This Greek chicken marinade is made with classic Greek flavors like olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and fresh herbs! It’s an easy way to ensure your chicken turns out juicy and flavorful!
More Mediterranean-inspired recipes we love include Greek pasta salad, classic Greek salad and Greek sheet pan chicken!
Why We Love This Recipe
- Grilling season staple. This easy chicken marinade will be your go-to recipe for grilling season for everything from grilled chicken to Greek chicken kabobs!
- Easy to make. You more than likely have all the ingredients needed on hand to make this Greek marinade for chicken anytime. Marinate the chicken for 1 hour then grill!
- Versatile. Marinate chicken for a Greek chicken salad or a Mediterranean salad or wrap it in pita bread or naan bread with tzatziki sauce!
Marinade Ingredients
Tips and Variations
- Thicker chicken breasts: I like to pound the meat down with a rolling pin or meat tenderizer once they are in the zip-top bag.
- Fresh herbs. Whenever possible, I like to use fresh herbs from my garden for this Greek chicken marinade. If you’ve got some too, this is a great way to use them up.
- Dried herbs. Substitute Greek seasoning for the herbs for a bit of extra zip. I like to make batches of this and keep it handy for occasions just like this!
- Discard the marinade. Any remaining mixture should be thrown out immediately. It is contaminated with raw poultry and is not safe for consumption.
- Extra flavor. Fresh garlic cloves (or garlic powder), rosemary, and lemon zest are just some of the ways you can boost the flavor of this marinade.
- Add some yogurt. Adding Greek yogurt to the marinade will help to tenderize the meat even further. The acid will help break down the fibers, and the fat will help to keep them moist.
How to Make Greek Chicken Marinade
Start by preparing the marinade ingredients. Add the olive oil in a small bowl, then whisk in the lemon juice, herbs, garlic, and seasoning.
Trim the chicken and pat down with paper towels. Place the meat in a Ziploc bag. Pour the marinade into the bag and use your hands to ensure all pieces of meat are submerged and coated. Place it in the fridge for at least 1 hour but no more than 6 hours.
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Remove the meat from the bag and place onto the grill for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway. Allow to settle so the juices don’t run out as soon as you slice into it.
Make Ahead and Storage
Make the Greek chicken marinade the night before and keep it in a jar in the fridge. Give it a shake and use it as needed. I love to use it on Greek sheet pan chicken and chicken gyros, too.
Store leftover cooked meat in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
More recipes to marinate meat is with teriyaki sauce, easy steak marinade, homemade BBQ sauce or steak fajita marinade!
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest recipes!
Greek Chicken Marinade
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2 lemons , juiced
- 3 Tablespoons freshly chopped oregano , or 1 Tablespoon dried
- 1 Tablespoon freashly chopped parsley , or 1 teaspoon dried
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 ½ teaspoons Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Trim chicken breasts. Pat down with paper towels and place in a zip-top bag or a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken. Place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, but up to 6 hours.
- Preheat the grill to medium high heat. Place chicken on the grill 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until a thermometer reads 160°F to 165°F and the center is no longer pink. Let rest about 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: Condiments, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Grilling, Low Carb, Mediterranean, Nut-Free, Whole 30
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I love this combo of flavors. I can’t wait to try it!
Enjoy!
Delicious marinade! Will be using all summer long