If you're craving the zesty, vibrant flavors of Mediterranean dishes, this Greek lemon chicken is a must-try. Made with juicy chicken breast and a simple Greek lemon marinade, itโs an easy weeknight dinner that feels anything but ordinary. Whether youโre new to Greek cooking or just looking for a fresh take on chicken, this dish brings bold flavor with minimal effortโand the leftover chicken tastes even better the next day.
Why Youโll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy โ Simple to prep and ideal for busy weeknights.
- Zesty lemon flavor โ A bright, fresh twist using classic Greek ingredients.
- Tender, juicy chicken breast โ Soaks up the flavorful marinade beautifully.
- Authentic taste โ Inspired by traditional Greek cooking, but super approachable. The marinade ingredients are super simple.
- Versatile โ Serve with rice, potatoes, or a fresh salad for an all-in-one dinner.
- Great for leftovers โ Makes an easy lunch the next day or perfect for meal prep.
Are you a big fan of Greek food? Give these other recipes a try:
Ingredient Notes
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts - chicken breasts are our preferred cut of chicken for this recipe, but you could also use chicken tenderloins or boneless chicken thighs.
- Oregano - you can use dry oregano or fresh oregano, however, you typically will need 3x the amount of fresh herbs as you do dried herbs.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
Serving Ideas
- Over lemon rice or brown rice (try our perfect instant pot brown rice) โ for a zesty, filling base.
- With a Greek salad โ fresh cucumber, tomato, red onion, olives, and feta.
- Tossed with orzo or couscous โ a light, Mediterranean-style pasta pairing.
- Alongside crispy roasted potatoes โ a classic, comforting combo.
- In a pita wrap โ with hummus, tzatziki, and fresh veggies. Try our Greek chicken pita wrap.
- With grilled or roasted vegetables โ like zucchini, bell peppers, or green beans.
- As a grain bowl โ layer chicken with rice, veggies, and crumbled feta for a full meal.
- With hummus and warm pita on the side โ perfect for scooping up every bite. Try our favorite homemade hummus recipe or our air fryer pita chips.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Top with some lemon zest, fresh lemon slices, or fresh herbs for extra flavor.
- Let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes, but ideally a few hours for deeper flavor.
- This recipe works well on the grill or baked in the oven depending on your preference.
- Make extra marinade and freeze chicken in it for a ready-to-cook meal later.
How to Make This Greek Chicken Recipe
For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Step 1: In a medium bowl or ziploc bag, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
Add the chicken and coat well with the marinade. Seal the bag or cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
Step 2: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grill grates to prevent sticking.
Remove chicken from the marinade, letting the excess marinade drip off. Grill for 4-5 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until the internal temperature reaches 165ยฐF and chicken is golden and slightly charred.
Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with a fresh squeeze of lemon if desired. Some ideas for serving include lemon rice, orzo, greek salad, grilled veggies, pita and hummus, etc.
Greek Lemon Chicken FAQs
We recommend storing leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container and consuming within 3-4 days.
Definitely! Place the chicken on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reads 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.ย
To freeze Greek lemon chicken, add raw chicken and marinade to a freezer-safe bag or container, seal tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and cook as directed.
This recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free. It is not vegan or vegetarian.ย
Other Mediterranean Recipes
If you make this Greek lemon chicken recipe, please let us know how it turns out in the comments below and/or rate the recipe! Donโt forget to tag us on Instagram to show us your finished productโit makes our day every time we see you trying the recipes we love!
Easy Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 ยฝ pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, butterflied (swap for chicken thighs if you prefer)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- ยพ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ยฝ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 lemon, for serving
Instructions
- In a medium bowl or ziploc bag, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Add the chicken and coat well with the marinade. Seal the bag or cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grill grates to prevent sticking.
- Remove chicken from the marinade, letting the excess marinade drip off. Grill for 4-5 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until the internal temperature reaches 165ยฐF and chicken is golden and slightly charred.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with a fresh squeeze of lemon if desired. Some ideas for serving include lemon rice, orzo, greek salad, grilled veggies, pita and hummus, etc.
Notes
- Save time/prep ahead:
- Marinate in advance: Prep the marinade and chicken up to 24 hours ahead and store it in the fridge.
- Freeze in marinade: Freeze raw chicken directly in the marinade for a ready-to-cook option later.
- Double the batch: Make extra and store cooked leftovers for quick lunches or dinners during the week.
- Pair with prepped sides: Cook a batch of rice, roasted potatoes, or chop veggies ahead so the full meal comes together fast.
- If you don't have access to a grill, you can also bake this chicken in the oven. Place the chicken on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reads 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Serve with additional lemon juice and salt to taste.
- This recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free. It is not vegan or vegetarian.ย
- The recipe can be found on My Fitness Pal by searching "BWB Greek Lemon Chicken." The nutrition content provided for each recipe is an estimate created through the My Fitness Pal database. Please be aware that the nutritional content of each recipe may vary based on the products you use, the precision of your measurements, and the source you use to obtain nutrition data. While we try to provide accurate information, we give no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the nutritional information provided.ย
Christine
Love the tang of the lemon. The marinade made the chicken very moist.