Best Greek Chicken Marinade

This chicken marinade with Greek yogurt will take your meals to the next level, making every bite super juicy and packed with flavor. With the addition of yogurt and lemon juice, this Greek chicken marinade tenderizes the meat and give it so much flavor.

It’s always a good idea to have a few trustworthy chicken recipes on hand. Whether it’s juicy baked chicken, Greek-style grilled chicken, or a quick skillet chicken recipe, you can easily put together a complete meal with minimal effort, no time, and a couple of simple side dishes.

This chicken marinade using Greek yogurt is my go-to for consistently perfect results. It works beautifully for pan-searing, grilling, or baking chicken, making it incredibly versatile. This marinade recipe is perfect for meal prepping as well, saving you time and effort during busy weeks. Whether you’re preparing a quick family dinner or an impressive meal for guests, this easy Greek chicken marinade is your secret to achieving restaurant-quality flavor.

Recipe Highlights

Cultural Influence: Greek-inspired

Dominant Flavor Profile: Zesty and tangy from lemons, creamy from Greek yogurt, and aromatic with garlic and oregano

Skill Level Required: Beginner-friendly

Why Chicken Marinade Using Greek Yogurt Works

Tender Chicken: Yogurt acts as a natural tenderizer, making the chicken incredibly moist and juicy. I have previously used yogurt in marinades for whole roasted chicken, chicken gyro, and shish tawook.

Great Flavors: This Greek marinade for chicken offers a combination of lemon juice, garlic, and oregano which is hard to beat. I use the same combination to make chicken souvlaki as well.

Bake, Grill, or Sear: Just like my Mediterranean salmon marinade, this Greek marinade recipe can be used with different cooking methods. Once the chicken is marinated, you can bake it in the oven or sear it in a pan. If the weather allows, I recommend grilling it outdoors.

Quick and Easy: Making this chicken marinade with yogurt takes less than 5 minutes to prepare. Even though you can marinate the chicken for 8 hours, it absorbs the flavors and is ready to be cooked after 30 minutes if you’re in a pinch.

Ingredients

Greek yogurt: It tenderizes the chicken and adds a subtle tangy flavor that goes well with the lemon and herbs.

Lemon: Freshly squeezed lemon juice and zest are key for authentic flavor. Avoid bottled lemon juice as it lacks the same brightness and depth.

Garlic: You need 4 to 6 garlic cloves that should be minced or grated using a microplane.

Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil works well in this recipe. I don’t suggest using any other oil because the flavors won’t match.

Spices: Use dried oregano, chili flakes, salt, and pepper.

You can use this Greek marinade for bone-in, skin-on or boneless skinless chicken. My favorite cuts are boneless skinless chicken breasts and thighs.

Ingredient Spotlight: Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is the secret to that super tender chicken! It’s a key ingredient in this marinade that:

Tenderizes the chicken: Unlike harsher acidic marinades, the lactic acid in Greek yogurt gently breaks down the proteins in the chicken, making it very tender without over-softening the texture.

Enhances flavor absorption: Its thick and creamy texture sticks to the chicken, ensuring the marinade’s flavors—including garlic, oregano, and lemon— penetrate deeply into the meat.

Helps with even browning: When cooked, the yogurt caramelizes slightly, creating a beautiful golden crust on the chicken, especially when grilled or baked.

How to Make the Perfect Greek Chicken Marinade

Step 1: Prepare the Marinade with Greek Yogurt

Zest a lemon using a microplane, the slice the lemon in half and squeeze its juice over the chicken. Add in the minced garlic, dried oregano, chili flakes, kosher salt, and black pepper.

Pour in the Greek yogurt and olive oil. Then, use a pair of tongs to thoroughly mix the chicken and coat them in the yogurt marinade.

Step 3: Marinate the Chicken

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid. Refrigerate the marinated chicken for at least 30 minutes, or up to 8 hours for maximum flavor.

Step 4: Cook the Chicken

Remove the chicken from the marinade, let it sit on the counter for 15-20 minutes and cook it using your preferred method, such as grilling, roasting, or pan-searing, until it’s perfectly juicy and cooked.

One Marinade, 4 Cooking Methods

What I love the most about this marinated Greek chicken recipe – besides being extremely easy and quick – is the consistency: it turns out perfectly every time. Here are 3 cooking methods you can choose from:

Grill

Preheat the grill to medium-high and allow the marinated chicken to sit at room temperature on the counter.

Once the grill heats up, place the chicken breasts on the grates and grill for 5-7 minutes on each side. The chicken is ready once the internal temperature registers at 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the chicken and it’s no longer pink inside.

Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 2-4 minutes before slicing.

Roast

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Using tongs, take the chicken pieces out of the marinade and shake them allowing any excess to drip off.

Place the chicken on the baking sheet and roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes until fully cooked.

Pan Sear

Heat a cast iron skillet or a heavy bottom pan over medium-high heat. There is no need to add oil to the pan.

Place the marinated chicken pieces in the pan and sear for 5-8 minutes on one side, undisturbed. Don’t move the chicken around allowing a golden crust to form.

Flip the chicken and sear for 5-8 more minutes until cooked completely.

Air Fry

Once you’re ready to cook, preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F. Using a pair of tongs, shake the chicken pieces so remove the excess marinade and place them in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 20 minutes at 375 degrees F, flipping halfway through until the internal temperature registers at 165 degrees F.

Serving Suggestions

Greek-marinated chicken is incredibly versatile, making it the perfect addition to various dishes. You can also use this Greek-marinated chicken in salads, pasta, rice bowls, sandwiches, wraps, and even paninis.

I love to serve this juicy, flavorful chicken as the star of the meal with roasted vegetables, yellow rice, Greek lemon rice, Greek potatoes, or fresh Mediterranean salad. For a lighter option, pair it with a classic Greek salad.

This marinated chicken also works wonderfully in wraps or sandwiches. Tuck it into freshly baked pita bread with a dollop of tzatziki sauce, shredded lettuce, and sliced onions for a quick and satisfying gyro-inspired meal.

Variations and Substitutes

Chicken Cuts: Swap chicken breasts with chicken thighs, drumsticks, tenders, or wings for juicier, more flavorful results. Adjust cooking times as needed for different cuts.

Garlic: If fresh garlic isn’t available, use 1–2 teaspoons of garlic powder instead.

Spices: You can use other spices such as smoked paprika or dried thyme.

Herbs: Chopped fresh herbs such as fresh parsley or dill add a lot of flavor to the marinade.

How to Store Greek Marinated Chicken

Refrigerator: Store cooked chicken leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat using a microwave or a pan over medium heat for 10-15 minutes.

Freezer: To freeze uncooked marinated chicken, transfer it to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight and cook it using your preferred cooking method.

You can freeze cooked Greek marinated chicken for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw it in the fridge and reheat in a pan over medium heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

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