When the most tender, moist chicken is the goal, this Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade delivers! Lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs add big flavor, making this the best chicken you’ll ever have.
I always keep Greek yogurt in the fridge for things like Greek Yogurt Dip and Greek Yogurt Pancakes. But until now, I never thought to use it as a marinade. I was missing out! If you’ve ever marinated your chicken in buttermilk, this Greek yogurt chicken marinade works on the same idea—the lactic acid in the Greek yogurt tenderizes the chicken. I don’t keep buttermilk on hand, but I always have plain Greek yogurt, so this marinade is easy to whip up whenever we’re making chicken for dinner!
What Makes This the Best Marinade for Chicken
There’s no going back once you give this Greek yogurt chicken marinade a try. It’s going to be your go-to!
- Juicy, tender, succulent chicken. I can’t overstate how awesome chicken is with this marinade. As mentioned above, the yogurt tenderizes the chicken, but it does more than that. It also adds a fantastic richness that even makes lean boneless skinless chicken breasts succulent.
- Big (and customizable) flavor. The combination of lemon juice, garlic, and fresh herbs brings lots of flavor to this marinade. And by choosing different herbs, you can steer the flavor in different directions.
- Use it for ANY chicken. Chicken breasts or thighs, boneless or bone-in, baked or skewered and grilled—this marinade recipe works for all of it.
What You’ll Need
Fresh, simple ingredients make this marinade a star! Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
- Greek yogurt – I recommend using plain full-fat Greek yogurt, which has a richer flavor.
- Lemon juice – Fresh lemon juice is key here. Don’t use bottled!
- Olive oil – Oil helps the flavors of a marinade soak in more.
- Salt and pepper
- Garlic
- Fresh herbs – Basil, dill, parsley, thyme, rosemary—they’d all be great.
- Chicken – Whatever cut you like.
How to Make and Use Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade
Juicy, flavorful chicken is on the way! Here’s what you’ll need to do.
- Make the marinade. Whisk together all of the marinade ingredients.
- Marinate the chicken. Stir the chicken into the marinade, then chill for a minimum of 30 minutes, or (ideally) 2 hours.
- Cook. Bake, air fry, grill, or pan-fry the chicken.
My Favorite Ways to Use Greek Yogurt Chicken
You can serve it up with your standard sides, but I also love incorporating it into meals like:
- Pita wraps with hummus or tzatziki
- A salad with Green Goddess Salad Dressing
- Meal bowls with rice, veggies, and your favorite toppings
- Grilled on skewers with zucchini, red onion, and cherry tomatoes
More Marinade and Sauce Recipes
Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade
Ingredients
Instructions
- Whisk together the yogurt, lemon juice, oil, garlic, salt, pepper and herbs. Add the chicken and stir it all together until the chicken is fully coated.
- Place in the fridge to marinate for at least 30 minutes, preferably 2+ hours.
- Cook the chicken however you like and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
