coat.

  3. 3.

    Place chicken directly over the hot side of the grill, cover, and cook, rotating the pieces occasionally (but not flipping them), until the chicken is almost completely cooked through and only a few pink spots remain on the top side, about 4 minutes. Flip chicken and cook on second side until just done, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a serving platter. Re-whisk reserved marinade and pour it over the chicken. Serve immediately.

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The Food Lab Turbo: Grilled Chicken Cutlets (in 5 Minutes or Less!)

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