Any time I find myself at a homey Greek restaurant, I always order the Greek grilled chicken. Greek grilled chicken is so tender and wonderfully seasoned, and I love it on a salad, with some crumbled feta cheese, and briney kalamata olives. The key to expertly replicating this perfect grilled Greek chicken at home is the marinade, and you’ll be happy to know that this recipe is not at all complicated! Some good quality olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic, and oregano make the perfect Greek chicken marinade, and you only need to marinate it for an hour or so! Need more easy and flavorful ways to marinate chicken for grilling? Try my Mexican Chicken Marinade, or learn my 6 favorite ways to marinate chicken!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients In Greek Grilled Chicken
Here’s what you need to make this easy grilled chicken recipe: Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Chicken: I’m grilling chicken breasts with this Greek marinade, and I’ve sliced them in half to make thin cutlets so that they grill up quickly. You can also use this recipe to marinate up to two pounds of chicken thighs or chicken tenderloins. Olive Oil: Use extra virgin olive oil to create the base of the marinade. If you can find Greek olive oil, that’s amazing, but not totally necessary. Lemons: Fresh lemon juice is key to giving the Greek marinade a bright flavor, but it also serves a technical purpose. The acid in the lemon juice breaks down the muscle fibers in the meat, making it super tender. Seasonings: Freshly minced garlic, salt, ground black pepper, and dried oregano.
How To Make the best greek grilled chicken
Recipe Tips
Give the Marinade Time to Work. You want to marinate the chicken for at least an hour, but no more than 4 hours. If you don’t marinate long enough, the chicken won’t be flavorful, but if you let it go too long, the meat will break down too much and get mushy. Clean the Grill: To make perfectly grilled chicken, it’s important to clean your grill grates really well after you’ve preheated them. Coat the grill grates with a bit of oil as well to keep anything from sticking. Let the Chicken Rest. After you pull it off the grill, set the chicken on a plate and leave it alone for about 5 minutes. Resting allows the meat to retain its juices and remain moist and juicy. Use a Meat Thermometer. You will know that the chicken is fully cooked because it will read 165°F/74°C on the inside.
Storing Tips
Once cooked, you can store grilled chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Leftover Greek chicken is delicious cold, turned into a sandwich, salad, or a wrap, but can also be gently reheated in the microwave if you like. For longer storage, cooked grilled chicken can be frozen for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat it, defrost it in the refrigerator overnight. Grilled Greek chicken is wonderful for meal prep! Pack it up with some roasted vegetables and brown rice and you’ll have healthy lunches in the fridge for the entire week.
What To Serve With Grilled Greek Chicken
I’m serving this delicious grilled chicken with a simple and fresh classic Greek Salad! Simply add your favorite greens to a bowl or salad plate and top with sliced onion, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Add some kalamata olives, crumbled feta cheese, and place slices of Greek grilled chicken on top. Serve with creamy Tzatziki Sauce and warmed Pita or Flatbread for the perfect meal! You might also like to try some other tasty Mediterranean sides:
Orzo Greek Salad Greek Green Beans Fasolakia Spanakopita Pearl Couscous Salad
Do I need to Grill this Greek Chicken?
Grilling is preferred, but once it’s marinated, you can technically cook this chicken using any method you like. Instead of grilling, try pan-searing it on the stovetop using a cast iron skillet. You can also bake it in the oven.
Why is my grilled chicken dry?
Dry chicken is almost always a cause of it being overcooked. Be sure to keep a close eye on the chicken while you’re grilling it, and pull it off the grill as soon as it’s fully cooked. Use a thermometer to help you measure that the chicken has reached 165°F/74°C in the center!
Should I marinate chicken in the refrigerator?
Yes! You should always keep raw chicken refrigerated, even while it’s marinating. If you’re marinating your chicken in a bag, I suggest doing so on the bottom shelf of the fridge, just in case there are any spills or leaks. This easy recipe makes the best grilled Greek Chicken! Be sure to save this recipe, I know you’ll be coming back to it time and time again! © Little Sunny Kitchen
