Easy Greek Chicken Marinade
- PREP 1hrs 10min
- TOTAL 1hrs 10min
Plain Greek yogurt is the secret to this Greek chicken marinade recipe! Yogurt helps the marinade coat the chicken and makes it tender and juicy. I’ve used this marinade after just one hour and been really happy, but if you can wait a few more hours, the flavors deepen even further. (I’ve even left chicken marinating overnight before, and it was still delicious!) If you go past 8 hours, the lemon juice and vinegar might start to firm up the outside of the chicken a bit (it’s still delicious, though).
You Will Need
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 teaspoons honey
1 ½ teaspoons balsamic vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dried dill
½ teaspoon dried oregano
3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 ½ pounds (680g) chicken breast or thighs
Directions
Marinate the Chicken
Combine the olive oil, honey, balsamic vinegar, garlic, lemon juice, dill, oregano, yogurt, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl that is large enough to hold the chicken.
Add the chicken, turning them around in the marinade so they are well coated. Marinate covered in the fridge for 1 to 8 hours.
Cook the Chicken
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and set aside a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Heat a grill pan over medium heat. Lightly oil, and then place the chicken into the pan. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until grill marks, but do not cook until cooked in the middle. Watch your heat is not too high during this step as the honey can burn.
Transfer the chicken to the prepared baking sheet and spoon over any remaining marinade from the bowl.
Bake until an internal thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reads 165°F, about 15 to 25 minutes, depending on how thick your chicken is. Rest for 5 minutes, slice, and serve.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Alternatives for cooking the chicken: You can grill, bake, or cook the chicken in a skillet or grill pan. My favorite option is to sear the outside for color and finish in the oven. Since honey is in the marinade, it will darken quite a bit so watch for burning when you sear your chicken. You can skip the grill pan and go directly to the oven. You will still get a little color. If you use an outdoor grill, use our grilled chicken recipe for tips.
- The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We assumed chicken breasts.