A yogurt marinated chicken thatโs beautifully tenderized and infused with terrific garlic and oregano flavours!ย If youโre new to the magical powers of yogurt marinades, this baked Greek Chicken is going to convert you for life! ย Brought to you inย partnership with Farmers Union Greek Style Yogurt.
Welcome to GREEK WEEK! Every now and then, I like to do themed menus where I share all the recipes for a feast, and this weekย itโs all about the bright fresh flavours of the Mediterranean. Think โ lemons, oregano, yogurt, lemons andย plenty of garlic!
Are you ready to see what Iโve got in store for you for Greek Week?? Here you goโฆ.
GREEK MENU
Greek Chickenย โ Garlicky lemony oregano flavours infused right through the chicken from a flavour loaded Greek chicken marinade;
Greek Saladย โ the juicy tomatoes, fresh cucumbers, that red wine vinegar dressing and the pops of feta!
Tzatziki โ for dipping and dolloping (recipe in Notes of Greek chicken)
ย Coming Thursday;Greek Lemon Roasted Potatoes โ crispy, lemony potatoes. Itโs your dream come true!ย
Coming Friday;orLemon Potato Saladย (pictured in first photo)โย terrific alternative to mayo based Potato Salads. Bonus: No need to peel the potatoes.
And for dessertโฆ.
Greekย BUTTLOVER!!!!ย
Oops, I mean Baklava. Butt-lover / Baklava. Same thing. ๐ย Coming your way on Fridayโฆ. (Psst It does take time to assemble but youโre going to be amazed how straightforward it is!!)
SECRET WEAPON: YOGURT GREEK CHICKEN MARINADE
I first introduced readers to the magical powers of yogurt marinades with Greek Chicken Gyros. I bleated* over and over again about how the yogurt marinade is so awesome, I use it even when Iโmย not making Gyros. (*Honestly, there is no other way to describe the way I harped on about it other than to say I was bleating.)
Yogurt is a brilliantย marinade.ย The Greeks know it, Middle Easterners have embraced it, the Persians love it, the Indians live by it (Butter Chicken, Tikka Masala, Biryani!).
Whatโs so good about it? Well, it tenderises quickly and more evenly than liquids with harsher acidity like lemon juice and vinegar, and is also a fabulous flavour carrier, injecting herbs and spices into the flesh.
This is the yogurt I use, and have always used for as long as I can remember โ Farmers Union Greek Style Yogurt. It would be rare to find my fridge without a tub of this. More likely youโd see two: current in use + a restock.
Thereโs enough flavour in the Greek Chicken Marinade such that you donโt need to marinate for a full 24 hours to get the benefit of the tenderising and flavour injection. Overnight is definitely recommended but if you really need to rush it, even 3 hours is enough. Just do extra basting!
Iโve baked this chicken because Iโve used bone in, skin on chicken thighs and drumsticks here. I love how the skin goes crispy, and any cut of meat with the bone is extra juicy.
But this is one of those recipes that is truly terrific with any cut of chicken.ย Especially breast โ because it adds juiciness and flavour. Iโve popped directions and cook times in the recipe notes.
Go forth and enjoy! Back Wednesday for the next instalment in this weeksโ Greek Feast โ Greek Lemon Roasted Potatoes!ย โ Nagi x
MORE GREAT YOGURT MARINADES
โ Greek Chicken Gyros
โ Lamb Shawarma โ flavour loaded fall apart lamb!
โ Doner Kebab (homemade version of post-pub midnight kebab runโฆ)
โ Butter Chicken
โ Tikka Masala
โ Chicken Biryani
ย
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Greek Chicken
Ingredients
- 1.25 kg / 2.5 lb drumsticks and chicken thighs , bone in skin on (Note 1)
Marinade:
- 6 garlic cloves , minced (~ 2 tbsp)
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar (or red wine or apple cider vinegar)
- 1/2 cup / 125 ml lemon juice
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3/4 cup Greek yogurt (I use Farmers Union)
- 1 1/2 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Serving (optional):
- Plain Greek yogurt or Tzatziki
- Fresh oregano leaves (optional)
Instructions
- Mix Marinade ingredients in a large bowl.
- Add chicken and coat well. Marinade for 24 hours (3 hours minimum).
- Preheat oven to 180C.350F.
- Line a tray with foil (trust me), place rack on tray (optional).
- Place chicken on rack (reserve marinade), skin side up. Bake 30 minutes,
- Remove from oven. Brush with marinade โ do not flip.
- Return to oven for 20 minutes or until golden and a bit crispy. Give it a spray of olive oil just before itโs done if you want an extra crispy, shiny coat.
- Rest for a few minutes before serving. Juicy and tasty enough to serve plain but extra great with tzatziki or even some plain yogurt.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
Gettingย right in there to make sure itโs sparkling clean before I pop it into the recycling bin!
Todayโs recipe is brought to you courtesy of Farmers Union. Iโve used their Greek style natural yoghurt for as long as I can remember. So it was a no brainer when they asked if Iโd create a recipe for them!!
Mediterranean food is a favorite around here, so let the Greek Week begin. Your chicken looks yummy. Greek yogurt is a staple in our fridge, however Farmers Union hasnโt made it up our way. Canโt wait until Wednesday, hoping to find a good Greek potato recipe and yours look grand in your image.
Poor Dozer, he must even work when heโs snoozing.
I buggered up the video!! I have to reshoot tomorrow ๐
I think heโs fallen asleep in there. (He is called Dozer after all.)
BA HA HA!!! I almost choked on a mouthful of food when I read this!!
Nagi I love this Greek week!! How exciting. Canโt wait for the crunchy lemon roasted potatoes โฆ please!! ๐
Hope you love them!! The flavour those potatoes suck up is INCREDIBLE!!!
Yes! I agree with Janna โ Crunchy Lemon Roasted Potatoes please!!!!
Coming Friday!! I buggered something up and I have to reshoot something! N xx
Thanks for the update on the potatoes. Sorry you had to reshoot! Canโt wait to try them! Just had your smashed crispy potatoes last night. I think I could eat the entire tray myself! Yummy!!
Ohhhhh this looks delicious! Love your gyros recipe, canโt wait to try this one too! Quick question, do you need to baste if using chicken breast?
Hi Katrina! Thanks for the, updated the note, yes baste! N x
I wondered that too, but it looks as though my comment didnโt post. I also wondered about cooking time for boneless chicken breast, Nagi โ 20 minutes? Then baste and another 20? I bought ingredients and want to try this tomorrow. ๐
Hi Alex! Itโs in Note 1 ๐ I would baste a few minutes before finishing. Though to be honest, best would be on the stove for breast! N xx
Thanks, Nagi! I made this recipe last night and youโre right โ next time Iโll make them in a pan. They were very juicy and tender, but didnโt brown in the stove. Pan-frying should fix that. ๐
Hello Alex, in Note 1 Nagi says 20 minutes at 390F for breasts. I think 40 minutes would be way too long for breasts.
Regards Sharon.
Hi Sharon! Thanks, thatโs cleared up. I did roast them for 35 minutes (starting at 200ยฐC and finishing at 250ยฐC) and they were very tender and juicy. Next time Iโll pan-fry them, though, since without the skin they didnโt get crispy in the oven.
Agreed Sharon! Theyโd be shrivelled up hockey pucks!!