Grilled Greek Chicken
This Grilled Greek Chicken is tender and juicy…and packed with Mediterranean flavor! This easy recipe is perfect for summer grilling.
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“Chicken is just boring.” For years, my wife has stood by this statement. I get it. Chicken is just chicken. It certainly can be plain and boring. But add in a good marinade and a tasty topping, and that boring chicken can turn into something mouthwatering! And with that, I introduce this recipe for Grilled Greek Chicken.
During the warmer months, we live off of grilled food. Whether it’s something simple like burgers and hotdogs or something a bit fancier, that grill is fired up 6 nights a week. The grill alone adds plenty of flavor to chicken, but I wanted to get creative here. I opted for Greek flavors. The taste of the fresh lemon juice combined with the briny flavor of the olives really compliments the grilled chicken. This is an easy recipe for summer grilling!
Grilled Greek Chicken
If the thought of grilled chicken seems routine and boring, then the first thing to do is marinate it. Plain grilled chicken is fine, but it’s not something you are going to look forward to eating. I get it. But let that chicken rest in a flavorful marinade for a few hours? Now you’re talking!
This Greek Chicken Marinade is rather simple, and it leans into the classic Greek flavors:
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil. Using olive oil in a chicken marinade tenderizes the meat as well as helps it retain moisture.
- Red Wine Vinegar. Vinegar helps tenderize the chicken as well as adds flavor. However, using too much vinegar or letting the chicken marinate in the vinegar for too long can lead to mushy chicken. 24 hours is the max time for marinating chicken with vinegar, but I usually opt for 4-6 hours.
- Lemon Juice. The acidity of the lemon juice tenderizes the chicken while adding a bright, tangy flavor.
- Garlic, Oregano, Paprika, Parsley, Salt and Pepper. This combination of herbs and spices adds flavor…and lots of it!
Olive Tapenade
An olive tapenade is a flavorful dip or spread made of olives, capers and herbs. While the term originated in southern France, many of the ingredients are similar to those found in Mediterranean cuisine. I topped the grilled chicken breasts with a simple olive tapenade, and I snuck a bit of that olive mixture directly into the marinade for extra flavor.
While this Grilled Greek Chicken recipe might sound fancy, I can assure you it is very easy to make. In fact, most of it can be done well in advance of dinner. The olive tapenade can be made 1-2 days ahead of time. (The extra resting time will help the flavors meld so it will taste even better.) The marinade can be whipped up in the morning and the chicken can marinate in the fridge while you’re working.
Once dinnertime rolls around and your stomach starts rumbling, all you need to do is light the grill and cook the chicken for ~12-15 minutes. Serve this tender grilled chicken with pita bread and a Greek salad on the side for a complete meal. On a side note, toasted pita bread dipped into the leftover olive tapenade makes for a fantastic appetizer!
If you’re looking for a delicious and easy summertime grilling recipe, then put this Grilled Greek Chicken on the menu. And if you want to mix things up a bit? Cut the chicken up and turn it into grilled chicken skewers. Serve that skewer with a bit of tzatziki sauce on a piece of warm pita bread. And the extra olive tapenade? Serve that on the side with a piece of grilled pita!
How to Store Leftovers
Leftover grilled chicken should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Leftover chicken also freezes well. Let the cooked chicken cool completely before storing in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Let the frozen chicken thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
I hope you enjoy this grilled chicken recipe as much as we do around here. One bite and we knew this would become a regular summer grilling item in our house. Cheers – and Happy Grilling!
Did you make this Grilled Greek Chicken recipe at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me (@Spicedblog) on Instagram – I’d love to see your version!
Grilled Greek Chicken
Ingredients
For the Olive Tapenade
- 1½ tsp minced garlic
- 1 cup pitted kalamata olives
- 1 cup pitted green olives
- 3 Tbsp chopped fresh Italian parsley
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 Tbsp capers
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
For the Greek Chicken
- ¼ cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp olive tapenade
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, can substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Instructions
For the Olive Tapenade
- Using a food processor, add all of the ingredients. Pulse several times and then scrape down the sides of the bowl. Pulse several more times until mixture is finely chopped but not quite pureed.
- Transfer tapenade into a small bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Store in refrigerator until needed.
For the Greek Chicken
- Using a medium bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients except for the chicken.
- Transfer mixture into a large ziptop bag. Add chicken breasts. Seal bag and turn several times until chicken is well coated in marinade.
- Refrigerate for 4-6 hours.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat (~400°F).
- Remove chicken breasts from marinade and place on grill. Discard excess marinade.
- Grill for 6-8 minutes per side, or until internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken breast reaches 165°F.
- Top grilled chicken with additional olive tapenade before serving.
Looking for more summer grilling recipes? Check out these other favorites, too:
Thanks for making me hungry BTW can’t wait to make your recipes soon for me
Thanks so much, Ramya – I hope you enjoy this recipe!
Sounds delicious! Great idea to put some tapenade in the marinade.
That tapenade has so much flavor – it works well as a topping and in the marinade! Thanks, Barb!
This looks fantastic, David! I love those bright Greek flavours, and the chicken looks perfectly grilled and juicy.
This Greek chicken has been on regular repeat around here lately…it’s so flavorful! Thanks, Ben!
This grilled Greek chicken looks absolutely fantastic, so bright, juicy, and perfect for summer. I love how you layer the flavors with that marinade and the tapenade on top; it turns simple chicken into something you actually get excited about.
Grilled chicken is a classic for summertime meals…and this Greek version is packed with flavor! The marinade + the tapenade take this to a whole new level. Thanks, Raymund!
That olive and lemon combo is such a fantastic one – ooh, and that olive tapenade topping – a surefire way to guarantee chicken that’s anything but boring! Fantastic summer recipe, David!
This chicken is anything but boring! We love Greek flavors, and they work so well for summertime grilling. Thanks, Shashi!!
I love chicken! and the tapenade sounds like a fabulous addition. I keep meaning to brine a whole chook then roast it. Must do that some day!
sherry
I always brine chicken wings when I smoke ’em, and it makes a huge difference. I bet brining a whole chicken would be fantastic!
Well if chicken is boring, I must be a very boring person. I probably have more chicken recipes than any other protein on my blog. 😊 And one of them uses a tapenade, so I know how delicious your grilled Greek chicken dinner is. I’m planning on cleaning up my grill tomorrow and now I’m inspired to make it a chicken night. Thanks.
Haha – you aren’t boring at all, Karen! 🙂 I must say that this Greek chicken makes for a fantastic grilled meal. Get that grill cleaned up and put it on the menu!
Such a great way to use up that jar of olive tapenade hanging around in the fridge! The grilled chicken looks so flavorful!
The olive tapenade pairs so well with marinated, grilled chicken! It’s the perfect summer meal – thanks, Michelle!
What a fantastic recipe for summer grilling! The combination of the bright Greek chicken marinade and the homemade olive tapenade sounds incredible. It’s so true that chicken can get boring, but these Mediterranean flavors really elevate it. Can’t wait to make this for dinner soon!
Thanks so much, Betty! This marinated chicken has SO much flavor – and the tapenade on top really packs it home. If you love Mediterranean flavors, then this chicken deserves a spot on your summer grilling menu!
You’ve literally sucked the boring right out of chicken! I absolutely adore your chicken marinade. The red wine vinegar and spice blend are absolutely fantastic! But your olive tapenade really steals the show. And not just because it’s on top! The flavors transform this chicken dinner into a taste bud pleasing party!
Haha – no boring chicken here! 🙂 The marinade alone is delicious, but add in the tapenade on top? This recipe needs to be on repeat all summer long! Thanks, Heidi!