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Oven Roasted Greek Chicken Breasts

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Mediterranean inspired meaty marinated chicken breasts!

 

A pan of oven roasted Greek Chicken Breasts with fresh herbs and garlic

No boring chicken here!

I can’t wait for you try this Mediterranean inspired Oven Roasted Greek Chicken Breast recipe.

Chicken breasts marinated in an herb and garlic yogurt sauce then slow roasted to juicy perfection. This incredibly flavorful Oven Roasted Greek Chicken Breasts recipe is so versatile you can make it with any variety of chicken pieces or even a whole bird.

Do you love easy and flavorful dinner recipes? Me too! If you’re a little tired of the same old boring bird, jump on down and print this recipe my friends 🙂

 

What’s the best kind of poultry to use in this Greek chicken recipe?

I prefer to keep the chicken pieces all the same size for even cooking. I often use thighs or breasts, but this will also work for legs or even quarters. You can also use this marinade for grilling boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, and these incredibly tender chicken skewers too. It’s all great!

 

Ingredients needed to make Greek Chicken:

For the marinade:

  • plain Greek yogurt
  • olive oil
  • lemon juice
  • lemon zest
  • white balsamic vinegar
  • fresh or dried oregano leaves
  • fresh or dried thyme leaves
  • garlic
  • salt
  • pepper
  • red pepper flakes
  • olives – optional for adding in at the end

For the chicken:

  • bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts, thighs, legs or quarters work well. You can also prepare an entire chicken with this same marinade.

 

Juicy, plump, golden brown oven roasted chicken breasts in a pan with herbs and garlic.

How to make Greek Chicken:

  1. First, combine all the marinade ingredients in a large zipper bag.
  2. Next, loosen the skin on top of the chicken pieces and spoon some of the marinade under the skin. Place the chicken in the bag, seal and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.
  3. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 30 minutes before roasting. Preheat the oven. Place the chicken skin-side up in a roasting pan or large oven-proof skillet.
  4. Roast the chicken, uncovered, until cooked through.
  5. Add olives to the pan, drizzle the chicken with the juices and serve.

 

Make Oven-Roasted Greek Chicken Breasts for an easy weeknight family meal.

When I’m feeling really uninspired, I sprinkle a little seasoned salt blend or Mrs. Dash on the chicken and call it dinner. But when I manage to think about dinner early in the day, or even the day before, I whip up this easy marinade and let it work the magic on my favorite chicken breasts.

Once marinated for at least 4 hours or up to 24, all you have to do is put it in a pan and pop it in the oven! While the chicken roasts in the oven, steam some vegetables or make a quick Greek salad. Dinner’s done.

Even though this recipe is simple enough for a weeknight meal, it also makes an impressive dinner party main course. With all the prep work done well in advance, you’ll have more more time to finish the meal without feeling stressed.

Toss in a few olives at the end for nice visual appeal and briny flavor. The aroma of the fresh herbs and garlic is amazing, practically enticing everyone to the dinner table in record time.

 

A pan of oven roasted Greek Chicken Breasts drizzled with the buttery pan sauce.

Why use yogurt in the marinade?

Yogurt has always been revered as a healthy way to start the day. In addition to being high in protein and loaded with calcium, vitamins and probiotics, yogurt can also tenderize meats and chicken.

In THIS article by Tommy Werner, he describes how the microbes and lactic acid in yogurt are responsible for breaking down the proteins in chicken, making it tender and moist.

The active bacteria in Greek yogurt works slowly to tenderize the chicken without making the flesh mushy and soft. This mild form of lactic acid is a favorite with Middle Eastern and Indian inspired recipes too.

You’ll find yogurt is used to marinate our luscious Indian Butter Chicken Recipe and this popular and flavorful Chicken Tikka Masala recipe too. Yogurt’s not just for breakfast bowls and smoothies!

 

 

Thanks for PINNING!

A skillet with oven roasted chicken breasts drizzled with sauce

 

Let’s be cooking friends! If you make our recipe please feel free to leave a comment on this post. I’m sure your experience and insights will help all our readers, and it helps me too. If you’re on Pinterest feel free to leave a comment and photo there if you have one!

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One of the best kitchen tools I have in my kitchen:

Without a doubt, Staub makes some pretty amazing products! In my opinion, the hype is well deserved. This Cast Iron 3.5-qt Braiser with Glass Lid (in Graphite Grey) cooks almost anything – amazingly well. The textured black matte enamel interior ensures exceptional browning and the durable cast iron construction boasts incredible heat retention and distribution.

The enamel finish will not chip, crack or rust and the tight-fitting glass lid locks in moisture and allows easy monitoring of cooking. I love the big domed lid for large pieces of meat also allowing steam to circulate.

It’s a bit more pricey than other brands, so watch for a sale on Amazon or Williams Sonoma. This is a great investment and I bet you’ll find you use it all the time, like me. The size is perfect for so many recipes.

We absolutely LOVE IT!

 

*Saving Room for Dessert is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program ~ I earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you, which I use to pay for web hosting and services for this blog.

 

 

 

A skillet filled with Oven-Roasted Greek Chicken Breasts
5 from 1 vote

Oven-Roasted Greek Chicken Breasts

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 1 hr
Total Time: 5 hrs 10 mins
Yield: 4 Servings
Course: Main
Author: Tricia
PRINT RECIPE
Enjoy these Mediterranean inspired meaty chicken breasts marinated in an herb and garlic yogurt sauce then slow roasted to juicy perfection!

Ingredients

For the marinade:

  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves chopped (or 2 teaspoons dried)
  • 1 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoons dried
  • 6 medium garlic cloves minced
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

For the chicken:

  • 4 bone-in skin-on chicken breasts

Instructions

  • Combine all the marinade ingredients in a large ziplock bag. Loosen the skin on top of the breasts by poking a finger under between the skin and breast making a small opening. Don’t detach it completely. Spoon a little marinade into the pocket and smash it around to distribute. Place the chicken breasts in the bag with the remaining marinade, turning to coat. Marinate for 4-24 hours. Turn the bag a few times while marinating.
  • When ready to roast, remove the bag of chicken from the refrigerator and let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°F. Place chicken breasts skin-side up in a roasting pan or large oven-proof skillet.
  • Reserve marinade to baste chicken halfway through roasting if desired..
  • Roast the breasts (uncovered) until they register 160°F, about 50-60 minutes depending on the size of the pieces. Baste with additional marinade halfway through roasting if desired. Remove the pan from the oven and spoon the pan juices over the top of the chicken. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

  • This marinade works great for grilled boneless, skinless chicken and skewers too.
  • If you use bone-in thighs or legs, adjust roasting time to allow for smaller pieces.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Nutrition

Calories: 468kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 709mg | Potassium: 519mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 316IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 107mg | Iron: 3mg

Here are a few more Mediterranean inspired recipes you might enjoy:

 

Skewers of grilled Greek chicken recipes with peppers and onions

Grilled Greek Chicken Recipe

 

 

a platter with a layered hummus dip with pine nuts and olives

Greek Layered Hummus Dip Recipe

 

 

a bowl of authentic Greek salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives and onions

Easy Greek Salad Recipe

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31 Comments

  1. leah says

    May 15, 2022 at 8:30 pm

    I am wanting to do a greek night dinner/part for over 20 people. What suggestions would you make in
    cooking that many breasts ? Do you think they would cook okay in the oven.

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      May 16, 2022 at 9:12 am

      Hi Leah. I’m so glad you reached out with this question. I think baking that many chicken breasts will be fine but I would allow for a longer time in the oven. Two sheet pans might work well and you can rotate the pans halfway through. Or, if you have a grill, perhaps you’d like to try a similar recipe that can be prepped ahead making for easy grilling and serving. Check out our recipe for Grilled Greek Chicken Recipe. You might also want to check out this crazy good Greek Layered Hummus Dip. Everybody loves it! Good luck and thanks for trying our recipes!

      reply to this comment >
  2. Melinda says

    April 4, 2022 at 7:38 pm

    5 stars
    So delicious and tender. Replacing our fave Greek chicken recipe with this one! Didn’t have white balsamic so used regular. Served with Greek lemon potatoes, spring asparagus and toasted bread points with feta and Greek cheese melted on top. Lovely meal! Thank you!

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      April 5, 2022 at 10:05 am

      Thank you Melinda! Your sides sound heavenly and the toast with feta and Greek cheese sounds fantastic. Bravo! Thank you 🙂

      reply to this comment >
  3. Lara says

    July 23, 2021 at 8:43 pm

    Could this be made in an instant pot?

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      July 25, 2021 at 6:43 am

      Hi Lara! What a great question 🙂 I bet this marinade would be perfect for chicken in the instant pot. However I have not tried it so I can’t give you any guidance. Enjoy!

      reply to this comment >
  4. Lori A. Houck says

    April 22, 2019 at 11:52 am

    2 stars
    I prepared this dish and strictly followed the recipe. The stated cooking time was too long and the chicken was dry and did not have much flavor. I was a little disappointed. I don’t think it was the chicken itself as I used a high quality brand, Bell and Evans.

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      April 22, 2019 at 12:59 pm

      Thanks for the feedback Lori. I am very surprised because I’ve never had this issue with this recipe. There is so much flavor in the chicken and it’s juicy and tender every time. Thanks for trying it – sorry it didn’t work out for you. Perhaps your chicken breasts were smaller than mine.

      reply to this comment >
    • Renee says

      May 28, 2019 at 8:34 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! I almost didn’t make this because of your comment. I’m so glad that I decided to go ahead and make it. It was an explosion of flavor and super moist. I will be making it again.

      reply to this comment >
      • Tricia Buice says

        May 30, 2019 at 10:35 am

        So glad you tried it Renee! This is a favorite of mine – so much flavor and the chicken is very juicy. Not sure what went wrong for Lori – but this recipe is a keeper 🙂

        reply to this comment >
    • Nancy Long says

      September 19, 2019 at 7:35 am

      possibly your oven runs too hot – I always use an oven thermometer

      reply to this comment >
  5. Rhonda says

    January 31, 2019 at 3:13 pm

    We usually cook our chicken on the grill but due to -10 temperature I was browsing ways to cook it indoors. This recipe caught my eye immediately because we love Mediterranean flavors. I only had time to let it marinate for 3 hrs, but it was still delicious! I’ll definitely put this recipe in our rotation, but I’ll be better prepared to let it marinate longer. Maybe once the temperature rises we’ll give it a try on the grill ?
    Thanks for sharing

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      January 31, 2019 at 3:28 pm

      Thanks so much Rhonda – I LOVE this chicken and putting it on the grill is something I’m looking forward to as well. We were down to 9 degrees last night – so cold! Stay warm and thank you for trying our recipe, and for taking the time to let us know how it turned out for you. Outstanding!

      reply to this comment >
  6. [email protected] is How I Cook says

    January 21, 2019 at 1:18 pm

    This does sound so good. And thanks for reminding me that I best start thinking about dinner. I do believe I have some chicken breasts I can marinate. Perhaps Greek style?!

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      January 23, 2019 at 7:48 am

      This chicken is so delicious Abbe – hope you’ll give it a try!

      reply to this comment >
  7. Susan says

    January 19, 2019 at 11:48 am

    This reminds me of a mayo-marinated chicken breast recipe that we grill that is so delicious too! I’d love to try your yogurt marinade in a recipe that’s indoor friendly (she says while looking out at 6 inches of snow on the ground) 🙂 Thank you, Tricia!

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      January 19, 2019 at 12:54 pm

      I bet you are getting some snow this weekend Susan. We enjoyed 8 inches last weekend but are so over it now – haha. Enjoy this chicken – it’s so good!

      reply to this comment >
  8. Liz says

    January 17, 2019 at 9:13 pm

    I collect loads and loads of dessert recipes, but what I really need are more dinner ideas! This Greek chicken is perfect! Love the crispy skin and all the flavorful herbs!!! YUM.

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      January 18, 2019 at 7:20 am

      Thanks Liz – this is a recipe you’ll want to put on repeat! SO good 🙂

      reply to this comment >
  9. sue | the view from great island says

    January 17, 2019 at 2:01 pm

    Love your chicken and also loooove that pan, I’m off to check it out :)))

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      January 17, 2019 at 3:13 pm

      Thanks Sue! The pan is a keeper and my favorite kitchen tool these days.

      reply to this comment >
  10. Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says

    January 17, 2019 at 11:44 am

    I love Greek flavours, so I can’t wait to try this one. It looks perfect. Always looking for new ways to cook up chicken 🙂

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      January 17, 2019 at 12:26 pm

      We were on the same page today Jennifer. Love chicken breasts for dinner and would love to try your one pan recipe 🙂

      reply to this comment >
  11. mimi rippee says

    January 17, 2019 at 11:24 am

    This is wonderful! Such a pretty dish. Don’t you just love white balsamic? Sometimes you don’t want the “brown.”

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      January 17, 2019 at 11:38 am

      I love using white balsamic vinegar in my recipes Mimi – so much flavor in those tiny bottles 🙂 Thanks!

      reply to this comment >
    • Em says

      September 16, 2019 at 12:51 pm

      Could I make this with bone in thighs?

      reply to this comment >
      • Tricia Buice says

        September 17, 2019 at 6:40 am

        Yes you can Em – use any kind of chicken pieces you want. Enjoy!

        reply to this comment >
  12. angiesrecipes says

    January 16, 2019 at 10:58 pm

    This looks amazingly delicious with that yoghurt marinade, Tricia. Going to market later and I am going to get some chicken breasts to try this because it is too good to miss in life!

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      January 17, 2019 at 6:48 am

      I’m so glad you are going to try this Angie. It’s got so much flavor and is so tender and juicy. Thanks so much!

      reply to this comment >
  13. Chris Scheuer says

    January 16, 2019 at 9:03 pm

    These look fantastic, Tricia! I can’t wait to pick up some chicken breasts and try this recipe. Who needs rotisserie chicken? This looks so much better!

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      January 17, 2019 at 6:49 am

      Thank you Chris! Bet you love it too 😉

      reply to this comment >

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