This easy Greek chicken recipe is a versatile dish that is the perfect main dish for dinner with a side of rice or pairs beautifully with a big salad. The simple marinade features Mediterranean flavors of lemon, garlic, red wine vinegar and lots of herbs.
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I am super picky about chicken. It has to be full of flavor for me to eat it. But to complicate matters, if it’s something I’m going to feed to my daughter, it can’t be remotely spicy at all or else it’s a no go. My son doesn’t care. He’d literally eat anything he could eat with only 4 teeth.
It’s frustrating to have to cook two dishes all the time so I try to come up with recipes that will please us all, adults and kids alike. Most family friendly chicken recipes, like Instant Pot Barbecue Chicken, Shredded Chicken Tacos and Parmesan Chicken nuggets, are on repeat in this house. This recipe is too- especially in the summer when there are so many lovely fresh herbs available.
Like the other family friendly recipes, this Greek chicken recipe is quick and easy. It only takes a few minutes to prep the meat to cook and about 15 minutes to cook it. Dinner=no sweat.
Ingredients
- Chicken– Thinly sliced chicken breasts or chicken cutlets work very well for this recipe. You could use any cut of chicken you prefer, just adjust the cook time accordingly.
- Lemon– The juice and zest of 1 lemon adds brightness and a little bit of acidity to the dish. A citrus press and a microplane make getting the juice and zest easy.
- Garlic– Fresh garlic cloves gives tons of flavor. I like to press them using a garlic press so they just kind of dissolve. You could also mince them.
- Red Wine Vinegar– A little bit of red wine vinegar adds a robust fruity background.
- Herbs– Fresh parsley, oregano, thyme and rosemary all give this dish its Mediterranean flavor. Feel free to sub dried oregano, thyme and rosemary but adjust the amounts according to the recipe notes. Don’t sub dried parsley.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil– Extra virgin olive oil adds moisture and creates the base of the marinade.
- Salt and pepper– Add a little sea salt and pepper to taste.
How to Make Easy Greek Chicken
1. Make the marinade.
To make the marinade for easy Greek chicken, add the lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, garlic and herbs to a food processor. Pulse until everything is well combined.
2. Marinate the chicken.
Place the chicken in sealable bags or into a large bowl. Pour the marinade over the chicken and cover it. Let it rest for up to 30 minutes in the fridge.
3. Cook the chicken.
When the time is up, heat up a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for about 7 minutes per side or until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part.
Serve over rice, greens, or salad and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
This Greek chicken recipe is very versatile. It makes a fantastic addition to this big lemony loaded Greek salad. You could also serve it with rice and a simple vegetable side dish like these garlic roasted green beans. It would be delicious over a Caesar salad or with this Greek orzo salad.
For presentation, add kalamata olives, tomatoes, and herbs to your serving platter.
How to store
To store easy Greek chicken, allow it to cool and then place the breasts into an air tight container. You can store it safely for about 2 to 3 days in the fridge.
You can also freeze the chicken if you like. To freeze, follow the same steps, placing the chicken in a freezer safe container. You can generally store chicken for about 6 months.
When you are ready to reheat, you can pop them in the microwave for a few minutes or until warmed through. You could also toss them in a skillet and heat with a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat, flipping as needed to avoid burning the chicken.
Tips and Tricks
- Not a fan of chicken? This marinade is delicious on shrimp skewers or on veggies, rice or pasta.
- Use boneless, skinless chicken to let the meat absorb the marinade the best and cut down on fat.
- This Greek chicken recipe is fabulous on the grill as well.
- If you are going to substitute the herbs for dried herbs, make sure to use fresh parsley. The fresh parsley has a much brighter flavor than the dried parsley does.
- For using dried herbs instead of fresh, only use a teaspoon instead of the tablespoon for fresh.
- Marinading the chicken for a longer time helps the flavors to soak in and helps to create a more tender cooked chicken.
FAQs
What is Greek chicken made of?
Different Greek chicken recipes use similar ingredients that include fresh herbs, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, and garlic. Some recipes also use Greek yogurt.
Why is Greek chicken so tender?
Greek chicken uses acidic ingredients as a marinade. The acid in lemon juice, red wine vinegar, or even Greek yogurt help to break down the chicken meat before you start cooking. This helps to give the chicken a very tender, juicy flavor.
Looking for other light chicken recipes? Try these:
- Honey Mustard Chicken Skillet
- Lemon Chicken and Asparagus Skillet
- Balsamic Chicken and Brussels Sprouts
- Pomegranate Chicken Skillet
Make this yummy Greek chicken for a lovely light dinner anytime of the year!
Did you make this recipe or one of my other recipes? Leave me a comment and let me know what you thought below or find me on Facebook or Instagram @SeasonedSprinkles and show me what you made.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts cut in half, or 4 chicken cutlets
- the juice and zest from 1 lemon
- 4 garlic cloves pressed
- 2 tbs red wine vinegar
- 1/4 c fresh parsley
- 1 tbs fresh oregano or 1 tsp dried
- 1 tbs fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried
- 1 tbs fresh rosemary or 1 tsp dried
- 1/2-2/3 c extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- To make this, start by making the marinade. To make it, add the lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, garlic and herbs to a food processor. Pulse until everything is well combined.
- Place the chicken in sealable bags or into a large bowl. Pour the marinade over the chicken and cover it. Let it rest for up to 30 minutes in the fridge.
- When the marinade has sat for the desired amount of time, heat up a grill pan or skillet over medium-medium high heat. Cook the chicken for about 7 minutes per side or until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part.
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