This Grilled Greek-Style Lemon Yogurt Chicken is an explosion of flavor! This chicken recipe gives you tangy, smokey, spicy, juicy, perfectly charred grilled chicken that’ll have you licking your fingers and craving more! Perfect for cookouts and summer parties! (You can also skip the grill and enjoy this lemon yogurt chicken baked!)
If you’re looking for more delicious chicken recipes, check out my Buttermilk Roasted Chicken, Cajun Chicken Pot Pie, or Herb-crusted Butterfly Chicken.
Okay, I must confess, this recipe post is LONG overdue. I have been sitting on this recipe for YEARS. It’s not that I did not want to share of course, but I somehow just kept putting it off.
I’ve been making this Grilled Greek-Style Lemon Yogurt Chicken for almost every occasion that involves grilling. Each and every time I make it my friends and family drool over each bite. The next day I always get a bombard of messages telling me the chicken was the highlight of their entire meal and they need the recipe!
Here is the mouthwatering, flavorful Grilled Greek-style lemon Yogurt Chicken recipe!
The reason I love this chicken recipe so much is because the marinade can be used for all types of chicken. You can marinate chicken breast and make chicken kabobs, or marinate chicken wings for roasting in the oven, or my favorite: marinade bone-in chicken breast, legs, and wings and cook it on the grill!
It’s something about the fire, the heat, the charred skin, the flavors, that make grilling this Lemon Yogurt Chicken the best! This Greek-Style Lemon Chicken is definitely a winner and is perfect for summer nights and cookouts!
What you will need to make this Grilled Greek-Style Lemon Chicken?
The marinade is the most important part. Next to that is time. The longer you marinate this chicken the more robust the flavors become! There are quite a few ingredients in the marinade but each is crucial as they either help penetrate and tenderize the meat or give it a deep, satisfying flavor.
Marinade Ingredients:
- Chicken breast (bone-in or boneless): You can also use chicken wings or legs. This recipe works for any part of the chicken.
- Lemon Yogurt: My favorite to use is Noosa Lemon Yogurt. You can also keep this dairy-free by using dairy-free yogurt, like this one, and adding 2 lemons to the yogurt.
- Olive oil, Fresh Garlic, Lemons
- Seasonings: Turmeric Powder, Cumin Powder, Smoked paprika, Garlic Powder Cayenne pepper, Crushed red pepper flakes, Sea salt, Pepper
- Honey: This is one of my favorite honey brands.
- Soy sauce: I use Coconut Aminos for a healthy, gluten-free soy sauce option
- Fresh Basil: If you don’t have basil on hand, fresh parsley works great as well!
A few tips for making this grilled lemon chicken a success!
- If you are using this recipe to make chicken wings, this marinade is great for up to 2.5 pounds of party chicken wings.
- For the best results, marinate the chicken overnight. If you are limited on time, marinate for at least 2 hours before cooking.
- When you are ready to cook the chicken, let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before cooking to ensure even cooking and the best results!
- While cooking, make sure to use any leftover marinade to baste the chicken while it is grilling.
If you want to make skewers with this Lemon Yogurt Chicken Recipe, here’s what to do:
- Slice the chicken breast into cubes and marinate the chicken cubes
- Make the skewers with the ingredients below.
- Grill or Bake the skewers
- Enjoy!
For the Lemon Yogurt Chicken Skewers, you’ll need:
- 1 red pepper
- 1 yellow pepper
- 1/2 cup onion
- 1 cup cubes mango or pineapple
The fruit pairs SOOO WELL with the marinated chicken and gives you a sweet explosive flavor in every bite!
How To Bake This Lemon Yogurt Chicken?
Yogurt Marinated Chicken Baked
If you do not want to grill the chicken, you can bake it!
Bake at 375°F covered for 45 minutes, or until an instant thermometer of inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reads 165°F. Then, uncover the chicken and broil it for 5 minutes to get a crispy, browned skin.
Sides To Serve With Your Chicken:
- Make the entire meal on the grill and make this Herb Crusted Grilled Eggplant to pair with your chicken.
- Have a night of all greek flavors and pair your lemon yogurt chicken with our Greek Quinoa Salad, Baba Ganoush, or some Edamame Hummus!
- Wanting more starchy sides? Try our Cottage Potato Fries, Crispy Sweet Potato Fries, or Air Fryer Potatoes!
I hope you enjoy the recipe! I promise you’ll fall in love with the incredible flavor of this Grilled Greek-Style Lemon Yogurt Chicken! If you make this recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know what you think in the comments below! I love hearing from you!
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Grilled Greek-Style Lemon Yogurt Chicken
Ingredients
Marinade Ingredients
- 2-2.5 lbs Chicken (thighs, wings, breast-bone in or out)
- 1 cup Lemon Yogurt (like Noosa Lemon Yogurt) or Plain Greek Yogurt see notes for dairy-free yogurt option
- 3 tbsp Honey
- 2 tbsp Coconut Amino (or Soy Sauce)
- 4 tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 Lemons, juiced 1/3 cup lemon juice
- 6 Garlic Cloves, roughly chopped
- 1/2 Onion, roughly chopped
- 1/3 cup Basil or Parsley, packed
- 3 tsp Dried Oregano
- 3 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 2 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1/2 tsp Cumin
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 tsp Pepper
- 1/2 tsp Sea Salt or to taste
If you're making Lemon Yogurt Chicken Skewers
- 2-3 Boneless chicken breast
- Marinade ingredients above
- 1 Red Pepper, cut into cubes
- 1 Yellow Pepper, cut into cubes
- 1/2 Red Onion, cut into cubes
- 1 cup Mango or Pineapple cubes
Instructions
- Mix all marinade ingredients and the chicken in a large mixing bowl. Cover and place in fridge overnight (Or at least 2 hours prior to cooking)
- When you are ready to cook the chicken, remove it from the fridge. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat for at least 10 minutes and lightly oil the grate.
- Transfer the chicken to the grill, skin side down to start. Grill the chicken for 30-35 minutes, turning occasionally (about 2-3 times) and making sure to baste the chicken at each turn with any remaining sauce.
- The chicken is fully cooked when the chicken is golden brown, the meat is no longer pink, and the juices run clear. Use a thermometer to make sure the chicken is fully cooked. The thermometer should be inserted into the thickest part of the chicken and read 165°F (74 degrees C).
To Make Chicken Skewers
- Follow steps 1 and 2 above. If you are using wooden skewers, soak the Skewers in water overnight, or at least 30 mins before cooking.
- Place the marinated chicken cubes and skewer ingredients onto the Skewers in whatever order you prefer.
- If you are grilling the Skewers, place Skewers directly on the hot grill for 15-20 minutes, rotating them occasionally so they cook evenly on each side.
- If you are baking in the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the Skewers on a cooking sheet. And cook for 25 minutes, rotating them halfway through for even cooking.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- My favorite to use is Noosa Lemon Yogurt
- Greek Yogurt Option: Use Plain Greek Yogurt and add 1/3 cup juice of 2 lemons to the yogurt
- You can also keep this dairy-free by using dairy-free yogurt, like this one, and adding the juice of 2 lemons to the yogurt.
A few tips:
- If you are using this recipe to make chicken wings, this marinade is great for up to 2.5 pounds of party chicken wings.
- For the best results, marinate the chicken overnight. If you are limited on time, marinate for at least 2 hours before cooking.
- When you are ready to cook the chicken, let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before cooking to ensure even cooking and the best results!
Nutrition
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Could have done without the cumin, next time around I’m going to substitute Garam Masala. The sweetness of the Noosa yogurt was a bit off putting to me. They turned out beautifully however. Killer to look at! The flavor wasn’t what I was looking for. I’m more of a savory/sour person.
Thanks for the recipe though! I will definitely build on it.
Hi Anne. You’re right, everyone’s tastebuds are different! I’m happy you’ve found a way to adjust the taste to your liking.