WW Recipe of the Day: Grilled Lemon Chicken
Spring is in the air. Summer is quickly approaching. So for those of us trying to eat lighter and healthier, that can mean only one thing: Grilled Chicken.
To prevent boredom from setting in here is a roundup of 27 light and luscious low calorie recipes for grilled chicken, from my favorite recipe sites all with Weight Watchers Points Values to help you keep your meals sizzling all summer long.
Favorite Grilled Chicken Recipes for Weight Watchers
If you are like me and prefer to grill indoors with your trusty grill pan (affiliate link) or George Foreman Indoor Grill you are in luck. All of these recipes can be grilled indoors or out. And perfectly okay with grill pans and electric grilling devices that allow me to cook indoors.
Recipe Notes
I'm kicking this collection of grilled chicken recipes off with one of my all time favorites: Ina Garten's Grilled Lemon Chicken from her original The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook.
I've been making this recipe forever, only skinnier. I love Ina and olive oil, but it's pricey in more ways than one. So, if you're watching your pocketbook and/or your Weight Watchers points, do what I do, use a whole lot less.
All you need to do is marinate boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a bowl or zipper-lock plastic bag, let it sit in all that lemon-herb goodness and well, that's pretty much it.
The longer you marinate the chicken in this simple combination of lemon, olive oil and herbs the more tender and flavorful it will be.
How Many Calories and WW Points in this Grilled Chicken?
Now that boneless, skinless chicken breasts are zero points on WW Program, according to my calculations this now only has about 253 calories and:
2 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
1 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
1 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
2 *PointsPlus (Old plan)
To see your WW PPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here! This recipe also will work with the old Weight Watchers Simply Filling technique.
Marinating chicken breasts
Recipe Variations
Different Meats/Fish: Chicken thighs, shrimp, swordfish, halibut, tuna, etc.
Different Spices: Basil, rosemary, tarragon, herbs de provence would be nice.
Zestier: Add Dijon mustard, chopped garlic, dried red pepper flakes.
No Lemon Juice? Substitute ¼ - ½ cup of vinegar for the lemon juice. Red wine vinegar, sherry vinegar, apple cider vinegar, rice wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, etc.
Sweeter? Add a tablespoon or two of your favorite sweetener. Honey or maple syrup are two of my favorites. Your favorite low calorie sweetener - monkfruit, erythritol, sucralose, etc. as would brown or white sugar.
If you've made this Low-Carb Lemon Grilled Chicken, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Skinny Grilled Lemon Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 4 lemons)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts, halved and skin removed (about 8 4-ounce chicken breasts)
Instructions
- Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper and thyme. Pour over the chicken breasts in a non-reactive bowl.
- Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 6 hours or overnight. (Alternatively I place the chicken and marinade in a plastic zipper-lock bag before refrigerating.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry. (Discard the marinade.)
- Heat a grill, broiler or grill pan (affiliate link) and cook the chicken breasts for 5 to 10 minutes on each side (depending on the size and thickness of your chicken breasts), until just cooked through.
- Serve warm, chilled or at room temperature.
Equipment
Recipe Notes
- Different meats/fish: Chicken thighs, shrimp, swordfish, halibut, tuna, etc.
- Different spices: basil, rosemary, tarragon, herbs de provence (affiliate link) would be nice.
- Zestier: add Dijon mustard, chopped garlic, dried red pepper flakes.
Source: adapted from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.
Here's another easy + healthy recipe for grilled lemon chicken:
26 More Skinny Grilled Chicken Recipes from my favorite Weight Watchers sites:
Spicy Grilled Chicken Thighs
(Simple Nourished Living)
176 calories | *5 PointsPlus, *3 Freestyle SmartPoints
WW Grilled Lemon Chicken Breasts with Tarragon
(Simple Nourished Living)
141 calories | *3 PointsPlus | *0 Freestyle SmartPoints
Grilled Chicken Greek Salad
(Simple Nourished Living)
235 calories | *6 PointsPlus | *5 Freestyle SmartPoints
WW Grilled Ginger Lime Chicken
(Simple Nourished Living)
229 calories | *5 PointsPlus | *5 Freestyle SmartPoints
Grilled Chicken Bruschetta
(SkinnyTaste)
282 calories | *7 PointsPlus | *4 Freestyle SmartPoints
Korean Grilled Chicken Breasts
(SkinnyTaste)
180 calories | *3 PointsPlus | *2 Freestyle SmartPoints
Grilled Chicken Tacos with Lettuce Slaw, Avocado and Cotija
(SkinnyTaste)
326 calories | *9 PointsPlus, *8 Freestyle SmartPoints
Honey Balsamic Grilled Chicken and Vegetables
(SkinnyTaste)
273 calories | *7 PointsPlus | *4 Freestyle SmartPoints
Cilantro Grilled Chicken Breasts
(LaaLoosh)
141 calories | *3 PointsPlus | *1 WW Freestyle SmartPoint
Grilled Chicken Kabobs with Red Pepper Cilantro Pesto
(Cookin'Canuck)
213 calories | *6 PointsPlus | *4 Freestyle SmartPoints
Grilled Pesto Chicken and Tomato Kebabs
(SkinnyTaste)
147 calories | *4 PointsPlus | *4 Freestyle SmartPoints
Grilled Chicken Kabobs
(DashingDish)
160 calories | *5 PointsPlus | *4 Freestyle SmartPoints
Grilled Lemon Dijon chicken Skewers
(SkinnyTaste)
164 calories | *4 PointsPlus | *1 Freestyle SmartPoint
Grilled Sriracha Barbecue Chicken
(SlenderKitchen)
210 calories | *5 PointsPlus | *5 Freestyle SmartPoints
Grilled Chicken Pesto Wraps
(Emily Bites)
259 calories | *7 PointsPlus | *5 Freestyle SmartPoints
Honey Soy Parmesan Grilled Chicken
(DashingDish)
191 calories | *5 PointsPlus | *4 Freestyle SmartPoints
Grilled Chicken Tenders with Chipotle Lime Yogurt
(Cookin'Canuck)
180 calories | *4 PointsPlus | *2 Freestyle SmartPoints
Grilled Greek Chicken
(LaaLoosh)
204 calories | *5 PointsPlus | *2 Freestyle SmartPoints
Pesto Grilled Chicken
(SlenderKitchen)
236 calories | *6 PointsPlus | *2 Freestyle SmartPoints
Grilled Chicken Zucchini and Quinoa Salad
(SlenderKitchen)
329 calories | *9 PointsPlus | *7 Freestyle SmartPoints
Yogurt Marinated Grilled Chicken
(HungryGirl)
220 calories | *4 PointsPlus | *0 Freestyle SmartPoints
Grilled Basil Lime Chicken
(SlenderKitchen)
202 calories | *5 PointsPlus | *1 Freestyle SmartPoint
Grilled Tandoori Chicken
(SlenderKitchen)
203 calories | *4 PointsPlus | *1 Freestyle SmartPoint
Thai Chicken Skewers with Peanut Sauce
(EmilyBites)
220 calories | *5 PointsPlus | *1 Freestyle SmartPoint
Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken
(SlenderKitchen)
232 calories | *6 PointsPlus | *4 Freestyle SmartPoints
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
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Terry Dunavant
I would try the Greek Chicken. I love anything with Greek Flavorings. Having the George Forman Grill would really help me. We are season ticket holders to our local AAA Baseball Team the El Paso Chihuahuas. I eat before I go to the games in order not to sabotage the weight I have lost. Also since Ball park food is not very healthy. The grill would help me make quick healthy meals. There are many weeks like this one that we have games 8 days in a row. It is sometimes difficult to make a healthy meal everyday before going to the game. Thank you for all your recipes. I really enjoy making them.
Betty Smith
I would make the grilled honey mustard chicken. I think this would be delicious.
Janette Thompson
Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken. I love honey mustart.
Teresa M. Cook
I would try & will try the Skinny Grilled Chicken. Anything with lemon attached to it is good by me. Lemon perks up the taste of most everything and I am sure it will this chicken in the recipe. There are others that I will try also, but this one first.
Kim
I would try the Grilled Sirracha Barbecue Chicken. You had me at Sirracha. I love spicy food!
Kim
I forgot to comment above about winning the grill. I would like to win this grill because in CT, grilling outside in January is not easy or fun. I had the first George Forman grill when I had my first apartment. I used it often!
Katharine
I will try the Grilled Chicken Tacos. I have never thought to heat my tortilla on the grill.
Matt
It is telling me that I already commented when I didn't and won't let me enter the contest. I would love for the opportunity to win this for my new apartment.
Anne Huthnance
The grilled lemon chicken appeals to me because most of the prep is done in advance and it is so low in Smart Points.
Mariah
I would do the grilled chicken bruschetta! It looks so good!!
Brenda Melahn
I would try Ina's grilled chicken of course ... sounds yummy
Susan
Spicy Grilled chicken thighs, I love thighs and I love spicy! 🙂
Linda Galatas
The Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken. When the kids were young we all loved, as take out food, the chicken tenders with Honey Mustard Dip. Can't wait to try this recipe to serve them when they come over.
Cheryl Hall
Grilled chicken kabobs with red pepper cilantro pesto.
Cathy
I had a George Foreman years ago, but moved and did not take it with me. So miss it, and after seeing everything you can make on it having another one would be great!
Cathy Gogo
I have never BBQ'd and my husband doesn't like to....I've always thought a George Foreman grill would be nice! My favourite is Thai food, so the Chicken Satay with Peanut Butter dipping sauce is one we'd make a lot!