Grilling season is the best season, and this Greek grilled chicken is a must-try for your next cookout. The chicken is marinated in a simple blend of lemon juice, red wine vinegar, garlic, and fresh herbs, giving it a bright and flavorful taste. Serve it with your favorite side dish, and you’ve got a delicious, simple meal that’s perfect for any day of the week or future family gatherings.
Check out the recipe below, along with some helpful tips to make sure your chicken turns out just right.
Greek grilled chicken: what to expect
- Taste: The marinade gives the chicken a bright and tangy flavor from the lemon juice and red wine vinegar. Also, the garlic and herbs add just the right amount of savory seasoning, and the grill brings everything together with a touch of smoky char.
- Texture: The chicken is juicy and tender with a slightly crispy, caramelized exterior from the grill. The olive oil in the marinade helps keep it moist while it cooks.
- Foolproof Factor: This recipe is easy to prepare and great for summer grilling. The marinade does most of the work, so all you need to do is let the chicken sit for a few hours to absorb the flavors. To keep the chicken from drying out, grill it over medium-high heat and cook it until it reaches 165°F or 74°C. If you’re using a grill pan, flipping the chicken once will help get those nice grill marks.
- Timing: If you prep the marinade ahead of time, you can have this chicken ready in about 12 minutes on the grill.
Greek grilled chicken ingredients and how to use them
This recipe requires simple ingredients, some you may already have in your kitchen.
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts: You’ll need 1½ lbs. of chicken for this recipe. The marinade helps keep it juicy while grilling, and it absorbs the flavors beautifully.
- Salt and black pepper: ½ teaspoon each. A little seasoning goes a long way to enhance the flavors in the marinade.
- Rosemary: ½ teaspoon, chopped. Dried rosemary will work in a pinch — just use half as much.
- Dried oregano: ½ teaspoon. A classic in Greek cooking, oregano adds a slightly peppery, earthy flavor that brings everything together.
- Thyme: 1 teaspoon, chopped. Fresh thyme works best here, adding a mild citrusy note to balance out the richness of the marinade.
- Cayenne pepper: ¼ teaspoon. Just a bit of heat to round out the flavors. If you prefer a milder dish, you can leave it out.
- Garlic: 1 tablespoon, minced. Fresh garlic adds a bold, savory depth that makes the marinade even better. If you love garlic, feel free to add a little more.
- Lemon juice: 3 tablespoons. Freshly squeezed lemon juice brightens up the dish and also helps tenderize the chicken. Bottled lemon juice will work, but fresh is always best.
- Olive oil: 3 tablespoons. This helps the marinade coat the chicken evenly and keeps it from sticking to the grill. Extra virgin olive oil gives the best flavor.
- Red wine vinegar: 1 tablespoon. A touch of acidity to balance the olive oil and bring out the flavors of the herbs and garlic.
Equipment needed for Greek grilled chicken
- One medium bowl to mix the marinade
- One zip-top bag to coat the chicken.
- A grill or grill pan is essential for cooking.
- Tongs will make flipping the chicken easier.
- A meat thermometer is helpful to ensure the chicken reaches 165°F.
More grilled recipes to try
If you love grilling as much as I do, here are a few more recipes to add to your next cookout menu.
- Grilled Chicken with Pineapple Avocado Salsa: A fresh and summery dish featuring juicy grilled chicken topped with a bright and tangy pineapple avocado salsa.
- Grilled Carne Asada: Marinated flank steak grilled to perfection, with bold flavors that make it great for tacos, fajitas, or serving on its own.
- 321 Smoked Pork Ribs: These ribs are smoked low and slow using the 3-2-1 method, resulting in tender, fall-off-the-bone meat with deep smoky flavor.
- Grilled Chicken Skewers with Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette: Chicken skewers marinated and grilled to perfection, then served with a flavorful roasted garlic vinaigrette.
Greek Grilled Chicken Recipe
This is a fun update on grilled chicken breast with fresh, herby flavors.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Marinating Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours, 17 minutes
- Yield: 4 Servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grilling
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon chopped rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Instructions
- Make the marinade. Combine salt, pepper, rosemary, oregano, thyme, cayenne pepper, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. Mix well.
- Marinate chicken. Place the chicken breasts into a zip-top bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken, seal the bag and shake to coat the chicken with the marinade. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Grill. Preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Remove the chicken breasts from the marinade and place onto the grill. Cook for 5-6 minutes per side or until the internal temperature has reached 165°F or 74°C.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 303
- Sugar: 0.3 g
- Sodium: 368.2 mg
- Fat: 15.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Protein: 38.5 g
- Cholesterol: 124.1 mg
