Easy Yogurt Marinated Chicken
- PREP 1hrs 10min
- COOK 20min
- TOTAL 1hrs 30min
Yogurt is our secret weapon for chicken that turns out juicy every single time. It does all the heavy lifting—tenderizing every bite, adding richness, and helping the outside get beautifully caramelized. We use honey, but if you don’t have any on hand, maple syrup works too.
You Will Need
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 garlic clove, finely grated
3 tablespoons whole-milk plain Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 ½ to 2 pounds chicken breasts or thighs (680 g)
Lemon wedges for serving
Fresh cilantro leaves for serving
Directions
1Marinate: Mix the olive oil, honey, mustard, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, yogurt, salt, and pepper in a bowl large enough to hold the chicken. Add the chicken and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 8 hours.
2Cook the chicken: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3Heat a grill pan over medium heat and brush the grates with oil. Add the chicken and sear until dark brown grill marks appear, about 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Watch the heat, as the honey in the marinade can burn.
4Transfer the chicken to the prepared baking sheet and spoon the remaining marinade over the top.
5Bake for 15 to 25 minutes, until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken registers 165°F. Leave the chicken for 5 minutes until the juices settle. Slice into thick slices, scatter cilantro over the top, and serve with lemon wedges.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Alternatives for cooking the chicken: You can grill, bake, or cook the chicken in a skillet or grill pan. My favorite option is to sear the outside for color and finish in the oven. Since honey is in the marinade, it will darken quite a bit so watch for burning when you sear your chicken. You can skip the grill pan and go directly to the oven. You will still get a little color. If you use an outdoor grill, use our grilled chicken recipe for tips.
- The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We assumed 1 ½ pounds chicken breasts.