Get my tips for how to grill chicken thighs perfectly, plus some fantastic sides and salads to serve along for the ideal summer barbecue. This grilled chicken recipe is one of the most popular ones on the site, and for good reason: juicy grilled chicken thighs, covered in a bold Mediterranean marinade, and served with an herby Greek yogurt sauce that will have you coming back for more.
This Mediterranean grilled chicken recipe has been a go-to for cookouts for a while now; in fact, it’s one of the best chicken recipes!
Since chicken thighs are so juicy and tender, grilling them is really difficult to get wrong, but when they are marinated in lots of garlic, warm Mediterranean spices, citrus, and olive oil, the flavor is on another level.
If you’re not a fan of dill, you can totally make a tzatziki sauce in its place. I love serving this grilled chicken with a side of thick and creamy Greek yogurt sauce with a good dose of fresh dill. Add a salad or throw some vegetables on the grill to complete this ideal Mediterranean chicken dinner!
- In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, rosemary, oregano, thyme, cayenne, minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and red wine vinegar.
- Place the chicken breasts in a large zip top bag. …
- Preheat an indoor or outdoor grill to medium high heat. …
- Serve immediately, garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
Grilled Greek Chicken – Garlic, Lemon & Herb Grilled Chicken Recipe
30 Healthy Easy Chicken Recipes | THE BEST Greek Chicken Marinade 🔗
This garlic, lemon, and oregano Greek marinade can be used for chicken that’s grilled, baked or pan-fried and is great any which way you choose.
Prep: 5min
Total: 50min
Serving Size: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts: calories 307 kcal, Carbohydrate 14 g, Protein 25 g, Fat 19 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Cholesterol 109 mg, Sodium 692 mg, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 3 g, servingSize 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 1 pound boneless (, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 large breasts))
- ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 4 lemons
- 4-5 cloves garlic (, pressed or minced)
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instruction:
- Place the chicken pieces in a freezer bag or a bowl and set aside.
- Add the Greek yogurt and olive oil to a medium size bowl. Zest one of the lemons and add to the bowl. Juice that lemon into the bowl with the zest. Slice the other three lemons and set aside. Add the minced garlic, oregano, kosher salt and black pepper to the lemon juice and zest and stir. Pour half of the marinade into the freezer bag or the bowl with the chicken pieces and reserve the other half of the marinade for basting. Marinate the chicken for 30 minutes or up to 3 hours in the refrigerator.
- When ready to grill, prepare the grill by lightly oiling the grate with vegetable oil or cooking spray and set to medium high heat.
- Grill the chicken, basting with the reserved marinade and turning often so each side browns and has light grill marks, until cooked through, about 15-20 minutes or until the chicken juices run clear. During the last 5 minutes of cooking add the 3 sliced lemons to the grill, turning once or twice. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serve with the grilled lemons. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.
FAQ
What does Greek yogurt do to chicken?
Because it adds flavor, keeps the chicken moist while cooking, and tenderizes the chicken even before cooking, a Greek yogurt marinade is ideal for chicken breasts.
What is Greek chicken made of?
Greek chicken is a flavorful, simple dish that involves marinating tender pieces of chicken breast or thighs in oregano, lemon, and garlic before skewering and grilling them to perfection.
How long can chicken marinate in lemon juice?
Anytime you use lemon juice or another acidic ingredient in a marinade, you can’t let it marinate for more than 2-3 hours, and you definitely shouldn’t marinate anything for more than 3 hours.
How long should you marinate chicken?
When learning how to marinate chicken, use the following guidelines as a general guide: Boneless chicken: 30 minutes to 2 hours; bone-in chicken breasts, drumsticks, wings, or thighs: 1 to 12 hours.