Greek Lemon Chicken Recipe

Greek Lemon Chicken is just a traditional Mediterranean meal that’s high in brilliant and tangy flavors, rendering it an ideal dish for just about any celebration. The star ingredients—lemon, olive oil, garlic, and oregano—combine to make a delicious, tender, and flavorful chicken that is not only healthy but also simple to prepare. This dish pairs beautifully with rice, potatoes, or even a fresh salad, making it flexible enough for household dinners or special gatherings.

Instructions

Step 1: Marinate the Chicken

Prepare the marinade: Within a small bowl, whisk together the essential olive oil, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest (if making use of), minced garlic, oregano, sodium, pepper, and paprika. This blend will form a tangy and fragrant marinade when it comes to chicken.

Marinate the chicken: Place the chicken upper thighs within a huge resealable synthetic bag or perhaps a superficial meal. Pour the marinade within the chicken, ensuring each piece is completely covered. Massage the marinade into the chicken for some moments, then seal the bag or cover the dish with plastic place.

Refrigerate the chicken for at the very least half an hour, or up to 4 hours. For top flavor, allow the chicken to marinate instantaneously. The longer it marinates, the greater tender and flavorful the chicken is likely to be.

Step 2: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Even though the oven heats up, allow the chicken to come quickly to room temperature (if marinating for more than thirty minutes).

Make a baking meal or oven-safe skillet by softly greasing it with coconut oil or non-stick spray.

Step 3: Sear the Chicken (Optional)

Sear for extra flavor: While this action is optional, searing the chicken before cooking helps you to secure the tastes and create a crispy epidermis. Heat a large skillet over medium-high temperature and add 1-2 tablespoons of essential olive oil.

Sear the chicken thighs skin-side down for about 4-5 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Flip and sear the opposite side for any extra 2-3 mins. Pull from heat and put aside.

Step: Bake the Chicken

Arrange the chicken into the prepared baking meal, skin-side up if seared. If you skipped the searing step, simply position the marinated chicken thighs straight into the meal. Pour any staying marinade through the bowl throughout the chicken.

Add chicken broth: Pour 1/4 cup of chicken broth or liquid into the baking meal. This may help keep the chicken moist during baking and produce a flavorful sauce.

Bake uncovered for 35-40 moments, or until the chicken achieves an interior temperature of 165°F (74°C). Skin must certanly be crispy while the beef juicy and tender. In the event that chicken isn’t browning to your liking, broil it for the extra 2-3 minutes at the conclusion of the cooking time.

Step 5: Sleep and Garnish

Eliminate the chicken through the range and permit it to rest for about five minutes before providing. This ensures that the juices redistribute through the entire beef, maintaining it tender and juicy.

Garnish the chicken with newly chopped parsley and offer with lemon wedges for the extra burst of citrus. Optionally, sprinkle some crumbled feta cheese on the top to enhance the Greek flavor profile.

Serving Suggestions

Greek Lemon Chicken sets well with a number of part dishes and accompaniments. Below are a few a few ideas:

Lemon Rice or Greek Rice Pilaf: The lemony taste associated with chicken sets completely through a side of rice. You can prepare rice with lemon gusto and parsley or choose a full-flavored Greek rice pilaf with tomatoes and herbs.

Roasted Potatoes: For a standard touch, offer the chicken with roasted Greek potatoes. Toss potatoes with olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, garlic, and salt, then roast them alongside the chicken.

Greek Salad: a brand new Greek salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, olives, and feta cheese complements the wealthy, tangy tastes associated with the chicken.

Tzatziki Sauce: offer the chicken by having a side of do-it-yourself tzatziki sauce, fashioned with Greek yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, and dill, for a creamy, cooling comparison.

Pita Bread: Soft, cozy pita bread will make a great side for soaking up the tasty lemony sauce from the chicken. You can also utilize the chicken to fill pita sandwiches, including vegetables and tzatziki for a quick meal.

Methods for the right Greek Lemon Chicken

Use fresh ingredients: Fresh lemon juice and garlic make a big difference in this dish. Bottled lemon liquid and pre-minced garlic won’t provide exactly the same bright, powerful taste. Fresh natural herbs like oregano or parsley are also preferable over dried for garnishing.

Adjust the lemon flavor: If you like a more subtle lemon flavor, reduce steadily the amount of lemon juice into the marinade or put in a touch of honey to stabilize the acidity.

Crisp up the skin: If you love crispy chicken skin, don’t miss out the searing step. Searing helps create a beautiful golden-brown crust that adds both texture and flavor. You can broil the chicken for several minutes at the end of the cooking time for you to attain an identical outcome.

Marinate for extended: for the right flavor, marinate the chicken for at least 4 hours, or instantaneously if possible. This permits the lemon and garlic to enter the meat, resulting in tender, flavorful chicken.

Utilize bone-in, skin-on chicken: Although you will make this dish with boneless, skinless chicken breasts or upper thighs, bone-in, skin-on slices will yield juicier, more flavorful outcomes. Skin locks in dampness, and also the bones assist the chicken cook increased evenly.

Variants on Greek Lemon Chicken

Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken: For the smoky flavor, barbeque grill the marinated chicken in the place of baking it. Preheat your barbecue grill to medium-high heat and barbeque grill the chicken for 6-7 minutes per part, or until fully cooked.

Sheet Pan Greek Chicken: change this dish into a sheet pan meal by adding vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, and red onions towards the baking dish. Toss the vegetables in coconut oil, lemon juice, and oregano, and bake them alongside the chicken for the easy one-pan dinner.

Slow Cooker Greek Lemon Chicken: For the hands-off approach, prepare the marinated chicken in a slow cooker. Position the chicken and marinade when you look at the sluggish cooker, cover, and prepare on low for 6-7 hours, or on large for 3-4 hours.

Leftovers and Storage

Storing: Leftover Greek Lemon Chicken are stored in an airtight container within the refrigerator for as much as 4 times.

Reheating: Reheat the chicken when you look at the range at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 10-15 mins, or until heated through. You can microwave it, but the skin might not be as crispy.

Freezing: You can freeze the cooked chicken for approximately three months. Thaw when you look at the refrigerator instantaneously and reheat as directed above.

Conclusion

Greek Lemon Chicken is an effortless yet flavorful meal that brings the bright and fresh tastes of the Mediterranean to your kitchen. Whether you bake it when you look at the range, grill it, or cook it in a slow cooker, this recipe is really a surefire solution to produce a delicious, healthier dinner that everybody will love. With only several easy components and actions, you’ll have a tender and juicy chicken dish that pairs completely with your preferred edges. Enjoy particularly this Greek classic as part of a household meal, or wow your guests featuring its strong and tangy flavors!

Yield: 4

Greek Lemon Chicken Recipe

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Greek Lemon Chicken is just a traditional Mediterranean meal that's high in brilliant and tangy flavors, rendering it an ideal dish for just about any celebration. The star ingredients—lemon, olive oil, garlic, and oregano—combine to make a delicious, tender, and flavorful chicken that is not only healthy but also simple to prepare. This dish pairs beautifully with rice, potatoes, or even a fresh salad, making it flexible enough for household dinners or special gatherings.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or legs)
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1/4 glass freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Zest of just one lemon
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon dried out oregano
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup chicken broth (or white wine)
• 1 tablespoon honey (optional for the touch of sweetness)
• Fresh parsley and lemon cuts (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven:
   Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
   
2. Marinate the Chicken:
   Within a normal size bowl, mix together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon gusto, minced garlic, dried oregano, thyme, paprika, sodium, and pepper.
   Place the chicken tits within a large resealable synthetic bag or low dish. Pour the marinade on the chicken, making certain each piece is coated well. Marinate for at the very least thirty minutes to an hour or so when you look at the refrigerator, or overnight for best outcomes.
   
3. Sear the Chicken:
   Heat a big oven-safe skillet over medium-high temperature. Add a small olive-oil, so when hot, put the marinated chicken tits when you look at the skillet. Sear each side for 2-3 minutes until golden brown but not totally cooked through.
   
4. Plan Baking:
   Add the chicken broth (or white wine) and honey (if utilizing) into the skillet, stirring to mix with the marinade. İt will help produce a flavorful sauce.
   
5. Bake the Chicken:
   Transfer the skillet to your preheated range and bake for 20-25 mins, or before the interior heat for the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C). Baste the chicken sometimes with the drinks into the skillet for additional flavor.
   
6. Garnish and offer:
   As soon as prepared, get rid of the chicken from the oven and let it rest for five full minutes. Garnish with newly sliced parsley and lemon pieces.
   
7. Offer:
   Provide the chicken with rice, roasted potatoes, or a Greek salad for a full meal.

Notes

• You are able to substitute boneless chicken legs for the juicier outcome.
• For added taste, throw in a few sliced up red onions, bell peppers, or olives across the chicken before baking.
• Marinating the chicken overnight improves the tastes.