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When I’m in the mood for a fresh, summery, Mediterranean style meal this dish definitely hits the mark. Herbed, lemony chicken, grilled and served with freshly made tzatziki sauce is perfect at the end of a hot summer day.
Where there’s tzatziki, there should also be warm toasted pitas. See below for the step-by-step photos for preparing the chicken and then go check out my step-by-step for both the pitas and tzatziki HERE. To make things easy, at the bottom of this post I’ve included the recipes for both the chicken and this wonderful sauce in a handy, printable format. Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way…
…onward! There is Grilled Greek Chicken in our future!
Fresh herbs are key to this recipe. From left to right we have oregano, thyme, and rosemary.
These herbs infuse incredible flavor to the meat and the marinade will cling to the chicken as it grills leaving little specks of fresh herbs all over the surface. Clinging herbs are a good thing.
Prepare the marinade by combining the olive oil, garlic, fresh herbs, lemon, and fresh ground pepper.
Place about 3 pounds of boneless skinless chicken in a gallon sized zippered plastic storage bag. I used a combination of breasts and thighs. Pour the marinade over the chicken and seal up the bag.
Push the chicken around inside the bag until it is all coated well with the marinade. Toss the bag in the fridge for at least an hour or even better, several hours.
Pop it on the grill.
Grill the chicken until the juices run clear and it is no longer pink in the center.
That vibrant salad in the background is my Greek Salad. Another dish that would be very happy on this plate is my Creamy Orzo with Mushrooms and Parmesan. And, please don’t forget the warm Toasted Pitas and Tzatziki Sauce.
Light, flavorful, and so pretty on the plate. Summer eats!
Grilled Greek Chicken with Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
For the Greek Chicken:
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 3 pounds assorted skinless chicken pieces I used boneless breasts and thighs
For the Tzatziki Sauce:
- 1-1/2 cups non-fat plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup light sour cream
- 1 cup peeled shredded hothouse (English) cucumber (squeeze to remove excess liquid)
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon dill
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1 lemon juiced
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and lemon juice. Place the chicken pieces in a gallon sized zippered plastic storage bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken, seal the bag. Turn the bag several times to distribute the marinade. Place the bag in the refrigerator for 6 to 8 hours.
- To prepare the tzatziki, place all ingredients in a medium bowl and stir well to combine. Chill for at least one hour or more before serving to allow flavors to blend.
- When ready to cook the chicken, preheat the grill for medium-high heat. Place chicken on the grill, and discard the marinade. Grill chicken until center is no longer pink and juices run clear, approximately 5 or 6 minutes per side. Cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of your pieces.
- Drizzle tzatziki over the grilled chicken and serve with warm Toasted Pitas.
- Grilled Greek Chicken adapted from Allrecipes
- Tzatziki Sauce is an original recipe From Valerie's Kitchen
Kathy says
I have had this recipe at our local Greek owned restaurant…I have always loved both the chicken…( they also make it in the beef) and the sauce or dip. So glad to finally find a recipe for it!!!! My question is…Will it make a big difference if I use the dried herbs instead of the fresh herbs. I don’t always have the fresh, and if a spur hits me to make it right now..lol..can I use the dried with good results? Thanks, for sharing this recipe and am looking so forward to making it! <3
Valerie says
Hi Kathy! I really feel the fresh herbs are what make this recipe shine. If you do substitute dry herbs, be sure to use about a third of the amount of fresh herbs called for in the recipe. Dry herbs are far more concentrated than fresh so you’ll need to scale back. I hope you’ll try it with fresh herbs sometime. Enjoy!
Julie @ Lovely Little Kitchen says
Love all the fresh herbs you used here… you totally had me at warm toasted pitas!
Gabriela says
Valerie, I cannot praise you enough for this recipe. I am told I am a good cook but after my family had this meal, they just couldn’t believe how delicious, fresh, aromatic yet light this dish was. Herbs and spices are not used enough in this country. I was born and raised in Europe, and I miss good Mediteranean cuisine restaurants.
You should open a restaurant Valerie 🙂
Looking forward to more delicious recipes on your website.
Thank you, Gabriela
Valerie says
Thank for the wonderful compliments, Gabriela. I’m so happy your family enjoyed this dish. I absolutely love it too. Thanks for the feedback and for making my day brighter 🙂
Lynna says
Yum! I wish I had a grill at home. I love it with the tzatziki sauce. 🙂
Asmita says
What a beautiful chicken! Just love the tzatziki sauce with it. Greek food is our favorite food and I will try this out soon at home. Thanks so much for sharing.
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says
Absolutely delicious, and great photos too, Val! This is one of my favorite summer meals! I can’t slather tzatziki on enough meats in the summer. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your weekend!
Valerie says
That doesn’t surprise me. Based on the recipes you share, I can tell we have very similar tastes! Thank you Georgia and have a fantastic weekend 🙂
Angie | Big Bear's Wife says
That Chicken looks fantastic!
Valerie says
Thanks Angie!
Kelly Senyei | Just a Taste says
This looks spectacular! I absolutely love tzatziki sauce and put it on everything!
Valerie says
Thank you so much Kelly and thank you for stopping by! I’m a big fan of your site 🙂