Greek Yogurt Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken breasts marinated in creamy yogurt, garlic, and herbs, then baked to juicy, flavorful finish.

# What Goes In:

→ Marinade

01 - 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (full-fat or 2%)
02 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
05 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
06 - 1½ teaspoons dried oregano
07 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - ½ teaspoon ground cumin
09 - 1 teaspoon salt
10 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Chicken

11 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 23–26 ounces total)
12 - Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)
13 - Lemon wedges, for serving (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, oregano, smoked paprika, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Add them to the marinade, turning to coat thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, up to 8 hours for best tenderness.
03 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Lightly grease a baking dish or line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
04 - Remove chicken breasts from marinade, allowing excess to drip off. Arrange them in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
05 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F. For additional browning, broil for the last 2 to 3 minutes if desired.
06 - Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The yogurt makes the chicken impossibly tender without any fancy techniques
  • You can throw it together in minutes and forget about it until dinner time
02 -
  • The chicken will look pale when you take it out but trust the thermometer not your eyes
  • Patting excess marinade off helps the chicken brown instead of steam
03 -
  • Use room temperature chicken so it cooks evenly without drying out at the edges
  • Let the chicken rest on a cutting board not in the pan so it stops cooking immediately
Return