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Celebrate fresh Mediterranean flavors with my Greek chicken recipe. Tender chicken breasts are marinated in a lemon and olive oil blend, then grilled until lightly charred and juicy!
Love grilling chicken? Try my grilled chicken tenders, Huli Huli chicken, and grilled chicken wings, and Peri Peri chicken next.
Whenever I need a quick and easy chicken recipe that’s flavorful but fit to feed a crowd, I call on my quick and easy Greek chicken.
The chicken is marinated in a tangy, zesty, herbaceous sauce before being grilled until the exterior is lightly blackened, but the center remains tender and juicy…all with minimal prep.
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- Minimal ingredients, big flavor. This dish gets its flavor not from the number of ingredients used but from the freshness and quality.
- Budget-friendly. Chicken is cheap, and I made sure to use mostly kitchen staples in the marinade.
- Versatile. Have a Greek night and pair it with your favorite Mediterranean sides, or do what I do and toss it on a salad or bed of orzo and call it a day.
- Flexible. I love that I can marinate the chicken for 10 minutes or even overnight, and either way, it’s guaranteed to taste divine.
★★★★★ REVIEW
“Just made this tonight, and it was excellent. Super easy for so much flavor.” – Becky
Ingredients needed
- Chicken breasts. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are best for this recipe. If your chicken breasts are larger, slice them in half and pound them to an even thickness to help them marinate and cook faster.
- Olive oil. The base of the marinade. The oil adds flavor, tenderizes the meat, and prevents the chicken from sticking to the grill.
- Fresh lemon juice and lemon zest. To brighten up the Greek chicken marinade.
- Garlic. I prefer using fresh garlic cloves for the best flavor, though I have used garlic powder in a pinch.
- Oregano. Adds a distinct aromatic, herbaceous element. Thyme or fresh dill can also be used.
- Kosher salt and black pepper. To taste.
- Melted butter. For brushing on the chicken right before serving. It adds flavor and helps tenderize the meat.
- Fresh parsley and lemon slices. For garnish.
How to make Greek chicken
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Marinate. Whisk together the marinade ingredients, add the chicken, and toss to coat. Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes or overnight.
Step 2- Grill. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and brush the grates with oil. Once hot, Grill for 3-4 minutes per side until fully cooked.
Step 3- Rest and serve. Remove the chicken from the grill and rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Arman’s recipe tips
- No grill at home? Sear the marinated chicken in a pan, then bake it at 200C/400F for 18-20 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 165F.
- Use other cuts of chicken. I’ve made this recipe with chicken thighs and drumsticks, and it always turns out great. Just keep in mind other cuts of chicken will cook faster.
- Let the chicken rest. An extra 5-10 minutes of rest helps the juices redistribute so they don’t leak out when you slice the chicken. Trust me, your patience will be rewarded!
- Serve the chicken with extra marinade. So it adds even more flavor and moistens the chicken.
- Leftovers? Save them to make Greek chicken gyros alongside some of my garlic yogurt sauce!
What to serve with this dish
For Greek-inspired sides, serve it with my Greek couscous salad, Greek pasta salad, or in my Greek chicken bowls. You can also make a quick Greek salad by combining sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, feta cheese, and kalamata olives in an olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing.
Storage instructions
To store: Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
To freeze: Let the Greek chicken breasts cool, then transfer them to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to six months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
To reheat: Reheat the chicken in a baking dish in a 350F oven until warm, or microwave the chicken in 30-second intervals.
Frequently asked questions
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts can marinate for at least 30 minutes but for the best results, leave them for 2 to 4 hours or even overnight (24 hours max). If you marinate the chicken for more than 24 hours, you may end up with mushy meat.
Yes, freezing raw marinated chicken is convenient and easy. Simply place the raw marinated chicken in an airtight container and freeze for 2-3 months. Let it thaw overnight before reheating.
Sides to enjoy with this
15-Minute Greek Chicken
Video
Ingredients
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken in the mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, and zest, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper in the fridge for at least 10 minutes or overnight.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and brush the grates with oil. Once hot, Grill for 3-4 minutes per side, until fully cooked.
- Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published June 2023, updated and republished September 2024
Such a juicy and tasty chicken. I know Greeka love to use lemon so much.
Really easy recipe. I didnt know Greek people eat like this!
Just made this tonight and it was excellent. Super easy for so much flavor.
Thanks, Becky!
ARMAN!! I just want to THANK🙏🏻YOU, again, for all of these delicious, savory, sweet, easy to follow RECIPES!!!!🙏🏻😋👌🏻💕👍🏻🙏🏻
I am 60 years old, a mom of 3 grown children, and my husband and l live in Iowa – between Illinois and Nebraska, right in the middle of the Midwest…. Lots of corn fields all around us. But I love all of your recipes because there’s such a fantastic variety! Thank YOU!
I’m so grateful to you, for the health of them all, as well!! So delicious and healthy and fun to share with my family!
With gratitude,
Laurel
We are just back from a Greece Vacation & was missing the food! This recipe came just in time! The flavor was perfectly robust & delicious! Thanks for sharing.
Great to hear that and hope you had an enjoyable trip 🙂
Sounds great You mention something about brushing with butter after grilling ….but do not mention again in the recipe method ?? Looking forward to making this recipe and serving it with a delicious chopped Greek Quinoa salad recipe I have …. ** Cooking extra chicken for meze platter to share with friends 🥂🤩
Will fix it!! That salad sounds delicious 🙂