Greek Marinade for Chicken or Fish

Bring fresh Mediterranean flavors to your kitchen with this Greek Marinade which can be used with chicken or white fish. Made with extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, lots of garlic, parsley and oregano, this marinade takes just minutes to come together. Read more about the ingredients plus my tips for selecting protein.

This is my go-to marinade for chicken and fish. Its incredibly easy to come together with ingredients you likely have in your pantry and instantly elevates your dish. I usually use this marinade for chicken but have also tried this with white fish with similar delicious results.

Greek Chicken Marinade Ingredients

A great marinade needs a fat, acid and seasonings. This greek marinade for chicken includes:

• Extra virgin olive oil – Oil is a base for most marinades and its especially important if you are cooking with a leaner cut of chicken or fish.
• Lemon juice and lemon zest – Acidity from the lemon juice helps break down the tough fibers of the protein and infuses the lemon flavor to the marinade. Adding zest intensifies the flavor.
• Fresh garlic – Do not try to substitute with garlic powder. Fresh garlic is a must.
• Oregano and parsley – Dried herbs will have a more intense flavor and is totally acceptable if this is what you have on hand (however, you will want to use 1/4 of what is called for in the recipe which is written for fresh herbs). I personally love cooking with fresh herbs when they are available.
• Salt – All marinades use salt for flavor.
• Pepper – The intensity of fresh cracked pepper gives the marinade a bit of spice but ground pepper will work great too.

Tips for Making Greek Chicken

This recipe is as simple as chopping up the garlic and herbs and whisking the ingredients together, but here are a few tips:

• Invest in a microplane. Use to zest the lemon.
• Use a food processor. Short on time? I sometimes put all the ingredients in a food processor or blender to make the marinade.
• Use fresh ingredients. For more flavor, I would highly recommend using fresh garlic and herbs. If you are in a pinch substitute dried oregano (half the amount).
• Disgard the marinade after using. Once the marinade has come into contact with raw chicken or fish its not safe to eat.

How Long Should You Marinade?

Regardless of what type of protein you use, make sure to keep your marinating period way under 24 hours.

• 20-30 minutes will make a big difference
• I typically marinade for about 1-2 hours for maximum flavor

What Type of Protein Should I Use?

This greek marinade can be used with any protein!

Chicken Breast – If you are eating chicken, I highly recommend seeking out organic chicken. Organic is not the same as natural! Conventional chicken has been found to be very high in arsenic, a known carcinogen. If you are going to eat chicken, please look for certified organic brands.

Wild White Fish – This marinade works will with a sturdy white fish like cod, halibut or rock fish. I love Wild Alaskan Company for wild-caught sustainable Alaskan seafood.

Tofu or Tempeh – I haven’t tried it but I don’t see why not!

More Main Dish Recipes to Try:

• Asian Salmon Bowl with Sriracha Cashew Sauce
• Yellow Coconut Lemongrass Curry

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