April 3, 2024

Greek Marinated Chicken Thighs

Name: Greek Marinated Chicken Thighs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1 Lemon (zested and juiced); ¼ cup Olive Oil; 2 cloves Garlic (minced or microplaned); 2 Tablespoons Fresh Parsley (minced); ½ teaspoon Salt; ½ teaspoon Pepper; ½ teaspoon Oregano; 1.5-2 pounds Chicken Thighs (boneless skinless)

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Juicy, flavorful, and so easy to make, these Greek Marinated Chicken Thighs are the perfect weeknight dinner. This flavorful lemon and parsley chicken thigh recipe also makes an excellent meal prep recipe and is dairy-free, gluten-free, and Whole30!

A white and blue bowl topped with Greek chicken thighs and lemon slices on a white counter.

I am sure I have shared this tidbit before and I am certain I will share it again (probably 100 times over) but when the weather warms up, the only place I want to be is outside.

In order to accomplish this goal I need quick meals that can be cooked outside or during nap time -thankfully our littles are still taking naps. This means simple, easy to prep, and ready in minutes… not hours.

This simple marinated chicken recipe is inspired by Greek flavors like olive oil, lemon, and parsley. The marinade comes together in a few minutes and I usually whip it up during breakfast to allow the chicken time to marinate throughout the day.

With directions for cooking these chicken thighs in the kitchen on a grill pan or on an open grill outside these marinated chicken thighs are sure to satisfy your desire to spend more time outside and less time cooking inside.

Vegan feta sprinkled on top of Greek marinated chicken thighs on a white and blue plate with lemon slices.

Why We Love Greek Marinated Chicken

I have a deep love for the flavors in this simple chicken marinade. From the fresh lemon and zest to the sharp raw garlic and fresh parsley, these chicken thighs are so juicy and flavorful I truly can’t get enough of them.

Some of the reasons we have these marinated chicken thighs on repeat include:

Simple. Simply mix up the marinade, soak the chicken, grill and enjoy!
Meal Prep. You can whip up a batch of chicken thighs on Sunday and pull them out all week long.
Versatile. They are great as a stand alone dish, in a rice bowl, topped on a salad, and even thrown into a quesadilla! There is no wrong way to enjoy these juicy chicken thighs.

Dairy-Free Changes to Greek Marinated Chicken Thighs

One of the things I truly love about these juicy chicken thighs is that they are naturally dairy-free. The simple greek marinade is made with whole ingredients making it not only dairy-free but also gluten-free and Whole30 compliant.

If you are looking to dress up your grilled Greek Chicken you can top it off with a vegan/dairy-free feta cheese like Follow Your Heart.

A top down photo of a marinated chicken thigh with feta and lemon.

How to Make Greek Marinated Chicken Thighs

Ingredients You’ll Need

Lemon– Both the zest and the fresh lemon juice go into the marinade.
Olive Oil– Used to keep the chicken moist and provide flavor to the meat while it marinates.
Garlic– Fresh cloves minced or microplaned (grated into a paste like texture along a microplane).
Parsley– Fresh parsley, washed and minced.
Seasoning– A blend of salt, pepper, and oregano.
Chicken Thighs– Boneless skinless chicken thighs work best for this recipe.

Ingredients for Greek marinated chicken thighs on a white counter.

Step-by-Step Directions for Greek Marinated Chicken Thighs

Zest the lemon: Using a microplane, zest your fresh lemon.
Juice the lemon: Next slice the lemon in half and juice the lemon.
Add to marinating dish: Place the zest and juice in a large glass pyrex dish with olive oil, garlic, fresh parsley, salt, pepper, and oregano.
Whisk the ingredients until throughly combined.
Next add the chicken thighs into the pyrex dish with the marinade.
Marinate: Flip to coat the chicken on both sides, cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.

A glass bowl with the Greek marinade after mixing with a whisk in the bowl.

A glass bowl with chicken thighs coated in a Greek inspired marinade.

Cooking Chicken Thighs on a Grill

Please keep in mind that your cooking time might vary slightly depending upon the thickness of your chicken thighs.

Preheat grill: Heat the grill to 350-400°F
Grill: Place the chicken thighs on the grill, evenly spaced out. Decrease the heat/flame to medium.
Cook: Close the lid and cook for 5 minutes.
Flip: After 5 minutes flip the chicken thighs and move the thighs from the back of the grill to the front of the grill.
Cook for 4 minutes.
Check temperature: After 4 minutes, check the internal temperature to see that they are roughly 165°F.
You will also want to check to make sure the inside of the chicken thigh is fully cooked, and place any pieces back on the grill that need to cook the inside a little longer.
Rest chicken: Let the chicken rest about 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Cooking Chicken Thighs on a Grill Pan

We all know that the weather has a tendency to be unpredictable, when you need to switch your plan up from grilling outside to grilling inside, here are my tips for cooking these juicy chicken thighs on an indoor grill pan.

Heat the grill pan over medium heat.
Place in the pan: Once hot, place the chicken thighs down in a single layer, making sure they do not touch.
Cook for 6 minutes.
Flip and cook for an additional 6 minutes.
Check the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken thigh to see that they are roughly 165°F.
Remove the pieces that are cooked through and leave any additional pieces on that may need an extra minute or two.
Rest chicken: Let the chicken rest about 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Marinated chicken thighs on a grill pan halfway through the cooking process.

Greek marinated chicken thighs after cooking on a grill pan.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

When you are ready to make these simple and juicy Greek inspired chicken thighs, here are some tools you might find helpful in the kitchen:

Juicer– Used to juice the lemon.
Grill Pan– Perfect for cooking the chicken thighs inside if the weather does not allow for outdoor grilling.
Meat Thermometer– Great for checking the internal temperature of the chicken thighs.

A close up of a marinated chicken thigh on a grill pan.

What to Serve with Greek Marinated Chicken Thighs

These simple chicken thighs pair well with everything! Some of the sides we have served them up with include:

Storing and Reheating Greek Marinated Chicken Thighs

Whether you are planning to make this Greek marinated chicken recipe for dinner or for a week of meal prep, here are a few tips for storing and re-heating them.

Storing– Place the cooked chicken thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating– Reheat the chicken in the microwave in 30 second intervals until reheated to you desired temperature.

A Greek chicken thigh with a gold fork on a white and blue plate.

More Flavorful Chicken Recipes to Make Next

If you tried this Greek Marinated Chicken Thigh recipe please let me know in the comments below!

You can also share a picture of it with me on Instagram by tagging @mylifeafterdairy so I can see all of your life after dairy adventures!

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