Greek Chicken Marinade
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When you’re short on time but still want flavorful food on the table, this Greek chicken marinade will make weeknight dinners a breeze. It comes together quickly with simple ingredients and gives chicken a bold lemon-herb flavor without extra prep or planning.
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Why This Recipe Will Be a Favorite
Chicken is on our dinner rotation almost every week, and having an easy marinade recipe like this one makes it feel less repetitive. This Greek chicken marinade is made with basic pantry spices and a splash of lemon juice to give chicken bright, savory flavor with almost no effort.
It’s especially helpful on busy days when you need a quick recipe but still want dinner to taste homemade. You can mix it up in minutes and use it right away so the chicken is ready to cook when dinnertime rolls around, or save it to make other chicken meal prep recipes
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are my important mom-tested recipe tips for making this recipe! I’ve made this Greek chicken marinade countless times to save you from a failed attempt.
- Don’t overdo the marinating time. Because lemon juice is an acid that will eventually break down the proteins, chicken only needs 30 minutes to soak up the flavor. Avoid marinating it for more than a few hours.
- Use it on other foods, too. The flavors in the marinade also taste great with turkey, pork, and fish, or use it as a simple vinaigrette-style salad dressing!
Ingredient Notes
Start with olive oil, which helps carry flavor and keeps whichever cut of chicken you choose (chicken thighs or breasts) juicy as they cook. Want to use a different type of oil? Avocado oil is a great substitute for olive oil.
Freshly squeezed lemon juice will give the best flavor, but if you absolutely have to use bottled lemon juice, that will be fine. You can even swap the lemon for a lime.
The flavors in this Mediterranean marinade are better with dried herbs and spices, not fresh.
How to Make the Greek Chicken Marinade
- Measure the ingredients. Pour the olive oil and lemon juice into a small bowl, then measure and add in the dried seasonings.
- Whisk to combine. Give everything a good whisk, until the marinade looks smooth and well combined. Use it right away or cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to marinate the chicken!
Greek Marinade Recipe FAQs
This recipe makes enough marinade to coat about 1 to 1½ pounds of chicken. If you’re cooking for a larger family or batch-prepping, doubling the recipe works well.
Store the mixed marinade in an airtight container or small jar in the refrigerator. It keeps well for up to 3 days.
Sure! While this recipe is intended to marinate raw chicken, you can reserve some or make extra to use as a sauce. Brush it onto warm, cooked chicken or toss chicken slices in it after cooking for extra flavor.
No, it shouldn’t. Because it doesn’t contain sugar or honey, there is nothing in it that will burn when you cook the chicken over medium heat.
Serving Suggestions
This Greek chicken marinade is incredibly versatile and fits easily into many family meals. Try it in these ways:
- Salads: Marinate and grill the chicken, let it rest, then slice and serve over a delicious Greek salad.
- Weeknight dinners: Use it on chicken breasts or thighs and serve with rice and roasted vegetables. My kids and I love topping Mediterranean chicken with a bit of Greek lemon sauce!
Meal prep: Marinate and grill chicken ahead of time so it’s ready to cook during busy weekdays!
If you make this recipe, please give it a star rating and leave a comment below to let me know how it went!
Greek Chicken Marinade
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1½ tablespoons lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- To a small bowl, add the oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, dill, oregano, salt and pepper. Whisk well to combine.
- Use to marinate up to 1½ pounds of chicken. You can double or triple this recipe as needed.
Notes
- The flavors in this marinade also work well with turkey, pork, and fish, and it tastes great as a vinaigrette salad dressing, too!
- Will keep for up to 3 days if refrigerated in an airtight container. Whisk well to recombine before using.
