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Greek Marinated Chicken in a white bowl, lemon zest on top.
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4.94 from 58 votes

Greek Chicken Marinade

Hands down, this is the most flavorful and juiciest chicken recipe I've ever tasted! And the secret is in the marinade! This Greek chicken marinade contains savory flavors of oregano, fresh garlic, parsley, and lemon. And, it only takes 5 minutes to prep!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: dinner
Cuisine: Greek
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 309kcal
Author: Amanda Mason

Equipment

  • Grill

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

Instructions

  • To make the marinade, combine 1 container of Greek yogurt, 6 minced garlic cloves, ½ teaspoon of dried oregano, juice of 1 lemon, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon of pepper, ¼ cup of chopped parsley in a large bowl. Stir well.
  • Use a cheese grater or zester to scrape a thin layer of lemon zest from half the lemon. Add lemon zest to the bowl of marinade ingredients.
  • Add the chicken pieces and marinade to a large plastic baggie or glass dish. Move each piece around to ensure all are well coated.
  • Refrigerate the the meat in the marinade for at least 6 hours.
    Expert Tip: I like to marinate it overnight. The longer the marinade, the more flavorful!
  • 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. The meat will be done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  • Once done, remove the chicken from the grill. Top with fresh grated lemon zest and serve immediately.

Video

Notes

    • If you don't have access to an outdoor grill, you can easily make this in the oven. However, it does taste best grilled. Bake in the oven on 350°F for 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the meat.
    • When grilling drumsticks, it's recommended to grill the 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 the 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 over once. Watch it closely so it doesn't burn or overcook. To get those char marks, it's all in your grilling technique. 

Nutrition

Calories: 309kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 215mg | Sodium: 348mg | Potassium: 588mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 63IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 2mg