Description
A juicy, herbaceous grilled chicken dish marinated in lemon and oregano, served with a cool, creamy homemade tzatziki sauce. This easy summer dinner is ready in about 30 minutes and perfect for weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (for marinade)
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt
- 1 medium English cucumber, grated
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 small clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon olive oil (for tzatziki)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (for tzatziki)
- Optional: 1/2 cup sliced red onion, 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Grate the cucumber using a box grater. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and let sit for 5 minutes to draw out moisture.
- Squeeze the grated cucumber firmly with your hands or cheesecloth to remove as much liquid as possible. Transfer to a small bowl.
- Add Greek yogurt, minced garlic, chopped dill, lemon zest, 1 teaspoon olive oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the cucumber. Stir until smooth. Cover and refrigerate to chill.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, 4 cloves minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Add chicken thighs to the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Marinate for at least 30 minutes (up to 4 hours in fridge).
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat (400°F/200°C). Clean and oil the grates.
- Place chicken on the grill. Do not move for 5-6 minutes to create char marks. Flip and cook for another 6-8 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove chicken from grill and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve chicken topped with chilled tzatziki and optional feta or grilled onions.
Notes
Squeezing the cucumber is crucial to prevent watery tzatziki. Use full-fat yogurt for the best texture. Chicken thighs are preferred over breasts for juiciness. Tzatziki tastes better if made ahead and chilled overnight.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
Keywords: Mediterranean Grilled Chicken, Tzatziki, Summer Dinner, Grilled Chicken, Greek Food, Easy Dinner, Healthy Recipe, High Protein