Easy Chicken Recipes | Greek Chicken Marinade foodiecrush.com (2024)

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This list of 30 easy chicken recipes makes cooking good healthy meals at home just as easy as picking up or ordering in.

30 BEST Easy Healthy Chicken Recipes

When it comes to deciding what’s for dinner tonight, it’s not always easy to come up with new ideas, especially when it comes to everyone’s favorite: Chicken. It’s a fact that chicken has become the most popular meat in the whole world, growing 70% in popularity since 1990. It’s no wonder then, that there are so many chicken recipes to choose from. That’s why I’m making it easier for you, and narrowing the field.

From whole roasted chickens better than any you’ll find at the grocery store check out, to the easiest ways to cook chicken breasts, this list of 30 chicken recipes dinner ideas will satisfy every member of your family no matter how picky they may seem to be.

Skillet Chicken Recipes

Pan-frying and stir-frying lends amazing flavor to chicken. Bonus: Some of these recipes are made entirely in one skillet and it doesn’t get much easier than that.

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1. 30 Minute Chicken Caprese

This bright and flavorful dish features my favorite caprese salad ingredients ingredients and store-bought pesto with boneless chicken breasts for a quick-to-make dinner that’s perfect for weeknights.

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2. Thai Chicken and Cucumber Salad

This simple, refreshing salad is a favorite all year long with tender chicken cooked in a lighter Thai flavored sauce to make a crunchy salad that makes a meal.

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3. Chicken Fajitas

These easy, one-skillet, restaurant-level fajitas only take 30 minutes to make, and are so legit. The key to their awesome flavor is the simple homemade fajita seasoning mix and the almighty cast iron skillet.

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4. Vietnamese Curry Chicken and Rice Noodle Salad Bowl

This clean and fresh noodle salad gets its savory flavor from curried chicken dressed with the most addicting lime and rice vinegar dressing and fresh herbs. Tons of fresh veggies and peanuts give it an irresistible crunch.

5. Easy Chicken Breasts with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

This isn’t your same-old, same-old chicken dinner recipe. Pan fry chicken breasts in a creamy mushroom sauce and serve alongside orzo and asparagus for a go-to dinner idea no matter the time of year.

6. Thai Basil Chicken Recipes

You’re just a few easy steps away from a spicy dinner that highlights authentic Thai flavors – think fresh ginger, Thai basil and a coconut sauce –and works perfectly over rice or noodles.

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7. Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Bowl with Broccoli and Tomato

This healthy, Mediterranean-inspired chicken quinoa bowl is perfect for quick and easy meal-prep dinners. Plus, it’s flexible enough to mix and match ingredients for take-to-work lunches that never get boring.

8. Easy Chicken Piccata

An Italian classic! This easy chicken piccata is topped with a lemon-caper sauce for a light, bright dinner. With just 10 minutes prep time and 10 minutes cooking time, it’ll be on your plate, ready to be devoured, in nearly no time at all.

9. Thai Coconut Chicken and Rice

How easy is this one-pot recipe? So easy. This chicken and rice recipe puts a load of healthy ingredients into one slurpable bowl. Serve it over rice or noodles for the perfect chopstick practicing exercise. Win/win/win.

Baked and Roasted Chicken Recipes

Whether it’s a sheet pan chicken dinners or a classic roast chicken, you can’t go wrong.

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10. The Best Baked Chicken Breast

Whether you’re working on making your weekly meal prep easier, or need a quick and simple recipe for weeknight dinners, this recipe has all my secrets for the best baked chicken breast guaranteed to come out perfectly juicy every single time.

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11. Roasted Chicken, Butternut Squash and Guacamole Rice Bowls

Sheet pan roasted chicken breasts, butternut squash, and red onion served with black beans, brown rice and guacamole make this a healthy, hearty meal in a bowl that is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.

12. Cast-Iron Skillet Whole Roasted Chicken with Potatoes

Place a whole chicken in an already-hot cast iron skillet with sliced potatoes and onions for an ultra-easy meal that’s ready in just one hour. Best yet, you’ll have plenty of leftovers to repurpose for lunches throughout the week.

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13. Baked Chicken Parmesan

This easy, super delicious chicken Parmesan is baked instead of fried, but is just as crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. If you’re trying to cut down on carbs, serve it over a bed of zucchini noodles or roasted spaghetti squash.

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14. Chinese Chicken Salad with Sesame Dressing

This Chinese Chicken Salad takes the lighter road than the heavier versions I always see at those popular food chains that everyone loves. It’s made with crunchy romaine, wontons, and an almond crunch, and is topped with protein-packed chicken breast, pasta noodles, and a killer sesame dressing you’ll want to drizzle over everything.

15. 40 Cloves of Garlic Roast Chicken Recipes

Garlic lovers, rejoice! Even if you don’t love garlic, you will after making this chicken dinner. The garlic mellows when roasted alongside a whole chicken, becoming soft, buttery and surprisingly sweet.

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16. Potato Chip Crusted Chicken Breast

The best things about this recipe is how easily you can customize it to your family’s tastes. Love barbecue? Craving tangy salt and vinegar? Keeping it real with ranch? Add some creamy mac and cheese and steamed broccoli for a delightfully kid-friendly dinner.

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17. Easy Tandoori Chicken with Vegetables

This version of the classic Indian tandoori chicken dinner is baked on a sheet pan with Indian spiced vegetables for a simple and complete meal any night of the week. Don’t forget the naan!

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18. Easy Chicken Fajita Foil Packets

Quick and easy to prep, these chicken fajita foil packet dinners with a simple homemade fajita seasoning mix are cooked on the grill or in the oven and ready to eat in just about 30 minutes.

19. Whole Oven Roasted Chicken With Lemon Rosemary Garlic Butter

Tender and juicy, this whole roasted chicken is brushed withlemon rosemary garlic butter and stuffed with fresh aromatics, all using ingredients you likely already have at home. Bonus: as the bird cooks, your house will smell amazing.

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20. Beyond Easy Chicken Mole Enchiladas

This super easy, no-cook, homemade mole sauce is made from scratch, and gives regular chicken enchiladas a delicious twist for a super fast Mexican dinner to meal prep or even throw together for a quick and easy weeknight meal.

Grilled Chicken Recipes

No matter what time of year it is, chicken is always worth firing up the grill for.

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21. Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken

This grilled cilantro lime chicken recipe delivers lots of flavor thanks to a quick marinade, and with just 7 ingredients and 3 steps, it’s easy enough to cook any night of the week. I love serving it with quinoa or rice and a yummy salad.

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22. Strawberry Spinach Salad with Chicken and Avocado

A simple balsamic dressing does double duty as a marinade for the chicken in this light and healthy, fresh avocado and strawberry spinach salad that I love for lunch or dinner, all year-round!

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23. The Best BBQ Chicken

The best BBQ chicken breast recipe doesn’t call for complicated marinades or rubs, it’s all about this easy on-the-grill or in-the-oven cooking method sweetened with BBQ sauce for moist and juicy chicken breasts every time. It’s perfect with your favorite sides, or in this BBQ chicken salad.

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24. Grilled Greek Chicken Kebabs

Boneless, skinless chicken breast marinated in the traditional Greek flavors of lemon, garlic and oregano then threaded on skewers with a few veggies makes these grilled chicken kebabs an easy and healthy weeknight dinner winner.

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25. The Best Greek Chicken Marinade

This zingy garlic, lemon, and oregano Greek marinade is one of my favorites. It packs some serious flavor! Whether you use it for chicken that’s grilled, baked, or pan-fried, you really can’t go wrong. Serve it over a hearty Greek salad or try it alongside some grilled veggies and orzo with fresh dill, mint, and feta.

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26. Greek Salad with Chicken

This delicious Greek salad topped with Greek marinaded chicken is the best for meal prepped lunches or light dinners. Top it with kalamata olives, feta cheese, crunchy cucumbers and my Mediterranean tomato salad with an easy Greek vinaigrette dressing.

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27. Orange Chicken and Broccoli Rice Bowls

Healthy and satisfying, this super bowl hits the spot. Using gluten-free tamari will make this orange marinade gluten-free and paleo friendly. But, you can always use regular soy sauce or Braggs liquid aminos for the same salty flavor if gluten isn’t a concern.

Instant Pot, Slow Cooker & Soup Chicken Recipes

If you plan ahead, cooking things lower and slower (or crazy fast in the Instant Pot) can be a great way to save time.

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28. Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

Slow-cooked bone-in, skinless chicken thighs create the luxe flavor in this savory Italian chicken dinner that pairs perfectly with pasta for an incredibly easy weeknight or weekend meal. I love serving it over pasta, gnocchi, or roasted spaghetti squash.

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29. Lemon Chicken Stew

This is a comforting, lemony twist on the classic chicken and rice soup. It’s light but filling, and made with orzo pasta, which helps thicken this flavorful stew!

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30. Instant Pot Orange Chicken Lettuce Wraps

This better-than-P.F. Chang’s orange chicken lettuce wraps recipe is incredibly easy to make thanks to the Instant Pot pressure cooker that does double duty as a self-serve, low-carb appetizer or as a healthy main meal that’s quick to make and even more fun to eat.

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo andtag me on Instagramwith #foodiecrusheats.

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Print

4.63 from 669 votes

THE BEST Greek Chicken Marinade

This garlic, lemon, and oregano Greek marinade can be used for chicken that's grilled, baked or pan-fried and is great any which way you choose.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Greek

Keyword grilled chicken

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Marinate the chicken 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 307kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound boneless , skinless chicken breasts (about 2 large breasts)
  • cup plain Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 4 lemons
  • 4-5 cloves garlic , pressed or minced
  • 2 tablespoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Place the chicken pieces in a freezer bag or a bowl and set aside.

  • Add the Greek yogurt and olive oil to a medium size bowl. Zest one of the lemons and add to the bowl. Juice that lemon into the bowl with the zest. Slice the other three lemons and set aside. Add the minced garlic, oregano, kosher salt and black pepper to the lemon juice and zest and stir. Pour half of the marinade into the freezer bag or the bowl with the chicken pieces and reserve the other half of the marinade for basting. Marinate the chicken for 30 minutes or up to 3 hours in the refrigerator.

  • When ready to grill, prepare the grill by lightly oiling the grate with vegetable oil or cooking spray and set to medium high heat.

  • Grill the chicken, basting with the reserved marinade and turning often so each side browns and has light grill marks, until cooked through, about 15-20 minutes or until the chicken juices run clear. During the last 5 minutes of cooking add the 3 sliced lemons to the grill, turning once or twice. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serve with the grilled lemons. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 307kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 692mg | Potassium: 494mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 94IU | Vitamin C: 58mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 3mg

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Easy Chicken Recipes | Greek Chicken Marinade foodiecrush.com (2024)

FAQs

Does Greek yogurt tenderize chicken? ›

Greek yogurt does more than simply flavor the surface of chicken. Thanks to its acidity — different from the kind you find in citrus or vinegar — it tenderizes the meat, keeping it juicy and never rubbery. Give yourself 15 minutes, and Greek yogurt will reward you with tastier, more tender chicken.

What is the formula for chicken marinade? ›

Marinades are an easy way to add extra flavour to your chicken, but a good marinade will help prevent the meat from drying out. Making a chicken marinade at home is fast and simple. Marinades are usually 2 parts oil to 1 part acid (something like wine, lemon juice or vinegar), and some salt.

How long should chicken sit in marinade? ›

You can marinate chicken anywhere from 2 hours up to 24 hours, though marinating chicken for even 15 to 30 minutes can impart flavor and moisture into smaller pieces of meat. Generally, bone-in cuts of chicken, such as wings, drumsticks and breasts, will require a longer marinade time than their boneless counterparts.

Do you rinse off yogurt marinade? ›

You do not need to rinse off the marinade before cooking but you can discard any marinade left in the bag after you remove the chicken.

How long can I leave chicken marinating in Greek yogurt? ›

Marinate chicken with yogurt: Leaving the chicken inside, cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Place the bowl in the fridge for 4-12 hours, so the chicken becomes coated in Greek yogurt and all the flavors have ample time to mingle.

What are the 3 main ingredients when marinating? ›

Marinades vary from recipe to recipe but they generally contain three basic components – oils, acids and seasonings.
  • Oils. The oil content in a marinade locks in the natural flavour of the food and prevents it drying out. ...
  • Acids. ...
  • Seasonings.

What ingredient tenderizes chicken? ›

Using a marinade is a good way to achieve soft and tender chicken, with plain yogurt or buttermilk being the most commonly used marinades. The two contain acids and enzymes that combine to break the proteins and fiber in the chicken.

What does vinegar do to chicken marinade? ›

When used as a marinade, the acidic content in vinegar can penetrate the meat and tenderize it over time. Flavor Enhancement: Depending on the type of vinegar used, it can add a tangy and acidic flavor to the meat.

Is it better to marinate chicken in the fridge or out? ›

Always marinate meat and poultry in the refrigerator, and boil the used marinade if you want to brush it on the meat or poultry while it's grilling. Do not save the used marinade.

Is it better to marinate chicken in the fridge or room temperature? ›

Always marinate foods in the refrigerator, not on the kitchen counter. Some older recipes call for marinating at room temperature. DO NOT FOLLOW THIS PRACTICE. Marinating at room temperature causes the meat to enter the “Danger Zone” (between 40°F and 140°F), where bacteria multiply fastest.

What is the secret to a good marinade? ›

What makes the best marinade? A good balance of fat, acid, and salt is key. Too much acid and the meat can taste pickled, too much salt and, well, it's too salty. Too much fat and the other ingredients won't have the proper concentration to work their magic.

Why is my chicken hard after marinating? ›

In fact, marinades with high acidity may actually end up toughening chicken that has been left too long. For that reason, it's arguable that a quick soak is the best way to marinate chicken, especially if you're using a cut like chicken breasts, which contain less fat.

Is it OK to bake chicken in its marinade? ›

Yes. As long as the marinade itself reaches the minimum safe temperature for cooking chicken (165ºF), which shouldn't be an issue, since a substance you're cooking chicken in will reach a given temperature long before the center of that piece of chicken will.

Does yogurt tenderize chicken? ›

Yogurt tenderizes meat much more gently and effectively than regular marinades. While acidic vinegar- or citrus-based marinades can toughen proteins like chicken breast to a rubbery consistency, yogurt slowly tenderizes them, resulting in meat that can practically be pulled apart by hand.

Can you use Greek yogurt to tenderize meat? ›

Unlike citrus-based or vinegar-based marinades that can actually toughen the protein, Chobani® Lowfat Plain Greek Yogurt slowly tenderizes meat while marinading, so it's pull-apart soft after grilling. In a bowl, whisk together all ingredients except for steak. Add steaks to bowl and coat completely with marinade.

Does yogurt make chicken softer? ›

Yoghurt can have a positive effect on marinating chicken in several ways: Tenderizing: The natural enzymes and acids present in yogurt, such as lactic acid, can help break down proteins in the chicken, resulting in a more tender texture.

How long can I marinate chicken in yogurt? ›

How long can I marinate chicken in yogurt? You can marinate chicken in yogurt anywhere from 20 minutes to 24 hours. The longer it marinates the more flavorful it will become, but don't go over 24 hours otherwise the chicken could turn mushy.

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