The Best Greek Chicken Marinade - Mokslo Naujienos.LT

This Greek Chicken Marinade is one of the easiest and tastiest ways to impart flavor into chicken. Made with a handful of simple ingredients, this marinade recipe guarantees your chicken is juicy, tender, and full of flavor.

Looking for more flavorful recipes for marinated chicken? Try out my recipes for Chicken Pineapple Kabobs, Honey Lime Chicken Fajitas, Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, or Chicken Shawarma.

Cooked marinated Greek chicken on wooden cutting board topped with fresh parsley.

Turinys

Our Favorite Chicken Marinade

Chicken, specifically boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, is a staple you will always find in my freezer. It is lean, high in protein, and fast-cooking.

But let’s be real for a minute. Chicken can be boring. It can be dry. It can be tough.

Well, you can say good-bye to dried-out, lack-luster chicken with this Greek Chicken Marinade recipe!

Made with Greek yogurt, fresh lemon juice, and Greek seasoning, this marinade tenderizes the chicken and imparts a Mediterranean flavor to the lean protein, resulting in Greek Chicken that is so flavorful it can stand on its own. But don’t let me stop you from using it to make a Chicken Gyro or adding it to a Tossed Greek Salad or Mediterranean Couscous! So good!

Greek Marinade Ingredients

Ingredients for Greek marinade on counter.

Even though this chicken marinade is made with a handful of simple ingredients, each one has been carefully selected to ensure your chicken achieves optimum flavor.

Greek Yogurt: Yogurt works much like buttermilk does in a marinade. The yogurt breaks down the proteins in the chicken, which helps the chicken become tender and absorb the added Greek seasoning. For best results, use plain, unsweetened Greek-style yogurt.
Lemon: Both the zest and the juice of lemons are used in this marinade. The lemon juice will help to add flavor and work along with the yogurt to tenderize the chicken.
Seasoning: Using a combination of homemade Greek seasoning and kosher salt will add the optimum flavor. If you don’t have Greek seasoning on hand, I have provided modifications using simply dried oregano.

What Type of Chicken is Best to Marinate?

I love using this Greek Chicken Marinade to impart big flavor to boneless, skinless breasts or thighs. That said, this Greek Marinade is great for any type of chicken you have on hand. In fact, it is even a delicious marinade suitable for fish, pork, or vegetables.

How to Make Greek Chicken Marinade

It couldn’t be easier to make this marinade! Simply combine the yogurt, lemon zest, juice, and seasonings together. Easy-peasy!

Greek yogurt, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt in mixing bowl with lemons in background.

How to Use this Greek Chicken Marinade

While you will find the full instructions in the recipe card for making the marinade, marinating the chicken, and cooking the marinated Greek chicken, the following tips will help you achieve perfect results.

Thoroughly Coat the Chicken in the Marinade. To ensure every bite of the chicken is fully seasoned, you want to made sure that the chicken pieces are fully submerged in the marinade. I recommend using a heavy-duty resealable storage bag or shallow dish. Pour prepared Greek marinade over the chicken and toss to coat.
Marinate No Longer than 4 Hours. While you want to let the chicken sit in the marinade in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, be sure not to leave in the marinade longer than 4 hours. After 4 hours, the acid from the lemon and the yogurt work to break down the fibers of the protein in the chicken and can cause the chicken to have a spongy texture.
Discard the Marinade. After marinating the chicken, do not be tempted to save the marinade to baste the chicken as it coats, as this can lead to food poisoning.
Cook Chicken to 165 degrees F. Regardless of the cooking method, you only cook the chicken until it reaches 165 degrees F. This will ensure the chicken is fully cooked, yet not dried out.
Rest for 10 minutes. It is best to let the chicken rest for 10 minutes after cooking so that the juices will redistribute through the chicken and it will remain juicy and tender.

Greek marinade poured over chicken in freezer-safe bag with lemons in background.

How to Freeze Chicken in this Greek Chicken Marinade

Place two pounds of chicken into a large freezer-safe storage bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken, tightly seal the bag, toss to coat, and freeze immediately for up to 1 month. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight and plan to cook the chicken within 24 hours of placing the frozen chicken in the refrigerator.

More Flavorful Chicken Recipes

If you enjoyed this easy Greek Chicken Marinade, I would love for you to leave a comment and a review below.

Greek Chicken Marinade

This Greek Chicken Marinade transforms chicken into flavorful, juicy, tender Greek Chicken with minimal effort.

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 29kcal

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Instructions

In a mixing bowl or cup, combine the yogurt, 1-½ tablespoon of Greek seasoning and ½ kosher salt.
Zest the lemon and add to the yogurt mixture. Once the lemon has been zested, roll it on the counter to get the juices flowing and then cut it open, juicing the lemon over the yogurt mixture, using a strainer or juicer to catch the seeds. Mix together until the yogurt mixture is well combined.
Place two pounds of chicken into a large storage bag and pour the marinade over the chicken. Seal the bag and use your hands to massage the marinade into the chicken. Alternatively, place the chicken and marinade in a shallow container and toss to coat.
Place the chicken into the refrigerator and let the chicken marinate anywhere from 30 minutes, but NO LONGER than 4 hours before cooking.
When ready to cook the marinated chicken, remove the chicken from the marinade, discard the marinade and cook until the chicken reaches 165℉. Rest for 10 minutes, and then serve.

Cooking Marinated Greek Chicken Instructions

To Grill Chicken: Grill over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes per side for chicken breast, 8-10 minutes for chicken thighs or drumsticks, or until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 degrees. Let rest for 10 minutes before eating.
To Bake Chicken: Preheat oven to 400℉. Place marinated chicken in a baking dish and bake for 15-20 minutes for chicken breast, 35-40 minutes for thighs or drumsticks. Let rest for 10 minutes before eating.
To Pan Fry Chicken: Heat one tablespoon olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Once very hot, remove chicken from marinade, scraping off excess marinade (so it will not splatter in oil). Cook until browned one side (3-4 minutes for breast, 5-7 minutes for chicken thigh or drumstick.) Turn chicken over, cover, and reduce heat to medium. Cook for approximately 6-8 more minutes (depending on thickness and cut of chicken), or until chicken is cooked to 165 degrees. Let rest for 10 minutes before eating.

Notes

Nutrition values are based on the marinade alone.
Greek Seasoning: In place of the Greek seasoning, use 1 tablespoon oregano and increase the kosher salt to 1 tablespoon.
Freeze Chicken in Marinade: Place two pounds of chicken into a large freezer-safe storage bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken, tightly seal the bag, toss to coat, and freeze immediately for up to 1 month. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight and plan to cook the chicken within 24 hours of placing the frozen chicken in the refrigerator.