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Home » chicken » The BEST Greek Chicken Marinade

The BEST Greek Chicken Marinade

Published: Jul 23, 2023 by Louisa Clements · This post may contain affiliate links

This post may contain affiliate links

This ultimate Greek chicken marinade will take your chicken to the next level! With just six ingredients, this easy, flavorful blend of olive oil, lemon, garlic, and oregano creates tender and juicy chicken. Perfect for pan frying, baking, or grilling, this no-fuss marinade makes tender and juicy chicken perfect for salads to sandwiches.

A platter of grilled chicken thighs with grilled vegetables.
Jump to Recipe
40 minutes minutes 15 Comments

Growing up in a Greek family and spending summers in Greece, my recipes are often inspired by the Mediterranean. Among the many delicious Greek dishes, the Greek-style marinade holds a special place in my heart with its delightful blend of lemon and garlic.

During my time at Chatelaine, I developed a range of Greek recipes, including a Greek meze appetizer platter where this chicken recipe took the spotlight.

Why this recipe works

What makes this recipe exceptional is the combination of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and oregano, which works wonders for both chicken and pork.

When it comes to Greek cuisine, remember this golden rule: always add more garlic and lemon juice than you think you’ll need. Trust me, it makes all the difference!

Ingredients for Greek chicken marinade in glass bowls on a wooden board.

Ingredients you’ll need

  • This recipe is versatile and can be used on many different cuts of chicken like boneless skinless chicken thighs, chicken breast and even chicken wings.
  • Extra virgin olive oil is the base of the marinade. Having a fat in your marinade is key as it helps the transfer of fat-soluble flavors onto the meat while retaining moisture. It also helps to balance the flavors, in particular the acid from the lemon and garlic in this marinade.
  • Fresh lemon juice is the acid in the recipe, it helps to balance the flavors but also works to tenderize the meat. Because of the amount of acid in this recipe, it doesn’t need to marinate for too long. Avoid bottled lemon juice for this marinade, you want the real thing as it’s such a key component for the flavor.
  • Garlic. And a lot of it! Garlic is a key ingredient in pretty much every Greek dish. Before I put the chicken on the grill, I’ll brush off a little bit of the excess garlic to avoid too much burning on the grill, but you do want a little bit of this charred flavor.
  • Salt of course, another key ingredient to balance a marinade.
  • Oregano is the herb I reach for often in Greek cuisine and it’s what I use for seasoning in this recipe, but you could also use thyme.

I always make this with a classic tzatziki sauce and a hortiatiki (aka Greek salad) to round out the meal.

Frequently asked questions

Do traditional Greek marinades use yogurt?

On the island where my family is from (Kefalonia) we don’t use yogurt in our chicken marinades and this isn’t something I have seen done frequently in Greece.

Can this marinade be used for souvlaki?

Yes! This is exactly the marinade I use for souvlaki or grilled chicken (breasts, thighs etc.)u002du002dthey are great chopped up in salads as well!

Three steps for making chicken including marinating in a glass bowl, and grilling on a barbecue.

Step by step instructions

It couldn’t be easier to make this chicken marinade then grill the chicken! While you can bake this chicken in the oven, I recommend grilling for the most authentic Greek flavor.

  1. In a glass bowl, measuring cup, or resealable freezer bag, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and oregano.
  2. Add the chicken, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
  3. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade, brushing off about half of the garlic from each thigh. Grill the chicken, covered, for 4-6 minutes per side or until it reaches 165°F. Serve with lemon wedges and tzatziki sauce for a delightful meal.
Closeup of chicken on a platter with lemon slices.

Expert tips

  1. This recipe uses a lot of garlic, and you may worry about it burning on the grill. The trick is to brush off about half the garlic before placing on the grill. This will allow you to have deep garlic flavor in the chicken but you won’t end up with an overwhelming amount of burnt garlic on the chicken.
  2. This marinade has a ton of acid and flavor which means the chicken won’t need to sit in the mixture for too long. I typically let it marinade for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
  3. Just before serving, sprinke a little bit of fresh lemon juice over the grilled chicken. This helps to brighten the flavors.

More Greek recipes

  • Greek Lamb Chops
  • Melitzanosalata (Greek Eggplant Dip)
  • Greek Orzo Salad

This recipe was originally published on June 13, 2017 and updated on July 23, 2023.

Closeup of grilled greek chicken with vegetables on a platter.

Greek Chicken Marinade

Author: Louisa Clements
4.18 from 17 votes
Elevate your chicken with the ultimate Greek marinade! Just six ingredients, this easy blend of olive oil, lemon, garlic, and oregano creates tender, juicy chicken. Ideal for pan frying, baking, or grilling, this versatile marinade enhances everything from salads to sandwiches.
Pin Print
Prep: 30 minutes minutes
Cook: 10 minutes minutes
Total: 40 minutes minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

For marinade:

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

For chicken:

  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Instructions

  • Whisk olive oil with lemon juice, garlic, salt and oregano in a glass bowl, measuring cup or resealable freezer bag. Add chicken, cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.
  • Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade, brush about half of the garlic off of each chicken thigh.
  • Grill, covered, for 4-6 minutes per side until chicken reaches 165F. Serve with lemon wedges and tzatziki sauce.
Did you try this recipe?Leave a comment + rating and let me know what you think!
Filed Under: 5 Ingredient Recipes, chicken, Dinner Recipes, easy, gluten free, grilling, quick recipes, Spring, Summer
Nutrition Facts
Greek Chicken Marinade
Amount Per Serving
Calories 398 Calories from Fat 207
% Daily Value*
Fat 23g35%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Trans Fat 0.04g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 13g
Cholesterol 215mg72%
Sodium 930mg40%
Potassium 590mg17%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Fiber 0.3g1%
Sugar 0.4g0%
Protein 44g88%
Vitamin A 64IU1%
Vitamin C 7mg8%
Calcium 35mg4%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Nutrition information is an estimate and is provided for informational purposes only. If you have any specific dietary concerns, please consult with your healthcare practitioner.
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4.18 from 17 votes (13 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Shirley Clements

    August 27, 2023 at 12:01 pm

    I will definitely be making this recipe! It sounds sooo yummy & easy to make!
    ★★★★★

    5 stars

    Reply
  2. Claudia

    February 17, 2022 at 8:01 pm

    I grew up in Europe and love the food. I cook it the same way but add a little paprika as well.
    Reply
    • Louisa Clements

      February 27, 2022 at 10:14 pm

      Great idea, Claudia! Paprika can add some colour for sure.
      Reply
  3. Maryann Cahill

    May 20, 2020 at 6:12 pm

    Have you cooked this a different way, other than grilling?
    Reply
  4. Scott Evans

    June 24, 2019 at 9:15 pm

    This was awesome and so simple. I will definitely make again.
    ★★★★★

    5 stars

    Reply
    • Louisa Clements

      June 26, 2019 at 9:18 am

      Thanks Scott, I'm so glad that you enjoyed this recipe!
      Reply
  5. John

    August 01, 2017 at 11:03 pm

    I just made this tonight. On a pita with tzatziki and feta. Light and tasty!
    ★★★★★

    5 stars

    Reply
    • Lou

      August 17, 2017 at 10:32 pm

      I'm so glad that you enjoyed it John, it's one of my favourites!
      Reply
  6. Laurel

    July 02, 2017 at 12:09 pm

    Ok this part of tonight's dinner ??
    Reply
    • Lou

      July 24, 2017 at 10:45 pm

      Love that, I hope you enjoyed it!
      Reply
  7. Akhil

    June 21, 2017 at 7:24 am

    its such a simple recipe..not sure where I went wrong :/ if you require someone to eat all the food that you make for this blog please hire me :) I have 27 years of experience in eating and am very passionate about not starving
    ★★★★★

    5 stars

    Reply
    • Lou

      June 29, 2017 at 11:02 pm

      Hi Akhil, what went wrong with the recipe?
      Reply
  8. Katherine

    June 16, 2017 at 8:36 pm

    Love how simple this is! Looks and sounds yummy. :)
    Reply
    • Lou

      June 25, 2017 at 10:15 am

      Thanks Katherine!
      Reply

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Hi, I'm Louisa Clements & welcome to Living Lou. I've been creating simple, fresh & flavorful recipes for the modern kitchen for 14 years.
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