Name: Greek Chicken
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 3
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 1/4 cup olive oil; ¼ cup Greek plain yogurt; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 3 tablespoons lemon juice; 1 tablespoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon honey; 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 4 chicken breasts

Jump to Recipe

If you’re looking for a delicious and healthy meal that will transport your taste buds to the Mediterranean, then look no further than this Grilled Greek Chicken recipe. The best greek chicken marinade ever, with an enticing blend of zesty lemon juice and refreshing herbs. This grilled chicken recipe will undoubtedly become a family favorite.

Whether it’s for a busy weeknight dinner or an outdoor barbecue with friends, this Greek Grilled Chicken recipe will allow you to embark on a culinary journey through the Mediterranean – from the comforts of home.

This greek chicken recipe enhances the dinner table experience with a flavourful dish that is also healthy and filled with nutrients. Grilled chicken will not be boring with this easy recipe!

You have the options to serve with sides for a Greek dinner; or use this greek chicken marinade for gyros, wraps, skewers and more.

The Best Greek Chicken Marinade

This recipes features the best Greek marinade, a simple yet outstanding blend of fresh herbs, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and Greek yogurt.

The resulting taste of the chicken pieces infused with this greek Chicken Marinade is salty and tangy. Plus the yogurt helps to keep the chicken moist and tender as it grills.

You’ll want to make this juicy and delicious chicken time and again, and not just during grilling season. This easy greek chicken marinade can be used all year long!

What you’ll Love about this Recipe:

QUICK AND EASY – With just 15 minutes of prep, the 1 hour marinade does all the work in producing the most flavourful greek chicken ever.
HEALTHY – Simple fresh simple ingredients of herbs, garlic, olive oil and the sweetness of honey combined with lean chicken.
FLAVOURFUL – Embark on a trip through the Mediterranean from the comforts of home.
VERSATILE – Use this Greek Chicken Marinade recipe to grill chicken and be enjoyed with sides OR use for greek chicken skewers, Greek chicken salad, gyros, or Greek chicken wraps.

Ingredients and Notes

This chicken marinade recipe takes only a few basic ingredients, with plenty of options for additions and substitutions.

The full recipe is on the printable recipe card at the end of the post.

Chicken – I use boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe, yet you can also use other chicken pieces as mentioned in the FAQ below.

Greek Chicken Marinade – The marinade ingredients includes extra virgin olive oil, Greek yogurt, fresh garlic, lemon juice, oregano, honey, chopped fresh parsley, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper.

You do have the options of using fresh oregano or dried oregano, and same with dried parsley as well. Fresh is best, but sometimes convenience wins out.

food ingredients to make grilled greek chicken

How to Make Grilled Greek Chicken

While the actual recipe instructions in the recipe card seem long at a glance, I ensure you this is a simple and easy recipe to make. Summed up:

Step 1 – Make the Marinade for Greek Chicken

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the olive oil, Greek yogurt, minced garlic, lemon juice, oregano, honey, chopped fresh parsley, salt, and freshly ground black pepper, and mix them well to create the marinade.
Take your chicken breasts and place them in a large zip-top plastic bag. Pour the prepared marinade over the chicken, making sure that each breast is well-coated with the mixture.
Seal the plastic bag, pressing out any extra air. Place it in the refrigerator, and let the chicken marinate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and the aroma to deepen. For best results, marinate chicken for up to 8 hours.

Step 2 – Grill the Chicken

Once your chicken is marinated, preheat your outdoor grill to medium-high heat. While the grill is heating up, remove the chicken from the marinade, shaking off any excess liquid. Discard the remaining marinade.
Grease your grill grates lightly with vegetable oil, using a paper towel, to prevent the chicken from sticking. Place the marinated chicken breasts on the grill, and cook for 5-7 minutes per side.

Grilled chicken is cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), and the chicken juices run clear. Check this by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the meat.
As soon as the chicken is grilled to perfection, transfer it to a clean plate and cover it with aluminum foil. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes to redistribute the juices and ensure tenderness.
Serve Greek Grilled Chicken topped or garnished with fresh parsley and lemon wedges, if desired.

What to Serve with Grilled Greek Chicken

Do you need side dish ideas when serving greek chicken? A good choice is to pair with your favorite Mediterranean-inspired side dishes to make a delicious, flavorful meal.

Here are some tasty sides that will complement your meal perfectly:

Greek salad

A refreshing Greek salad is the perfect side dish for grilled Greek chicken. Made with crisp greens, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, feta cheese, olives, and a tangy vinaigrette dressing- this classic Mediterranean salad is light yet satisfying.

Tzatziki sauce

Tzatziki sauce pairs perfectly with grilled Greek chicken! This creamy dip made from yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon juice and dill adds a cool contrast to the spiciness of the chicken.

Grilled vegetables

Grilled vegetables like zucchini or eggplant drizzled in olive oil and sprinkled with salt & pepper makes an excellent accompaniment to your dish!

Roasted potatoes

Roasted potatoes are always a favorite side dish! Toss them with olive oil and seasonings (we recommend garlic powder or paprika) before roasting them in the oven until they’re crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. We have a great Roasted Red Potatoes you can try.

Rice pilaf

Rice pilaf adds texture to your dish while soaking up all those delicious flavors from the grilled chicken! Try adding some chopped parsley or mint for added freshness.

Hummus and pita bread

Hummus paired with warm pita bread is a popular choice with greek chicken.

Leftover Ideas

One of the best things about Greek Chicken is that it’s a staple for other main dish ideas. Greek chicken leftovers make the best next day meals.

In fact, the leftover options are so good that you might want to make a double batch for another meal during the week.

Here are just a few leftover ideas:

Chicken Souvlaki – place marinated chicken pieces on a skewer, or with bell peppers and onions for Greek Chicken Skewers.
Greek Salad – this chicken would be a wonderful addition to a salad or Greek pasta salad. You also need lettuce, red onions, feta cheese, kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes and bell peppers.
Greek Wrap / Greek Chicken Gyros – use a pita wrap, Tzatziki sauce and fresh veggies to make this.
Greek Spaghetti – Add the chicken on top of our greek spaghetti recipe. YUM!

Storage and Reheating

To Store: Store leftover chicken in an airtight container or covered well with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

Can you freeze leftover greek chicken? Yes, you absolutely can freeze bbq greek chicken. If you want to keep leftovers longer, store them in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to three months.

To Reheat: Reheat the chicken either in the microwave or on a pan over medium-low heat until it is heated through before serving.

Grilled Greek Chicken FAQs

Yes, of course! You can definitely use chicken thighs in place of breasts for this Grilled Greek Chicken recipe. The cooking time will need to be slightly adjusted, however, the overall procedure and ingredients will remain the same.

To ensure that your chicken is fully cooked through, the best way to do this is to use an instant-read thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken, and when it reads 165°F (74°C) or higher, your chicken is ready to be served. Additionally, you can also check to see if the juices coming from the chicken are clear, and not pink.

For an extra kick of flavor, try adding some white wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce to the marinade. Or add in a pinch of red pepper flakes or smoked paprika for a smoky, spicy twist.

This recipe can be easily made in the oven. Just follow the steps until cooking. Place Greek marinated chicken on a baking tray lined with aluminum foil or sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake at 400°F for 22-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reads 165°F.

More Chicken Recipes

Greek Chicken

Yield: 3/4 cup marinade

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Additional Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

This delicious Grilled Greek Chicken recipe has the best greek chicken marinade ever, with an enticing blend of zesty lemon juice and refreshing herbs. This grilled chicken recipe will undoubtedly become a family favorite.

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
¼ cup Greek plain yogurt
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 chicken breasts

Instructions

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the olive oil, Greek yogurt, minced garlic, lemon juice, oregano, honey, chopped fresh parsley, salt, and freshly ground black pepper, and mix them well to create the marinade.
Take your chicken breasts and place them in a large zip-top plastic bag.. Pour the prepared marinade over the chicken, making sure that each breast is well-coated with the mixture.
Seal the plastic bag, pressing out any extra air. Place it in the refrigerator, and let the chicken marinate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and the aroma to deepen. For best results, marinate the chicken for up to 8 hours.
Once your chicken is marinated, preheat your grill to medium-high heat. While the grill is heating up, remove the chicken from the marinade, shaking off any excess liquid. Discard the remaining marinade.
Grease your grill grates lightly with vegetable oil, using a paper towel, to prevent the chicken from sticking. Place the marinated chicken breasts on the grill, and cook for 5-7 minutes per side, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), and the chicken juices run clear.
As soon as the chicken is grilled to perfection, transfer it to a clean plate and cover it with aluminum foil. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes to redistribute the juices and ensure tenderness.
Garnish with an additional sprinkle of fresh parsley and/or lemon wedges, if desired.

Notes

Serve with Mediterranean-inspired sides like Tzatziki sauce, rice, Greek salad, vegetables, or warm pita bread.
Place leftovers in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 342Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 103mgSodium: 632mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 38g

Created by Tammi Roy

Tammi Roy is the founder of My Organized Chaos, a Canadian food and lifestyle blog. She lives in Alberta, Canada and is the mom of three beautiful teenage girls. Tammi’s passions are her family, creating and sharing delicious recipes, travelling and photography. Learn more about Tammi.

Grilled Greek Chicken with the Best Greek Marinade