Greek-style chicken is a flavorful and easy dinner option that can be made right in your own kitchen. With just a few simple ingredients like olive oil, lemon, garlic, and oregano, you can transform basic chicken into a Mediterranean delight.
An Overview on Greek Chicken
Greek chicken features the robust flavors of olive oil, garlic, lemon, and oregano. It often relies on bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs which impart extra moisture, fat, and flavor. The chicken is typically marinated briefly to allow the seasonings to penetrate before being seared on the stovetop and finished cooking in the oven. This method yields crispy, golden skin and tender, juicy meat infused with herbs and spices.
The zesty flavors of Greek chicken pair wonderfully with fresh vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, and spinach. It’s also delicious served over rice, couscous, or pasta. Leftovers make excellent sandwiches, wraps, pitas, and salads too.
How to Make Greek Chicken Step-By-Step
Making Greek chicken at home is simple. With just a few ingredients and easy techniques you’ll have a flavorful family meal on the table in under an hour.
Ingredients
- Chicken thighs, bone-in skin-on
- Olive oil
- Fresh lemon juice
- Garlic, minced
- Dried oregano
- Salt and pepper
- Vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, etc.
Instructions
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Make the marinade: In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and oregano. Season with salt and pepper.
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Marinate the chicken: Add chicken thighs and turn to coat in marinade. Let sit 10-30 minutes.
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Cook the chicken: Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken skin-side down and cook until crispy, about 5-10 minutes per side.
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Roast in oven: Transfer skillet to oven and roast at 400°F until chicken is cooked through, 15-20 minutes.
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Add veggies In the last 10 minutes of cook time, add veggies like zucchini, tomatoes or peppers to the pan to roast.
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Finish and serve: Remove from oven and squeeze over fresh lemon juice. Serve chicken and veggies with the pan juices.
Tips
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Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts if you prefer. The cook time will be slightly less.
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Skip the oven and just cook entirely on the stovetop if you want to save time
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Try different dried herbs like thyme, rosemary, dill, or basil.
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Roast a whole chicken or chicken pieces instead of thighs.
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Marinate up to a day ahead for maximum flavor.
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Broil at the end to get the skin extra crispy.
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Garnish with olives, feta cheese, fresh parsley or cilantro.
Easy Greek Chicken Recipes
Beyond the basic pan-roasted method, there are many delicious ways to prepare Greek chicken for dinner. Here are some easy recipe ideas:
Greek Chicken Gyros
Made with sliced Greek chicken, gyros are wrapped in warm pita bread and loaded with tzatziki sauce, tomatoes, onions, and feta.
Greek Chicken Kabobs
Marinated chicken and vegetables like onion, tomato, and bell pepper are skewered and grilled. Serve with rice or pita.
Greek Chicken Salad
Chopped Greek chicken is tossed with romaine lettuce, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, and Greek dressing.
Greek Chicken Pita Pizza
Top pita bread with Greek chicken, feta, tomatoes, spinach, and Greek seasoning for a fun pizza night.
Greek Chicken Bowl
Build a grain bowl with brown rice, Greek chicken, roasted veggies, hummus, and Greek yogurt sauce.
Lemon Greek Chicken & Potatoes
Roasted lemon-oregano chicken and potatoes is a simple, satisfying one-pan meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to make Greek chicken?
From start to finish, Greek chicken takes about 50 minutes to make but can be faster or slower depending on the specific recipe. Marinating time can range from 10 minutes to overnight.
What is the best cut of chicken to use?
Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are ideal but you can also use boneless, skinless thighs or chicken breasts. Chicken pieces like drumsticks and wings work too.
What goes well with Greek chicken?
Some classic side dishes are roasted vegetables, Greek salad, rice pilaf, couscous, roasted potatoes, and pita bread.
How should I store and reheat leftovers?
Leftover Greek chicken will keep 3-4 days refrigerated. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed through, adding a splash of water to prevent drying out.
Can I prepare Greek chicken on the grill?
Absolutely! Marinate chicken as directed then skewer and grill over medium heat, turning occasionally, until cooked through and charred.
What if I don’t have dried oregano?
You can substitute fresh oregano or use a different dried herb like thyme, rosemary, basil, or marjoram. The flavor profile may vary slightly.
Transform Your Dinner with Greek Flair
Now that you know how easy it is to make Greek chicken for dinner, you’ll want to add it into your regular rotation. In less than an hour, you can put a flavorful Mediterranean meal on the table that will satisfy the whole family.
So go ahead and give one of these Greek chicken recipes a try for your next weeknight dinner or weekend meal. Just a few simple ingredients and techniques are all you need to transport your tastebuds to the Mediterranean right from your own kitchen. Opa!
What kind of chicken to use?
- Skinless boneless chicken thighs are the best choice here. They are flavorful, moist, and forgiving to cook. Do not discard the juices from the cooked chicken thighs – they will add so much flavor to the rice!
- Skinless boneless chicken breasts or tenderloins are good choices, too, even though the white chicken meat is not as flavorful as chicken thighs.
- I do not recommend bone-in chicken, such as skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs. It cooks much longer than skinless boneless chicken and is better suited for baking in the oven vs on the stovetop.
What kind of rice to use?
- Jasmine or basmati rice. Long-grain rice works the best here.
- Brown rice will cook a little bit longer, but would work great, too.
- Wild rice will take even longer to cook, but it will certainly fit well with the rest of the ingredients!