Greek Chicken Marinade

Name: Greek Chicken Marinade
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 5.3 ounce tub of plain Greek Yogurt, ((I use Chobani)); 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil ((if you have a flavored olive oil, use it!)); 6 cloves fresh garlic, (minced); ½ Tablespoon dried oregano; 1 lemon, ((juice and zest)); ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper; ¼ cup fresh chopped parsley; 4 lbs boneless and skinless chicken thighs and drumsticks

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This Greek chicken marinade contains savory flavors of oregano, fresh garlic, parsley, and lemon. It produces the most flavorful and tender chicken you'll ever taste! And, it only takes 5 minutes to prep!

Greek Marinated Chicken in a white bowl, lemon zest on top.

This Greek chicken marinade is out-of-this world delicious! Full of mediterranean ingredients, this Greek chicken marinade is made with Greek yogurt which aids in tenderizing the meat. It's nice and thick so it does a good job coating each piece.

Similar to my steak marinade, this is my "go-to" chicken marinade because it's super tasty, easy to make, and produces incredibly tender chicken! Every bite is packed with flavor!

And while I have some other amazing recipes like my air fryer chicken thighs and this brown sugar garlic chicken, this Greek chicken marinade is perfect for when you want juicy and flavorful chicken on the grill!

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ℹ️ Why This Recipe Works
🛒 Ingredients You'll Need
📋 Variations
🔪 Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
🙋 Recipe FAQs
💭 Expert Tips
🍗 More Chicken Recipes
Greek Chicken Marinade

ℹ️ Why This Recipe Works

1. Easy Prep: We all need a little easy in our life and this Greek chicken marinade is fast and easy to make. It only takes 5 minutes!

2. Healthy: Since it's made with Greek yogurt, it's full of protein. There's also a lot of nutritional value in the olive oil, fresh parsley, and fresh garlic.

3. Tender and Juicy: The ingredients used to make this marinade contain healthy fat from the olive oil and acidity from the fresh lemon juice which helps break down the fibers in the meat resulting in the most tender and juicy meat!

🛒 Ingredients You'll Need

Chicken, lemon, greek yogurt, salt, pepper, oregano and parsley on a table.

Chicken - use pieces such as breasts, thighs, and drumsticks.
Olive Oil - a key ingredient in the marinade that also has a high smoke point which helps when grilling.
Oregano - adds that Greek flavor to the marinade.
Greek Yogurt - a thick coating that helps tenderize the meat and adds moisture. Use plain Greek yogurt.
Garlic - pairs well with the oregano and to the Greek flavor. It also helps tenderize the meat.
Lemon - fresh squeezed lemon juice helps break down the fibers in the meat by allowing the oil and herbs to penetrate giving it intense flavor and moisture. The zest also adds a lot of extra flavor to the marinade.
Parsley - has a fresh and mildly peppery flavor
Salt - use a coarse salt such as kosher or sea salt. It's a flavor enhancer.
Pepper - use coarse ground pepper. It's also a flavor enhancer.

Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions!

📋 Variations

Types of Chicken - this Greek chicken marinade works great with chicken breasts, thighs, and drumsticks. I find that using either boneless skinless or bone-in skin on thighs or drumsticks work best because the dark meat provides so much flavor.
Olive Oil - using a flavored olive oil adds a depth of flavor. Any kind of flavored olive oil, such as lemon, rosemary, or garlic infused olive oil work great. The flavor really makes the flavor "pop" when it's going through the marinating process. It makes the flavor that much more intense. Avoid using extra virgin olive oil as it has a robust flavor and a lower smoke point. Avocado oil can also be used as a substitute.
Salt and Pepper - while any salt and pepper work well, try using a coarse version. It helps enhance the flavor and texture. White pepper also works well.
Additional Herbs & Seasonings - try adding in dry basil and dill to bring out more Greek flavors in this marinade.

🔪 Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

Step 1: Start by mincing the garlic cloves and finely chopping the fresh parsley. Step 2: Put the garlic, plain Greek yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, pepper, chopped parsley, dried oregano, and olive oil into a big mixing bowl. Using a spatula, mix until well combined.

Greek Marinade containing garlic, greek yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, parsley, oregano, garlic, olive and salt in a white bowl.

Step 3: Put each piece of meat in a large gallon Ziplock bag. Pour the marinade into the bag so that it covers each piece. The marinade should be thick and full of amazing flavor! Make sure to get ALL of it into the baggie by scraping the bowl with a spatula.

👩‍🍳 Expert Tip: Instead of using a plastic baggie, you have the option to marinate the meat in a glass container with a lid.

Greek marinade being poured into a Ziplock baggie of chicken.

Step 4: Seal the bag and move the pieces around so that each piece is well coated with the marinade. Place the Ziplock baggie onto a plate and put it in the refrigerator. Marinate for a minimum of 6 hours, preferably 24.

Greek marinated chicken marinating in a Ziplock baggie sitting on a white marble table, red and white gingham napkin on table.

Step 5: Remove each piece of chicken from the Ziplock bag after it has had enough time to marinate. Discard the bag of marinade and place each piece on a large plate.

Greek marinated chicken sitting on a white plate, red and white gingham napkin on table.

Step 6: Start the grill and let it get very hot, around 400°F. Once hot, put each piece of chicken directly on the grill racks. Sear on one side for 3-5 minutes before flipping it over.

4 pieces of Greek marinated chicken on the grill.

When you flip the meat over, you'll see those gorgeous grill marks on each piece. FLAVOR I tell you...FULL of amazing flavor!

4 pieces of Greek marinated chicken rilling on the grill, grill marks on chicken.

👩‍🍳 Expert Tip: Chicken breasts, thighs, and drumsticks are considered done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Cook time is just a gauge so make sure to use a digital meat thermometer to ensure the meat is done before removing it from the grill.

Once done, remove the chicken from the grill and serve immediately. This Greek chicken marinade makes the most delicious chicken that's perfect for any weeknight dinner!

It also pairs with just about any side dish you can think of! Try pairing it with these homemade mashed potatoes, oven roasted vegetables, grilled corn on the cob, or rice pilaf!

8 pieces of grilled chicken thighs and legs in a brown bowl sitting on a red and white napkin, topped with lemon zest.

🙋 Recipe FAQs

Can I make this chicken in the oven?

Yes! If you don't have access to an outdoor grill, you can easily oven grill the chicken by using the broiler in your oven. Drumsticks and thighs take about 40 to 50 minutes to oven grill. Breasts take around 25-30 minutes. You can also oven bake the chicken in the oven on 350°F for 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the meat.

How long should I marinate the chicken in the greek chicken marinade?

For best results, marinate the meat for at least 6 hours, but preferably overnight.

💭 Expert Tips

Avoid reusing marinade that has been used to marinate chicken. It contains bacteria that can cause health issues.
When grilling drumsticks, it's recommended to grill them for 8-12 minutes on each side. When the drumsticks are done, the meat will start to slightly pull back from the bone.
I always top my grilled Greek chicken with fresh lemon zest. It helps intensify the flavor in every bite and let me tell you, every bite is FULL of garlic and just the right amount of lemon flavor. It's just beyond delicious!
Want those grill marks and char? Turn up the fire toward the end of the grill and turn each piece of chicken over once. Watch it closely so it doesn't burn or overcook. To get those char marks, it's all in your grilling technique. Just like smoking meat, grilling also has an art to it.
Store any leftovers in a container with a lid in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven at 300°F until warmed all the way through.

🍗 More Chicken Recipes

If you tried this Greek Chicken Marinade recipe or any other recipes on my website, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below. I love hearing from you! And, please leave a 🌟 rating while you're there!

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Recipe source: inspired by Budget Bytes