Description
When you make this perfect greek chicken marinade, you’re creating a flavor-packed blend of olive oil, lemon, garlic, and oregano that turns ordinary chicken into something truly delicious. Marinating your chicken for a few hours lets these Mediterranean ingredients work together, giving you tender, juicy meat with bold, fresh taste that tastes like Greece on a plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Marinade Base:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
Seasonings:
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl, whisking everything together until your mixture is well blended.
- Transfer your 3 to 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts into a resealable bag or shallow dish, then pour the entire marinade over them.
- Refrigerate your chicken for at least 30 minutes, though leaving it overnight gives your meat deeper, more developed flavors.
- Heat your grill to medium-high (375°F) or preheat your oven to the same temperature.
- Take your chicken from the marinade and let excess liquid drain away before discarding it.
- Grill your chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, or bake it in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes at 375°F until that same safe temperature is reached.
Notes
- Fresh lemon juice makes a real difference in this marinade, so skip the bottled kind if possible and squeeze it yourself for brighter flavor.
- Letting your chicken sit overnight in the fridge gives you deeper, more developed flavors than the minimum 30 minutes, so plan ahead when timing allows.
- Pat your chicken dry before grilling or baking so it browns better and cooks more evenly throughout.
- If you’re avoiding dairy or following a plant-based diet, this marinade works perfectly on firm tofu or vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, and bell peppers with the same cooking times.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Grilled Chicken
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 170 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg