This Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade is my secret to tender, juicy chicken breast every time! Made with a unique blend of herbs and spices, the marinade maximizes flavor while the Greek yogurt helps keep the chicken tender and juicy. Cooked in a skillet on the stove, Greek yogurt marinaded chicken is always an easy weeknight dinner that never lets me down!
Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade: The Secret To Tender, Juicy Chicken Breast
Personally, chicken breast is one of my favorite proteins because it’s affordable, cooks quickly, and can be used in so many different recipes. But I know a lot of people avoid making it because it has a reputation for turning out dry and bland. If you fall in this camp allow me to share my secret to perfectly juicy chicken breast – this Greek yogurt chicken marinade!
This marinade is here to solve all of your dry chicken breast problems. Not only does it give the chicken really delicious flavor, but the marinade itself is super easy to make using ingredients you likely have on hand.
Prep the marinade and add the chicken ahead of time so all I have to do is cook it in a skillet when dinner rolls around. The end result is delicious chicken that’s perfect for busy weeknights, makes meal prep a breeze, and takes all the guesswork out of cooking juicy, flavorful chicken breast.
Five-star reader review
“This chicken has been dubbed my daughter’s favorite chicken ❤️ it’s so flavorful and so easy to make. We love it!”
— noga
Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade Key Ingredients
- Chicken: this marinade is all about making boneless, skinless chicken breast even more delicious! Chicken breast is quick cooking and just a great protein to pair with so many different dishes. That being said, if you’re firmly in the chicken thighs camp this marinade will also work perfectly! Whatever cut of chicken you use, just make sure to use a meat thermometer to make sure it’s cooked perfectly.
- Plain Full-Fat Greek Yogurt: cool, creamy plain Greek yogurt is the base of the chicken marinade. The acidity helps tenderize the chicken, keeping it moist and juicy. If you don’t have full-fat Greek yogurt, you can use low-fat Greek yogurt. I’ve also made this recipe with a dairy-free plain Greek yogurt substitute, and no one noticed a difference!
- Olive Oil: you’ll need a bit of this for both the marinade and for cooking the chicken. It prevents sticking when creating that crisp, golden exterior.
- Herbs and Spices: we’re using salt, black pepper, turmeric powder, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, dried dill, and dried oregano for this recipe. I know it might seem like a lot of seasonings, but trust me. You need them all! The unique combination is what gives this chicken its delicious flavor and really sets this marinade apart from the others.
- Lemon Juice: chicken and lemon just go together! *chef’s kiss* Freshly squeezed is best for this and if you’re feeling fancy throw in a little lemon zest, too!
How to Make Greek Yogurt Marinated Chicken
📝 Pro-Tip: Marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. Just don’t leave it any longer than that! Marinating the chicken too long can cause the protein to break down too much which will give mushy chicken breast and no one wants that!
I use this Greek yogurt marinated chicken in salads, wraps, sandwiches, and more. It’s great in grain bowls with quinoa or cilantro lime rice and is the perfect protein for recipes like my Mediterranean quinoa salad, Greek broccoli pasta salad, or this chickpea salad. The best part? No matter how you serve it, you’ll never have to suffer through tough, dry, boring chicken breast again!
I hope you give this marinated Greek Yogurt Chicken a try! If you do, let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @allthehealthythings on INSTAGRAM. Your reviews and ratings help support All the Healthy Things and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you trust and love.
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Greek Yogurt Chicken
- Prep Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: Greek Inspired
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade is my secret to tender, juicy chicken breast every time! Made with a unique blend of herbs and spices, the marinade maximizes flavor while the Greek yogurt helps keep the chicken tender and juicy. Cooked in a skillet on the stove, Greek yogurt marinaded chicken is always an easy weeknight dinner that never lets me down!
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast, cut into roughly 1 1/2 inch chunks
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for cooking
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- juice of half a lemon
For Serving
- white rice
- chopped romaine
- tomato
- cucumber
- red onion
Instructions
- Add the chicken breast, olive oil, Greek yogurt, spices, herbs, and lemon juice to a large mixing bowl. Stir until everything is well combined and the chicken is coated. Marinate the chicken for 2 hours or up to 24 hours.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add in a tablespoon of olive oil and then add the chicken pieces. Cook for 5-6 minutes per side, until a deep golden brown, and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from the skillet.
- Serve the chicken immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Storage: Store leftover Greek yogurt chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
Reheating: When you’re ready, you can reheat the chicken on the stovetop in a skillet over medium heat, or in the microwave.
Recipe by: Ashlea Carver / All the Healthy Things | Photography by: THE MINDFUL HAPA
This chicken has been dubbed my daughter’s favorite chicken ❤️ it’s so flavorful and so easy to make. We love it!
Great recipe full of flavor! I used potato’s instead of rice but not a big switch!
Easy & delicious. Saving this one to put on repeat. Made with all ingredients I keep in the house, easy to throw together. I marinated it for about 5-6 hours and then served with cilantro-lime rice, roasted yellow squash, and scallions. It would also be great leftover on salad or in a wrap. I had 3 lbs of chicken so I tripled the ingredients and am excited to have the leftovers for quick weeknight dinners.
This recipe is amazing… i have a yogurt that was about to expire and im done eating it for days and thank gawd i saw this recipe and tried it.. i was lazy to cut my chicken in cubes so i just marinate as is.. and just cut it after frying.. it works fine! definitely recommend.
I’ve made this marinade twice now, but for boneless, skinless chicken thighs for the BBQ. So easy and delicious! Thank you!
Sooo easy and sooo tasty! Thank you for sharing❤️
Wow! Love this chicken, very flavorful for something that comes together in no time! Prepare the marinade and chicken in the AM, after work dinner ready in 30 minutes. Thank you!
Delicious! So juicy and flavorful! I will definitely make this again soon.
The marinade was so easy and delicious!
This was delicious! I love the flavor of this sauce, it’s so good! YUM