Greek Yogurt Marinated Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken marinated in Greek yogurt, garlic, and spices, then grilled or baked until juicy and flavorful.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)

→ Marinade

02 - 1 cup Greek yogurt (whole milk or low-fat)
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
05 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano (or 1 teaspoon dried oregano)
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
08 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1 teaspoon salt
10 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
11 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ Garnishes

12 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
13 - Lemon wedges, for serving

# Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, and lemon zest until well combined.
02 - Add the chicken breasts to the marinade, turning to coat thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to 8 hours for maximum flavor absorption.
03 - Preheat grill to medium-high heat or preheat oven to 425°F.
04 - Remove the chicken from marinade and let excess drip off. Discard any leftover marinade.
05 - For grilling: Place chicken on grill, cook for 6–8 minutes per side or until internal temperature reaches 165°F. For oven: Place chicken on a lined baking sheet, bake 18–22 minutes or until cooked through.
06 - Rest the chicken for 5 minutes before slicing to retain juices. Garnish with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The yogurt makes chicken impossibly tender without any fancy techniques
  • The spices create this gorgeous golden crust that tastes like something from a Mediterranean restaurant
02 -
  • Pat the chicken reasonably dry before cooking or the yogurt will create steam instead of that gorgeous crust
  • Marinating beyond 12 hours makes the texture weirdly mushy, so stick to the sweet spot
03 -
  • Use a glass bowl for marinating since yogurt can react with metal and create off flavors
  • Room temperature chicken cooks more evenly, so let it sit out for 20 minutes before grilling

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