Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade Recipe

Name: Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (substitute any thick yogurt); 1 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp black pepper powder; Salt to taste; 1 tsp Paprika; 1 tsp thyme; 1 tsp cumin; 1 tsp dried basil; 1 tsp parsley; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp minced garlic; 1 tbsp lemon juice; 1 tbsp olive oil; 4 chicken breasts (boneless and skinless, (Pound the chicken breast or slice it into half))

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Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade Recipe with step-by-step photos and a video recipe. Greek yogurt-marinated chicken is tangy, creamy, and flavorful. This Mediterranean-inspired chicken dish is made with aromatic herbs and spices combined with creamy yogurt resulting in tender and succulent chicken. You can make this Greek yogurt chicken either by grilling it on the stovetop, outdoor grill, or in an oven. Serve it with Greek yogurt coleslaw or any salad of your choice.

Close-up of Greek yogurt marinated chicken placed on a white plate. Garnished with Parsley and lemon slices.

Table of Contents

A combination of Greek yogurt with Mediterranean herbs and simple spices creates a marinade that infuses the chicken with incredible flavors, leaving you wanting more with every bite.

The best part of making this Grilled chicken with Greek yogurt marinade is that it takes only 15 minutes from start to finish to make this dish. Similar Mediterranean recipes that you may like are our Mediterranean Chicken and Rice, Mediterranean Chicken Kebabs, and Mediterranean Chicken Stew.

About this recipe

In this recipe post, I am sharing how to make Greek yogurt chicken marinade. This easy chicken yogurt marinade can be made with simple ingredients easily available in your kitchen pantry.

To make it, start with creating a simple yogurt marinade for chicken with Greek yogurt, combined with aromatic herbs and spices, resulting in tender and succulent chicken.

A blend of garlic, lemon juice, and a medley of Mediterranean herbs like oregano, thyme, and parsley is used to enhance flavors in this Greek yogurt chicken recipe.

This grilled chicken with yogurt marinade is guaranteed to impress your family and friends at your next gathering or dinner party.

You may also like these other popular chicken recipes from this website:

Why You Need This Recipe

Easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions to make Greek yogurt marinated chicken with photos and recipe video.
Easy tips and techniques - From marinating to grilling, we have shared easy tips and techniques to ensure your yogurt-marinated chicken turns out perfectly juicy every time.
Easy to customize - This Greek yogurt marinade is made with simple ingredients and is easy to customize. Check out the ingredient list below for alternative ingredients. You can add or skip the ingredients as per your taste.
Nutritious - This recipe calls for Greek yogurt, chicken breast, and herbs. Chicken breasts are a lean source of protein. Greek yogurt is healthy and low in calories. It is a good source of calcium and provides probiotics that are good for your gut health. Similarly, herbs not only add flavor to food but also have medicinal properties. All the ingredients that go into this Greek marinade are definitely nutritious.
Make ahead recipe - You can cook it in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Stays good for 2 days.
Balanced flavor - The vibrant colors and tempting aroma make this Greek yogurt chicken truly irresistible. This is the dish that your whole family can enjoy including the kids.
Gluten-free

Ingredients and Substitutions

Chicken - I have used boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs or bone-in chicken.
Greek yogurt - I have used Greek yogurt to make the marinade for chicken. However, you can substitute it with any other thick yogurt. Or simply use any yogurt but drain off excess water from it. You can do it by placing a clean thin kitchen towel over a strainer. Pour yogurt over it. Let the excess water drain off from it for 15 minutes and then use it.
Herbs - Fresh herbs give the best flavors to this Greek chicken marinade. To substitute you can use dried herbs. I have used dried thyme, dried basil, parsley, and dried oregano. You can skip thyme or basil if you do not have it.
Paprika - I have used smoked paprika for this recipe. Skip if you do not prefer spicy foods. Or substitute it with regular Paprika, if you do not have it.
Flavoring - onion powder, black pepper powder, salt, and roasted cumin powder. You can skip onion powder if you do not have it.
Garlic - I have used fresh garlic for this recipe. Substitute it with garlic powder.
Lemon juice - Fresh lemon juice gives the best flavor. Substitute it with vinegar.
Olive oil - Olive oil gives the best flavor to the dish. However, you can substitute it with any cooking oil with a neutral flavor.

For the detailed list of ingredients & their measurements, please check out the recipe card below.

How to make Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade (Step by step instructions with photos)

Preparations

For Greek marinade - In a medium-sized bowl, combine Greek yogurt with onion powder, black pepper powder, salt, paprika, thyme, cumin, dried basil, parsley, dried oregano, minced garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. Whisk the marinade ingredients well and keep it aside.
Pound the chicken breast or slice it in half for even thickness. Apply the marinade all over the chicken. Cover and refrigerate it for 2 hours or overnight.
Take out the chicken from the refrigerator. Keep it on the kitchen counter until it reaches room temperature.

Grilling the chicken

Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Apply oil to it.
Remove the chicken from the marinade and scrape off any excess marinade.
When the grill pan is hot enough, place the marinated chicken on it. Do not overcrowd the pan.
Cook the chicken on one side until grill marks appear on it. Flip and cook it on the other side until grill marks appear. Baste it with oil or butter on top to keep the chicken moist and prevent it from drying out.
Now reduce the heat and cook until the chicken is completely cooked, flipping it as required. Or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F. Remove it to a plate and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing or serving it.
Garnish it with fresh parsley or fresh dill and lemon slices.
You can slice it and serve it over lime cilantro rice. Or with Greek yogurt coleslaw.

Tips to make the Best Greek Yogurt Chicken

Use Greek Yogurt to marinate the chicken. Greek yogurt is thick and the marinade sticks well to the chicken and doesn’t come off easily when you grill it. If you are using any other yogurt that has thin consistency then the marinade will come off when you grill it.
Marinating the chicken helps the chicken pieces to remain tender and juicy. The chicken will absorb all the yummy flavors from the marinade. Marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours for best results. If you do not have enough time, marinate it for at least 30 minutes.
Cover and keep the chicken in the refrigerator while marinating.
Take out the chicken from the refrigerator and keep it on the kitchen counter. Let it come to room temperature before you grill it. If you grill the chicken taken straight out of the refrigerator it will become hard and rubbery.
The pan should be hot enough that when you place the marinated chicken on it, you should hear the sizzling sound.
Discard the leftover marinade.
After the chicken is cooked, give it a resting time of 10 minutes before you slice it or serve it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to bake this yogurt chicken breast?

To bake, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Transfer the yogurt-marinated chicken breasts to the baking tray. Bake it for 20-25 minutes or until the thickest part of the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Remove and let it rest for 10 minutes. Slice and serve.

What does Greek yogurt do in a marinade?

The lactic acid in Greek yogurt acts as a meat tenderizer. It makes the chicken soft, juicy, and flavorful.

How long can I marinate meat in yogurt?

You can marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours or overnight. Keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you marinate it longer than 24 hours, the marinade can start to break down the fibers of the meat and the chicken could turn mushy.

How long does yogurt-marinated chicken last in the fridge?

Most recipes for marinating poultry are recommended for six hours up to 24 hours. After that the marinade starts to break down the fibers of the meat, causing it to become mushy. Always marinate the poultry in the refrigerator.

Storage Suggestions

Store the leftovers within 2 hours of cooking.
Let it come to room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate. Stays good for 2 days.
It is a freezer-friendly recipe. Transfer it to an airtight container and freeze. Stays good for a month. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat until piping hot at low-medium heat and serve.

Serving Suggestions

You can serve it with any one of the following.

Tzatziki Sauce
Greek Yogurt Coleslaw
Creamy Macaroni Salad or Corn Salad
Corn Salsa
Pair it with Lime cilantro rice
Roasted Potatoes or Grilled beans

More Greek Yogurt recipes that you may like

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