This lemon chicken recipe is all about juicy, tender, and golden-baked chicken thighs coated with the best lemon-herb Greek marinade. It’s quick to prep, easy to cook, and the results are fantastic!

Greek lemon chicken in a baking dish
Photo: Gayle McLeod

If there is one chicken recipe I could live off of, it’s this Greek lemon chicken. I’m a sucker for skin-on chicken thighs given how naturally juicy and flavorful they are. Plus, I love how it’s virtually impossible to overcook chicken thighs in the oven. But this bright and herby lemon chicken marinade is what makes this dish so satisfying.

If you’ve been making my recipes for a while, you may have come across different variations of this marinade on my website previously. And that’s because Mediterranean recipes are the heart and soul of how I cook! From my video on simple chicken marinades to this Greek sheet pan chicken and Greek chicken kabobs, lemon chicken recipes have become a Downshiftology staple.

If you watch the video below, you’ll see that I serve up these Greek lemon chicken thighs with a side of lemon herb rice (from my cookbook) and air fryer green beans to complete the best dinner ever. But keep scrolling for even more side dish ideas!

Ingredients for Greek lemon chicken

Lemon Chicken Ingredients

You’ll be glad to hear that this recipe is extremely pantry-friendly, including the chicken marinade! Here’s what you need. 

  • Chicken: Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs lend the juiciest meat and crispiest outer skin. If you’re using frozen chicken thighs, let them thaw in the fridge overnight before making this recipe.
  • Liquids: A combination of extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and Dijon mustard make up the base of the marinade. And if you want to amp up the lemon flavor, add a bit of lemon zest to the mix or save some lemon slices to add on top before cooking.
  • Seasonings: Dried oregano, dried thyme, fresh garlic, salt, and black pepper are the ultimate Mediterranean flavor combo. And for this recipe, do stick with dried herbs instead of fresh ones.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below

How To Make Greek Lemon Chicken

Make the marinade. The prep time for this is super minimal, just stir the marinade ingredients together in a small bowl. If you’d like to save extra time, make the marinade a day in advance and store it in the fridge. Then give it a whisk before using it the next day.

Greek lemon chicken marinade in a bowl

Marinate the chicken. Add the chicken thighs to a large bowl, pour the marinade on top, and give the chicken a quick toss. Then, let the chicken marinate for 1 to 2 hours in the fridge. See notes below on marinating time.

Marinating Greek lemon chicken in a bowl

Bake the chicken. Assemble the chicken in a baking dish skin side up (I’ve linked my favorite one below). Pour the remaining marinade on top and bake for 40 to 45 minutes at 350°F (180°C). You can check to see if the chicken is done at 175°F (80°C) by using an instant-read thermometer. For extra crispy skin, turn on the top oven broiler in the last 2 to 3 minutes.

Greek lemon chicken in a white baking dish

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can you marinate chicken in lemon juice?

Acidic marinades shouldn’t be used for more than 3 hours. After this point, the chicken thighs will become far too tenderized and have a gamey-like texture. For me, the ideal time is about 1 to 2 hours.

What to serve with Greek Lemon Chicken?

Complete this Greek-inspired meal with a fresh Greek salad that is made with my famous Greek salad dressing. For a heartier meal, plate it with other side dishes like rice or cooked vegetables. My favorites to pair with this are garlic herb roasted potatoes, green beans with shallots, or garlic-sauteed spinach.

Can I use boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs?

Yes, you can use this same marinade to cook with both types of chicken. For chicken breasts, follow my best-baked chicken breast recipe. For chicken thighs, you can reduce the time by half.

A close up of Greek lemon chicken

How To Store Leftover Chicken Thighs

  • To store for the week: Enjoy portions throughout the week by storing them in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.  
  • To freeze for later: Store leftovers in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Then thaw them in the fridge the day before you plan to reheat them. Trust me, finding a batch of this chicken in your freezer is a gold mine!
  • Reheating chicken: Good news, chicken thighs are less likely to dry out when reheating. But you can always add a little moisture back in by adding a splash of water on top or layering a damp paper towel over the chicken piece before microwaving it.

More Easy Chicken Recipes

I’ve got plenty more chicken thigh recipes or chicken breast recipes for you to enjoy. But here are some of my favorites that I make most often:

I hope you love this Greek lemon chicken as much as I do! Once you make it, let me know your thoughts in the comment box below.

A baking dish with Greek lemon chicken

Greek Lemon Chicken

Author: Lisa Bryan
4.99 from 214 votes
Read 497 Comments
Serves 8 pieces
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Email This Recipe
Enter your email and I’ll send it to you + weekly food inspiration!

Description

This lemon chicken is the best dinner with juicy, tender, and golden chicken thighs coated in a delicious lemon-herb Greek marinade. Watch how I make it and serve it up in the video below!

Video

Equipment

Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • Make the marinade: In a small bowl, stir together the oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, thyme, mustard, salt, and pepper.
    A bowl of Greek lemon chicken marinade
  • Marinate the chicken: Add the chicken thighs to a large bowl and pour the marinade on top. Marinate for 1 to 2 hours (and up to 8 hours) in the fridge.
    Marinating Greek lemon chicken
  • Transfer to baking dish: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Place the chicken in a baking dish and pour the remaining marinade on top.
    A white baking dish of Greek lemon chicken
  • Bake the chicken: Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked and registers 175°F (80°C) on an instant-read thermometer. Optionally, you can baste the chicken a few times while it cooks. And for extra crispy skin, turn on the top oven broiler in the last 2 to 3 minutes. If you're serving this dish up for a dinner party, you can garnish it with lemon slices if you'd like.
    A baking dish filled with Greek lemon chicken thighs

Nutrition

Calories: 404kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 707mg | Potassium: 325mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 136IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 2mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

You May Also Like

About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

4.99 from 214 votes (22 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Thank you for taking the time to write a review—I always love reading your comments.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Did you make this? Rate the recipe!




All comments are moderated before appearing on the site, as per the community guidelines. Thank you for your patience! Please note that anonymous star reviews without comments are not allowed on Downshiftology, to ensure the integrity of recipe reviews.

497 Comments

  1. Have gone to Greek Islands restaurant in Chicago for YEARS and between the chicken oreganato and braised lamb shank I’ve never been disappointed—-hoping this is right there—-oppaaa!

  2. Hi! I’m planning to make this for a dinner party later for 10 people, so looking to double the recipe. Would you recommend extending the cooking time or anything? Going to try fit it all in one big baking pan. Thanks!

    1. Hi Rosie – yes, if you double the recipe it will likely need a bit longer to cook. Just remember to double check the internal temperature of the chicken, to make sure it’s cooked through. Enjoy!

  3. I have made this now several times and it never disappoints. It is soo easy and so tasty. Goes with mashed potatoes & veg, roasted jacket potatoes or just chips 😋 Love it 🥰5 stars

  4. Unfortunately, I was short on time and didn’t get to marinate it for more than 45 minutes but it turned out so tender and delicious. My son said it needs to be on weekly rotation. Cooked on convection bake and once cooked I put it under the broiler to crisp up the skin.5 stars

    1. Glad this Greek lemon chicken still turned out great, even though you didn’t get to fully marinate the chicken, Ashlea!

  5. I’ve made this several times – now a family go-to meal. I’d love to make this for a large group – 25-30 people coming up shortly in our village- what would you suggest as accompaniments?5 stars

    1. Hi Bobbie – This would be great for a dinner party! To keep with the Greek theme, you could make a large serving of my Greek salad and a lemon herb rice (from my cookbook).

    1. Hi Dana – boneless thighs cook faster than bone-in, so I’d recommend checking the internal temp of the chicken 10 to 15 minutes earlier. Enjoy!

  6. Hi Lisa.
    I have made this recipe countless times. It always comes out perfectly. It is my go to recipe and NEVER fails me.
    I love your website and videos. Clean, professional.5 stars

  7. Seriously, this is the BEST lemon chicken recipe! Thank you so much for sharing all of your fantastic recipes! So appreciated :)5 stars

  8. Hi i made this last night ( half recipe ), for my twin teens and i, and we all loved it!
    So flavorful, and the skin was crispy. Thank you for adding another dish to our dinner choices!5 stars

  9. Made this for dinner tonight. Used chicken breast instead of chicken thighs. Left it in marinade for about 4 1/2 hours. It was so tender and delicious! Love this recipe.5 stars

      1. Lisa,

        Came back from grocery shopping early this morning. My son told me that he had the leftover lemon chicken for breakfast. He said it was really, really good. I am going to make a big batch of the marinade and freezing it. Thanks again!5 stars

  10. We absolutely love this recipe! Even my picky toddlers like it! Tonight we’re just going to try it with roasted zucchini and couscous. Would the chicken work in the air fryer for nights we’re short on time? Thank you!5 stars

    1. Hi Taylor – Yes, this would cook just fine in the air fryer! However, I haven’t tested air frying chicken thighs yet so I don’t have an exact temperature and time.

  11. This has become a new rotation in our recipes. My husband really enjoyed it. It is easy and tasty.5 stars

    1. Hi Jay – Assuming you’re referencing this chicken marinades post, those are Stasher bags! You can find them linked within the post.

  12. I made this Greek lemon chicken for the family and everybody devoured it. The chicken was seasoned well and very juicy. I have already made it a couple of times and plan on making more greek and mediterranean dishes after visiting Greece recently. We were so inspired by their culture and food. I’ve plan on making different Greek and mediterranean recipes from downshiftology. Thank you for providing these healthy and easy recipes. Keep them coming!5 stars

    1. I’m so glad this Greek lemon chicken was such a hit with your family, Janet! Can’t wait to see what other Mediterranean recipes you try.

  13. It is bitterly cold in Cape – South Africa- goung to try this- will let you know.
    We have access to lots of fresh fish- I thought I will also try your recipe with fresh local line fish- steenbras, cob, or bream.
    Thx for cool recipe

  14. This recipe was really good. The chicken wasn’t as lemony as I was thinking it might be, I might use more next time. The rice was the best I’ve had in years.5 stars

  15. Great recipe. Made it tonight with chicken breasts. Very good. I put artichoke hearts in the pan with the chicken. Very good.5 stars

    1. Hi Kerry – Yes, you can use the same marinade with chicken breasts! Just use my baked chicken breast recipe for proper temperature and cook time.

  16. Love love love the Greek lemon chicken recipe!! It is amazing and the chicken is so juicy and the herbs and spices are incredible. The lemon really hits it out of the park!!5 stars

    1. Thrilled to hear you’re loving this Greek lemon chicken, Anhela! You can never beat that flavor combination.

  17. This recipe had such great flavor! I ended cooking on my stove top in a cast iron pan since I had skinless thighs and I wanted to make sure they browned properly. My whole family inhaled the chicken!5 stars

  18. Wow! this was the best new recipie I have made in a long time! It was also incredibly easy. Served with orzo and veggies tossed in the sauce. Thank you!5 stars

    1. This looks wonderful and I will definitely make this. If I wanted to substitute with chicken breasts, how long would you recommend to cook in oven and at what temp? Thank you!

  19. Made this last night and enjoyed it! Will definitely try it again. I’m wondering about the nutrition information because I want to put the meal in my calorie tracker. Is the nutrition information per piece of chicken thigh or for all 8 pieces? Hope you will get a chance to answer. Thanks a lot!5 stars