If you’re anything like me you’re always on the hunt for new ways to make chicken and one of the best ways to transform chicken is with this easy Lemon Garlic Greek Yogurt Marinated Chicken. Whether you prepare the chicken in the oven or on the grill my Greek yogurt marinade is highly versatile and works for everything from whole chicken to boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs. Perfect for meal prep or an easy chicken dinner my chicken marinade with greek yogurt is a recipe you’ll always want to keep on hand.
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This is a chicken recipe I make weekly for my lunch meal prep. Whether I make it on the grill or bake it this chicken comes out perfectly every time and I throw sliced or chopped chicken into salads, rice bowls, sandwiches and wraps Greek yogurt makes your chicken tender and juicy while bold spices and aromatics bring a ton of flavor.
Cooking Tips
- You can marinate this greek yogurt chicken recipe for as little as 15 minutes or up to 24 hours. Due to the gentle nature of Greek yogurt you can marinade for a longer time without running the risk of over tenderizing the meat.
- You do not need to rinse off the Greek yogurt marinade.As it cooks the Greek yogurt chicken marinade forms a delicious golden brown crust on the outside of the chicken which is not only tasty but also keeps your chicken extra juicy.
- Customize this marinade with your favorite fresh herbs like oregano , thyme or parsley
- If you don’t have fresh garlic you can substitute 1 teaspoon of garlic powder or onion powder
How to Serve Greek Yogurt Marinated Chicken
This is a great all purpose chicken recipe whether you’re making a family-friendly weeknight dinner or making a double batch to meal prep for a week.
- Use shredded or diced chicken for grain or rice bowls
- Serve oven baked or grilled bone-in chicken for dinner with side dishes like Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes, Garlic Roasted Green Beans, Israeli Couscous with Spinach, Sauteed Kale and Mushrooms, or Maple Roasted Carrots
- Slice or chop cooked chicken to add to a salad (like my Kale and Apple Salad, Asparagus and Pea Salad or Fennel and Apple Salad)
How to Make Lemon Garlic Greek Yogurt Marinated Chicken
This marinade really couldn’t be more simple to make. In a large bowl add Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper. Stir together until the marinade is fully combined and then add the chicken tossing to ensure the chicken is fully coated. Cover or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to 24 hours.
This is a great all purpose marinade with you are making bone in chicken, spatchcock chicken, boneless,skinless chicken breast or chicken thighs. Whether you bake the chicken, grill the chicken outside or inside on a grill pan or cook it on a large skillet (I’ve included instructions for all of these methods below) make sure you cook it to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F using a digital meat thermometer.
If you like this Lemon Garlic Greek Yogurt Marinated Chicken be sure to take a look at some of my other recipes!
Crispy Pan Roasted Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms
Chicken with Rice, Leeks and Mushrooms
If you make this Sheet Pan Chicken Shawarma please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a 5 star rating! Be sure to follow me on Youtube, Facebook and Pinterest for my latest recipes. Also, if you do make this recipe please tag me on Instagram, I’d love to see what you guys are making!
Lemon Garlic Greek Yogurt Marinated Chicken
Equipment
- Gallon Ziptop bag
Ingredients
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs or 1 whole chicken, spatchcocked or quartered
Instructions
- In a large bowl add Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper. Stir together until the marinade is fully combined.
- Add the chicken to the marinade, tossing to ensure the chicken is fully coated.Cover or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to 24 hours.
To Bake the Chicken
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place chicken on a baking sheet and roast chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees; about 20 minutes for boneless, skinless chicken breast or 40-45 minutes for bone-in quartered or spatchcocked chicken.
To Grill the Chicken
- Preheat the grill or grill pan over medium heat. For boneless chicken breasts or chicken thighs grill 7 minutes on each side. For bone-in chicken grill for 20 minutes on each side. Ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving as desired.
Notes
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Elizabeth Swoish says
This looks so delicious and simple! Definitely giving it a try. Yum!
Oscar says
This chicken recipe totally hit the spot. I love the lemon with chicken. It adds a level of freshness. Great recipe.
Rob says
This looks super easy and delicious. Perfect for a weeknight dinner!
Kayla DiMaggio says
This greek garlic yogurt chicken was delicious! It was the perfect weeknight meal!
Adrianne says
OMG this looks seriously amazing and I can’t wait to make it for dinner tonight. I am drooling already. Thanks for the recipe!
Julia says
This made a delicious dinner. It worked really well and the chicken was meltingly soft and flavourful. Thank you.
Ramona says
This chicken not only looks divine but it tastes heaven too! I will make it again this weekend. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
Kasey Ferguson says
I love the minimal ingredients and easy to follow recipe. I marinated my chicken for 2 hours and it turned out so juicy and delicious. Will definitely be making again!
Katie Youngs says
This was my first time using Greek yogurt as a marinade. It was excellent and the recipe was delicious!
Paige says
This chicken was exceptionally tender…and also juicy! Really, really good and I’ll make it again.
Keith says
Making 6 bone in breast and 4 bone in thighs. How does this affect the cookin times. Should they be put in at different times?
Brianna says
I have gotten a whole chicken and cooked it in quarters and cooked everything at the same . Definitely use a thermometer to ensure doneness.
Megan Ellam says
I love how simple this recipe is but loaded with flavour. Thanks for such a great recipe.
veenaazmanov says
Looks soft,moist and mouth melting delicious. Would love to give your recipe a try this weekend.
Farrukh Aziz says
Our weeknight dinner was incomplete without this! I love the addition of Greek yoghurt and the lemon flavor was awesome! 🙂
Aya says
This was so good! The addition of yogurt makes the chicken so tender and tasty. I will definitely be making this again.
Naïby says
The marinade really helps to give a better texture. And I love the lemony flavor.
Debbie says
This Lemon Garlic Greek Yogurt chicken is amazing! I love the tang of the greek yogurt , it goes perfectly with all of the other of flavors. Easy family meal, thanks !
LaKita says
Love how simple this chicken recipe is and leaving the marinade on made it so tender and juicy!
Loreto and Nicoletta says
This is a great new idea for a chicken dish! Love the marinade and I can only imagine the flavor of the cumin garlic and a big fan of paprika is absolutely amazing!😋 nice crispyness on the chicken by the way!😛🥰
Amy Liu Dong says
A perfect chicken recipe to make for our tonight’s dinner. It looks delicious, and it makes my mouthwatering!
Hollie says
Thanks for the great recipe!!
Safiya says
Love chicken marinated in yogurt. Looks fantastic!
Allyssa says
Thanks a bunch for this amazing recipe! Fam really loves it and it’s super easy to make! Will surely have this again, well done! Highly recommended!
Sara LaFountain says
This chicken was delicious! The marinade made the chicken so moist and amazing. Will be making again soon!
Rita says
Should the skin be removed for bone-in chicken?
Brianna says
Nope, I prefer the skin on when I make bone in chicken. But, you can also remove it if you wish.
Teresa Davis says
So simple yet so perfect. My first time using Greek yogurt as a marinade – it does make the chicken tender and juicy.
Brianna says
I’m so glad you liked it!
JulieAnn says
Terrific! A recipe just as I like it- a few key ingredients, simple, easy-to-follow instructions(after all the verbiage & ads), and a delicious turnout. I deleted the cumin, but my husband is surprised I followed the rest! I’m going to add it to my Christmas menu for the less traditional Italians , topping with some dried tomatoes, parsley, and turmeric for the red, green, and gold theme.
Brianna says
Julie, I’m glad to hear you liked this chicken and I’m thrilled it will make it onto your holiday table!
Tricia, Tampa FL says
Easy, tasty recipe. It made for a moist chicken breast. I was looking for an oil free marinade and this fit the bill. I served with a salad. This will go in my regular rotation.