This chicken brings the flavors of Greece to your grill. It is marinated in lemon and yogurt and then grilled. It comes off juicy, tender and full of flavor. You are going to love how good and how easy it is!
Super juicy and tender grilled chicken is always a winner in our book. This lemon and yogurt marinated chicken gives us that result every time! It is flavorful and easy to make as well.
We really like using chicken drumsticks, but it is a great way to keep boneless skinless chicken breasts tender too. Whip up an easy side or two and dinner is served!
This chicken is really lovely! It comes together super easily and the lemon and yogurt really make for juicy, tender and delicious chicken.
My husband loves grilling and really seems to like it even more when I come up with new marinades to try. The char siu chicken we made for the poultry grill-off has inspired him.
We still need to make that chicken again so we can get pictures and write a post… and he is already asking for this chicken again too. Our “to make” list is always longer than our time to make it!
Luckily this chicken really doesn’t take any time at all, so I am sure we can get back around to it soon too. I’d like to get some better pictures, so that always moves a re-make up the list.
It’s hard to justify making something we just had again when there are so many other things to make and share! Not only has he asked for it again, but he has been telling people about it.
That’s an even better sign. I guess I better get to it.
All it takes is tossing the ingredients in a bag and letting them mix and meld for a few hours. I did get in there and flip the bag every so often and gave the drummies a gentle massage a few times just for good measure.
Mostly it was because I was in the fridge anyway and it seemed like the thing to do. I am sure they would have been just as delicious without the extra love and attention!
And what is your favorite chicken marinade? We want to try them all!!
If you like this recipe, but don’t want to fire up the grill… try the slow cooker lemon yogurt chicken pita filling. It makes a really tasty sandwich with similar flavors.
There are so many wonderful side dishes this chicken could go with. The most recent time we made it we served it with some Mediterranean orzo salad.
The combination of the light, bright salad and the super juicy chicken was amazing. It is the perfect summer meal.
In fact, I deboned the leftover chicken, chopped it up and tossed it in the leftover pasta salad. My lunches at work were phenomenal that week!
For another great dinner entrée, check out marinated chicken with spices and a hint of brown sugar.
What are your favorite marinades for grilled chicken? I’d love to hear all about them.
What does marinating in yogurt do for the chicken?
Yogurt tenderizes the meat in a gentle and effective fashion. Too much acid can toughen the meat, but yogurt results in tender and juicy meat.
How long can you marinate chicken in yogurt?
I recommend marinating your chicken for at least an hour to allow the flavors to really penetrate the meat. However, if kept in the refrigerator, you can marinate the chicken for up to 24 hours.
Love this recipe? Give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review in the recipe card below!
Lemon & Yogurt Marinated Grilled Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 teaspoons garlic powder
- 3 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons plain yogurt
- 2 Tablespoons fresh oregano chopped (or 1 if using dried)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2-3 pounds chicken
Instructions
- In a large zipper topped bag, mix together the marinade ingredients.
- Add the chicken to the bag, seal closed. Then roll the chicken around in the marinade to make sure it is all coated.
- Refrigerate for 3-6 hours. If possible, rotate the bag and gently massage the chicken every once in a while to make sure all of the chicken is well covered and happy.
- Remove chicken from marinade and grill until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Video
Nutrition
Andrea Nine
Wednesday 12th of August 2020
I made this soon after I saw this recipe and my family loved it, I’ve made it several times since and now you reminded me to make it this week! Yum Yum Yum
Unknown
Thursday 9th of July 2020
This was fabulous! I didn't have time to marinate the chicken for more than an hour and a half, but was still delicious. Next time I'll give it a proper three or four hours, but just know that if you don't have as much time as you'd like, this recipe is still worthwhile.
I also used boneless chicken breasts cut into strips rather than bone-in legs pieces, and it worked great. We'll definitely be having this again! Thanks, Carlee!
Carlee
Tuesday 28th of July 2020
YAY! I am so glad you liked it! We do it with boneless skinless chicken breasts sometimes too, both ways are great.
Jan
Monday 4th of June 2018
I bet that lemon and yogurt combo is amazing! My daughter will love this one! It's alot like the lemon pepper yogurt dressing I made for the grilled chicken and asparagus salad! Perfect for our grilled recipe round up!
Carlee
Tuesday 28th of July 2020
It's sooooooo good! Thank you
A Day in the Life on the Farm
Sunday 3rd of June 2018
I'm sure that marinade makes for a wonderfully juicy chicken leg.
Carlee
Tuesday 28th of July 2020
it really does, it's so good.
Amy
Friday 28th of April 2017
These are perfect! The legs are always fun to eat, they remind me of being a kid. Thanks for the yummy recipe!
Carlee
Tuesday 28th of July 2020
They are so flavorful and fun!