These Greek Marinated Chicken with Tzatziki Sauce uses a simple Mediterranean marinade that creates a flavorful chicken that is grilled and topped with a tangy Greek Yogurt Dill Sauce. You will love this healthy, protein packed summer meal. Pair this with a fresh summer salad for a complete meal!
GREEK MARINATED CHICKEN WITH TZATZIKI SAUCE
When the summer gets warmer I am always grilling.
Chicken is one of our favorite meals to make in the summer months on the grill.
Today’s Greek Marinated Chicken with Tzatziki Sauce is one we make a lot and for good reason.
The marinade really infuses the chicken with delicious flavors and helps hold in the juices of the chicken.
I love serving it with the refreshing, zesty Tzatziki sauce and a light summer salad. This marinade is also one you could use on other meats like seafood, steak or even vegetables. It mixes together extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, paprika, cumin, thyme and oregano.
I love the warm spices with the lemon juice. It makes such a nice pairing with the chicken.
If you like grilled chicken you also need to try this Chicken Souvlaki, Chicken Kofta, Greek Marinated Kabobs with Lemon, Lebanese Chicken Kabobs, Margarita Grilled Chicken, Grilled Mediterranean Chicken Wings or this Lemon Marinaded Chicken.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken: I used chicken thighs because they are more tender and I really enjoy the darker meat. You can easily use chicken breasts, chicken tenders or whatever you like.
- Marinade: The marinade for this Mediterranean chicken is flavorful and uses warm spices including paprika, cumin, thyme and oregano along with olive oil and lemon juice. I love this easy marinade!
- Tzatziki: My favorite part about this recipe is the Tzatziki. It is such a great sauce to serve the chicken with. It mixes together cucumber, yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, dill and fresh mint. If tzatziki isn’t your thing try my Creamy Dill Sauce or this Tahini Yogurt Dressing.
How Do You Make Greek Marinated Chicken Thighs?
Trim fat from the chicken as necessary. In a large ziplock bag or a large container add the chicken.
Step 1: Create the marinade: In a small mixing bowl combine the olive oil, lemon, garlic cloves, oregano, thyme, paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper and mix well. Pour the marinade over the chicken and massage the marinade into the meat until the meat is coated with the marinade.
Step 2: Refrigerate the Chicken: Refrigerate for two hours in a sealed ziplock bag or a sealed container {optional- you could at least just marinate for 20 minutes}.
Step 3: Prepare the tzatziki: Prepare the tzatziki by combining the cucumber, yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, dill and mint. Stir well. Refrigerate. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Brush grill grates with oil. Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade.
Step 4: Grill the chicken: Place the chicken on the grill and cook for 5 minutes per side or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 F. Serve with a dollop of the tzatziki and a summer salad.
Recipe FAQ
Bone-in, skin-on thighs will be juices and more flavorful while boneless, skinless chicken thighs will cook faster and are easier to eat.
I suggest removing any large chunks of fat or the loose skin to help avoid flare-ups that can occur when you grill.
It is always a good idea to brush olive oil on the grates before grilling to prevent sticking.
You should use a meat thermometer to ensure the thickest part reaches 165°F. Bone-in thighs may require longer cooking time but you can check with the thermometer and cook longer if needed.
To start with using chicken thighs is a great way to ensure juicy chicken. Marinading your chicken also helps add in flavor and seal in juices when grilled. Lastly, removing the chicken from the grill and letting it rest for 5 minutes will allow the juices to redistribute.
What Should I Pair with These Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Thighs?
- There are also some great side dishes that pair well with this chicken. I often make these Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables, Ratatouille or this Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower.
- Salads pair really nicely with grilled chicken. I especially love this Summer Orzo Pasta Salad, Mediterranean Bean Salad, Lemon Arugula Salad or this Mediterranean Eggplant Salad.
- Potatoes are always a great match for chicken. I especially love these Spicy Lebanese Potatoes, Lemon Cilantro Potatoes or these Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes.
Other Grilling Recipes You Might Like:
We love to grill! Here are a few of our favorite grilling recipes:
- GRILLED FLANK STEAK WITH DRY RUB
- GRILLED HAWAIIAN CHICKEN KABOBS
- GRILLED HAWAIIAN PORK CHOPS
- MEDITERRANEAN SHRIMP SKEWERS
- HAWAIIAN GRILLED SALMON
- GRILLED CARNE ASADA
Greek Marinated Chicken with Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 – 1 pound packages of Gerber Chicken
For the Marinade
- 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper {optional}
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
For the Tzatziki Sauce
- 1/4 cup finely grated cucumber
- 1/2 cup thick whole milk Greek yogurt
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoons chopped dill
- 2 teaspoons chopped mint, optional
Instructions
- Trim fat from the chicken as necessary. In a large ziplock bag or a large container add the chicken.
- In a small mixing bowl combine the olive oil, lemon, garlic cloves, oregano, thyme, paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper and mix well.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken and massage the marinade into the meat until the meat is coated with the marinade.
- Refrigerate for two hours in a sealed ziplock bag or a sealed container {optional- you could at least just marinate for 20 minutes}.
- Prepare the tzatziki by combining the cucumber, yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, dill and mint. Stir well. Refrigerate.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Brush grill grates with oil.
- Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade.
- Place the chicken on the grill and cook for 5 minutes per side or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 F.
- Serve with a dollop of the tzatziki and a summer salad.
Notes
- You don’t have to marinade the chicken if you don’t have time but it will add a lot of flavor. Don’t marinade over two hours as the acidity of the lemon juice starts to break down the chicken.
