Greek chicken marinade (with yogurt)

Greek chicken marinade with yogurt might be just what you needed to simplify your weeknight dinner. Tender and juicy chicken is just bursting with Mediterranean flavors. Done in no time.

This Geek chicken recipe is easily one of the best ones on this blog. Marinated in Greek yogurt, fresh lemon juice, and dried oregano, this recipe is as easy to make as it is delicious.

Greek chicken marinade with yogurt

Ingredients for Greek chicken marinade

When I said that this Greek chicken recipe is easy to make I did not lie. A couple of simple ingredients and the cooking time is all separates you from an easy weeknight dinner. To marinate the chicken you will need:

• Greek yogurt, I prefer to buy organic if possible.
• Lemon juice, fresh is always the best.
• Dried oregano. You of course can use fresh herbs if you have them on hand. I just wanted to make this recipe as easy and accessible as possible. Fresh oregano, basil, thyme, or fresh parsley are all great options.
• Extra virgin olive oil.
• Fresh garlic cloves.

See the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below.

What chicken to use

This flavorful marinade goes well with any cut of chicken.

If you are like me and prefer dark meat, boneless chicken thighs are your best option.

If you rather eat white chicken meat, choose boneless chicken breasts.

You can also use bone-in skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks, just keep in mind that the cuts with a bone in them will need to be cooked a bit longer.

Boneless skinless chicken thighs will be a little less moist because the skin provides some extra fat to the meat while cooking.

How to make Greek chicken marinade

I am always a bit curious why people use store-bought marinades. Making your homemade marinade is so easy. Simply combine all the ingredients in a large bowl. It is done. No preservatives, thickeners, or flavors are added, all just fresh, natural ingredients. Just like my teriyaki marinade as well.

How long to marinate the chicken

The chicken meat obviously absorbs the flavor for the entire time it is marinated. I recommend marinating the chicken for at least an hour. It is a great idea to marinate it the night before and store it in the fridge ready to cook the next day.

You can also freeze the marinated chicken in a freezer-safe, airtight container or a Ziplock bag. Defrost it naturally in the fridge during the day. You will have perfectly marinated chicken ready to be cooked.

How to cook the Greek chicken

Depending on your kitchen set up you have two options on how to cook the Greek chicken.

Oven baked Greek chicken

The easiest and fastest way to cook this Greek chicken is to bake it in the oven.

• Place the marinated chicken pieces onto a baking tray, lined with some parchment paper.
• Bake for approximately 30 minutes at 360’F (180’C) or until the chicken is fully cooked. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Cooking Greek chicken on a grill or a grill pan.

If you enjoy outdoor cooking, this Greek marinated chicken will taste fantastic when cooked on a grill. The smokiness of a grill adds some amazing flavor to the meat and will make the chicken skin extra crispy, and who doesn’t like crispy skin, right?

• Heat up your grill and cook the chicken for 15 to 20 minutes turning a couple of times.

By the way, if your grill is fired up already, why not make my SUPER QUICK GRILLED ZUCCHINI SLICES, they will go perfectly together with this Greek style chicken.

How do I know the chicken is cooked through?

The cooking time given here is only a guide. The size of chicken pieces can vary significantly and so will the cooking time. I like using a meat thermometer to make sure the chicken is cooked.

• Cook chicken thighs for 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reached 170 degrees F (75’C).
• The chicken breast will need 20 to 25 minutes or until the internal temperature has reached 160-165 degrees Fahrenheit (70’C)

Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes and serve.

How to serve Greek marinated chicken

There are so many options for how to serve this delicious marinated chicken. The simplest way is just to serve it with a large fresh Greek salad.

But if you have a little more time, here are a couple of my favorite side dishes to go with the Greek chicken.

You can also make a Greek bowl, by serving the chicken over freshly cooked rice with some kalamata olives, red onions, and feta cheese. Oh, and don’t forget tzatziki, for some extra Greek flavors! This is such a fun and easy weeknight dinner idea that the whole family enjoys.

I hope this easy recipe will become your new family favorite and you enjoy it as much as we did.

If you made this recipe, give me a star rating and leave a comment below. I love hearing from you!