Greek Chicken Marinade Recipe

Take away dinner time stress with this amazing Greek chicken marinade recipe – a flavorful blend of basic ingredients and spices that transforms plain chicken into a delicious Mediterranean delight. Perfect for busy days, this marinade can be quickly whisked together and poured over chicken in a Ziploc bag for easy meal prep or even freezing ahead. Whether you choose to BBQ, bake, or cook on the stovetop, this versatile recipe ensures a burst of flavor in every bite, making it a weeknight dinner both family and guests will love.

Why You’ll Love this Easy Greek Chicken Marinade Recipe

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I was talking with a friend the other day and she mentioned that one of the hardest parts of cooking is coming up with the meal ideas! I totally agree. Adding to that the increasing cost of groceries and it gets downright tricky.

As I sat down to try to plan some easy, healthy, and yummy meals for the week ahead, I decided to turn some plain chicken breasts into meal prep ideas using flavorful marinades. To save money, I purchased a club pack of boneless, skinless chicken breasts (on sale this week!) which had 8 chicken breasts in it.

To make them stretch farther, I cut each chicken breast in half – making them half as thick. Each piece is still a lovely serving size, and they will go twice as far.

Chicken marinades are so quick to mix together and pour over chicken. Letting the chicken soak in the marinade for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours makes the chicken full of juicy flavor.

Ingredients for Greek Chicken Marinade

Please note there is a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for your convenience.

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar (or balsamic vinegar)
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice (or the juice from one lemon)
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 3/4 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• black pepper to taste
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts

Step by Step Instructions for this Chicken Marinade Recipe

1. In a small bowl or 2 cup measuring cup, whisk together all the marinade ingredients until well combined.
2. Place the chicken breasts in a large one gallon zip-loc bag** (see note below) and pour the marinade ingredients over the top. Gently “squish” the chicken and marinade around with your fingers so that the marinade covers all the chicken pieces well. Seal up the zip-loc bag after pushing out the air.
3. Place the chicken and marinade in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. The longer it is left to marinate, the better! Or, you can place the marinaded chicken in the freezer to have ready for a busy day in the future. When you are ready to use frozen marinaded chicken, remove from the freezer and let thaw in the fridge all night and the next day before cooking. As it thaws, it will be marinading the flavor into the chicken.

How to Cook Chicken that Has Been in this Greek Marinade Recipe

• On the Barbecue: Heat the grill to high heat and lightly oil the grill. Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard marinade. Grill the chicken pieces on each side 3-5 minutes, or until the juices run clear and the internal temperature is 165 degrees farenheit. To measure the internal temperature of chicken, use a food thermometer and stick it into the thickest part of the chicken breast. Cooking times will differ based on the thickness of the chicken.
• On the stovetop: Add about 1-2 tablespoons oil to a large skillet and heat to medium high heat. When the oil is hot, place the chicken breasts in the pan, making sure they are not overlapping in the pan. Cook the chicken breasts (without moving them in the pan) for about 5 minutes and then flip them over. If the pan seems a bit dry, add a pat of butter or some more oil and cook on the other side for 5-7 minutes, or until the juices run clear and the internal temperature is 165 degrees. Another way to check to see if it is cooked through is to slice it in the middle. You should see no pink at all when it is cooked through. Cooking times will always vary depending on the thickness of the chicken breast and the type of pan you are using.
• In the oven: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. I prefer to bake chicken in my stoneware baking pan without any parchment paper. However, if you don’t have a stoneware pan, you can line a shallow baking dish with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Remove the chicken from the marinade (discard remaining marinade) and place on the baking pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes (baking times will vary based on the thickness of the chicken). The juices should be running clear and the internal temperature should 165 degrees farenheit. If you want to have crispier chicken, you can place it under the broiler for a few minutes to crisp it up.

A general rule for chicken of any kind it to let it “rest” under a tent of aluminum foil after it is cooked through for about 5 minutes before serving.

What do you serve with Greek Chicken?

Here are some yummy side dishes that pare well with this flavorful greek chicken marinade recipe:

• Greek Salad
• Pita Bread
• Rice (I wrote how to bake rice in the oven because it’s my favorite way to make rice!)
• Roasted veggies (like smashed potatoes) drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with spices.
• Cold veggies with hummus dip
• Potato Salad

**What container do I use to marinate meat in?

One of the most convenient ways to marinate meat is in a large zipper topped bag (like a Zip-loc one). You can even purchase re-usable zip-loc bags that can be washed. However, if you don’t happen to have one, no problem! Here are some other options:

• A bowl– Just place the chicken covered in marinade in a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap before placing it in the fridge. A glass or ceramic bowl works best. It might help to move the chicken around a few times during the marinating process to make sure it all gets covered and soaked well.
• A marinating container– I got a specific marinating container from Tupperware when I was married (34 years ago!), and it works great. Mine is a “mini” one and is just like this. It has a tight seal and I can flip the container over during the marinating process to make sure all the meat is covered well.
• Avoid aluminum containers-Since marinade is acidic, the aluminum can react with the marinade causing it to affect the flavor and color.

Other Chicken Marinade Recipes

• Honey Mustard Chicken Marinade is a perfect meal prep idea and works for baking or grilling.
• This Teriyaki chicken marinade has been a family favorite for years!
• Mexican chicken breast marinade tastes amazing over a bowl of oven baked rice, salsa, and grated cheddar cheese!
• Apricot Chicken can be baked in the oven!
• Lemon chicken marinade makes a refreshing chicken flavor.
• Huli huli sauce can be used as a marinade or a yummy dipping sauce for grilled chicken.

Watch how to freeze chicken in marinade

I did a quick video to show how to freeze chicken in marinade to save money, stress, and time! Watch it below:

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