From grilling the juiciest chicken breasts to weeknight-baked chicken thighs, this Greek chicken marinade recipe will amp up the flavor with a delicious lemon garlic twist.
The Chicken Marinade Flavors I Learned in Greece
I’ve traveled to Greece many times, both for work to source olive oils and for pleasure, so recreating my favorite Greek flavors at home reminds me of fond memories and dear friends.
I’m a bit of a last-minute cook, but sometimes a little planning is worth it and actually saves time in the long run. This Greek chicken marinade is one of those times, and as a bonus, this recipe could not be easier.
Just throw the chicken in a bowl along with the usual suspects—garlic for an assertive touch, a sprinkle of sweet, earthy paprika, lemon juice for brightness, olive oil for richness, and parsley, and, of course, Greek oregano. Let the marinade do the work for you, while the chicken soaks up flavor like a sponge you go about your business.
This chicken marinade takes only a couple of minutes to throw together. Once the ingredients are combined, add chicken and let it marinate for as little as 30 minutes and up to 8 hours.
Greek Chicken Marinade Recipe Ingredients
This Greek chicken marinade is a perfect example of how a well-stocked spice drawer, combined with a few fresh herbs and citrus, can really increase the flavor factor!
Marinades are usually built from some kind of acid (citrus juice or even wine) and a combination of flavor makers like fresh herbs, onions, garlic, and spices. Just swapping the sweet paprika in this recipe for smoked paprika will give you a completely different experience. Mixing things up never gets old.
- Chicken: I especially love chicken thighs as they stay juicy and tender, but you can use any cut you’d like with this recipe.
- Garlic adds a savory flavor. If you want something more subtle, try using Roasted Garlic.
- Dried Greek oregano brings an aromatic quality that’s so classically Greek. You can use fresh oregano, but it’s not quite as potent. If you’re working with fresh oregano leaves, finely chop them and add about 2 tablespoons’ worth.
- Sweet paprika gives a subtle kick and pop of color. You can stock up at our shop, or substitute with another chili pepper like chili flakes or Aleppo pepper. You can also add a smoky layer with smoked paprika.
- Thyme and parsley leaves add freshness. I wouldn’t substitute them.
- Extra virgin olive oil adds richness and helps to infuse the meat with flavor. Use a high-quality extra virgin variety, preferably Greek!
- Lemon zest and juice add acidity to lift the savory flavors. It will make the meat chewy if it’s left too long, so be sure to only marinate the meat for up to 8 hours, especially if it’s a leaner cut like chicken breasts.
- Kosher salt and black pepper enhance the flavor.
How to Make this Greek Chicken Marinade Recipe
This is the definition of an easy chicken marinade! One tip before you get started: If you’d like to double the marinade as a serving sauce, make sure to reserve a 1/2 cup or so before you add the chicken. Here’s how it’s done:
Make the Marinade
- Make the marinade. To a large mixing bowl, add 4 minced garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 1 teaspoon sweet paprika, 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley leaves, and 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil. Zest in 1 lemon, then slice in half and squeeze in the juice. Season with a big pinch of salt and pepper (about 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon each). Whisk until well combined. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper to your liking (Remember: if you don’t plan to add salt and pepper directly to the chicken, then you want to make sure the marinade has enough flavor.)
- Add the chicken or chicken cutlets to the marinade. Use a pair of tongs to toss the 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of chicken so it is well coated, then cover and refrigerate for 2 to 8 hours (or if you’re using chicken thighs, overnight is fine.) This is a very versatile recipe, so you can roast, pan-sear, or grill the chicken as you’d like.
To Grill the Chicken
- Prep your grill. Lightly oil the grates and preheat your gas grill or an indoor griddle to medium.
- Grill the chicken. When the grill is nice and hot, arrange the chicken in a single layer over the heated surface. Grill for about 5 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Remove from the grill and tent with foil for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. This will bring up the meat to 165°F.
To Bake the Chicken
- Get ready. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Prep the chicken (reserve the marinade). When I bake chicken breasts, I like to make them into cutlets first, so they cook faster and more evenly. To do so, slice them in half along the equator, starting at the thicker side. (You can keep the pieces and breasts whole; you’ll just need to add 10 to 15 minutes of cooking time to bring them up to 160°F.)
- Bake the chicken. Place the chicken in a single layer in a 9×13 baking dish and pour the marinade over top. Cover the baking dish with a large piece of foil and place in the hot oven for 10 minutes.
- Finish. Remove the foil (save for later) and bake until the chicken is fully cooked and is no longer pink in the middle (or it has reached 160°F), another 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, cover, and let rest for another 5 minutes. The chicken will come up to 165°F as it rests.
How Long to Marinate Chicken
Marinating chicken doesn’t need to be perfect–just let the chicken soak for a few hours, and it’ll be just fine. For the best texture, though, there are a few good rules of thumb when it comes to the age-old question of how long to marinate chicken:
- Chicken breasts: Marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes and no longer than 2 hours. Chicken breasts are a lean meat, so they may become chewy from the lemon juice’s acidity if they’re left to marinate for too long.
- Chicken thighs and legs: These cuts can be marinated longer due to their higher fat content. Marinate for at least 1 hour, but ideally for 4 to 8 hours for a deeper flavor. You can marinate thighs for up to 24 hours, but I wouldn’t go beyond that.
What to Serve with Greek Chicken
My go-to with this Greek chicken is to add protein to traditional Greek salad, but the bright and savory Greek chicken marinade goes with just about any Mediterranean side, salad, or bread we have. You really can’t go wrong! But here are some favorite ways to build out a full meal:
- Something fresh and herby, like creamy cucumber salad, Greek salad, or cucumber tomato salad.
- Something starchy, like pita bread, couscous or Greek lemon rice.
- Something saucy for drizzling! Like tzatziki or tahini sauce.
More Greek Recipes
If you want to expand your Greek recipe portfolio, I’ve linked some of my favorites below. And once you’ve tried my Greek chicken marinade, try some of my other favorite chicken marinades from around the Mediterranean.
Greek Chicken Marinade
Ingredients
- 4 large garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped flat leaf parsley leaves and tender stems
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- 1 1/2 to 2 pounds chicken (thighs, legs, breast, or any cut you’d like)
Instructions
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Make the marinade. In a large mixing bowl, combine the garlic, oregano, paprika, thyme, parsley, olive oil, lemon zest, juice, and a big pinch of salt and pepper (about 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon each). Whisk until well combined. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper to your liking (Remember: if you don’t plan to add salt and pepper directly to the chicken, then you want to make sure the marinade has enough flavor.)
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Add the chicken or chicken cutlets to the marinade. Use a pair of tongs to toss the chicken so it is well coated, then cover and refrigerate for 2 to 8 hours (or if you’re using chicken thighs, overnight is fine.) Cook the chicken as you’d like–see below for grilled or baked Greek chicken.
For Grilled Chicken:
-
Prep your grill. Lightly oil the grates and preheat your gas grill or an indoor griddle to medium.
-
Grill the chicken. When the grill is nice and hot, arrange the chicken in one single layer over the heated surface. Grill for about 5 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Remove from the grill and tent with foil for 5 yo 10 minutes before serving (this will bring up the meat to 165°F as recommended.)
For Baked Chicken:
-
Get ready. Preheat the oven to 400°F. If you’re working with chicken breasts, I like to make them into cutlets first so they cook faster and more evenly. To do so, slice them in half along the equator, starting at the thicker side. You can keep the pieces and breasts whole, you’ll just need to add an additional 10 to 15 minutes of cooking time to bring them up to 160°F.
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Bake the chicken. Place the chicken in a single layer in a 9×13 baking dish and pour the marinade over top. Cover the baking dish with a large piece of foil and place in the hot oven for 10 minutes.
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Finish. Remove the foil (save for later) and bake for until the chicken is fully cooked and is no longer pink in the middle (or it’s reached 160°F), another 10 to 15 minutes (or longer for whole chicken breasts).
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Rest and serve. Remove from the oven, cover and let rest for another 5 minutes. The chicken will come up to 165°F as it rests.
Video
Notes
- If you’re short on time allow the chicken to marinate on your counter for 30 minutes. It won’t be as vibrant as a longer soak in your fridge, but even 30 minutes will add a lot of flavor.
- Lemon juice can make the meat chewy over time, so 8 hours is the max I recommend marinating a leaner cut like chicken breasts. Chicken thighs, however, can handle an overnight marinade here.
- Visit our shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including olive oils, honey, jams, and spices.
Nutrition
Try Our Greek Oregano!
This dried herb straight from Greece is lemony, fragrant, and perfect for everyday use.
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