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A handheld smartphone photo showing glistening Mediterranean Chicken Marinade pieces in a white bowl with lemon wedges. (Mediterranean Chicken Marinade)

Mediterranean Chicken Marinade for Juicy Grilled Chicken Thighs

This Mediterranean Chicken Marinade creates juicy, tender chicken with charred grill marks and a glistening herb-infused glaze. Perfect for grilling, it features fresh lemon, garlic, and oregano for a bright, authentic flavor profile.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 385
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Recipe
  • 1.5 lbs Chicken Thighs Boneless, skin-on (680g)
  • 1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (120ml)
  • 3 tablespoons Lemon Juice Freshly squeezed (45ml)
  • 1 tablespoon Lemon Zest From 1 lemon
  • 4 cloves Garlic Minced
  • 1 tablespoon Dried Oregano (2g)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt (3g)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper (1g)
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley Finely chopped (15g)
  • 1/2 medium Red Onion Thinly sliced
  • 2 wedges Lemon For serving

Equipment

  • 1 Whisk For emulsifying the marinade
  • 1 Outdoor Grill Or grill pan

Method
 

Prepare the Marinade
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, zest, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
  2. Place chicken in a resealable bag and pour marinade over. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Grill the Chicken
  1. Preheat grill to medium-high. Place chicken skin-side down and grill for 5-6 minutes until dark charred grill marks appear.
  2. Flip chicken and cook for 5-7 more minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
  3. Serve in a shallow bowl sprinkled with fresh parsley, red onion slices, and lemon wedges.

Notes

Use skin-on thighs for the best charred results.
Don't over-marinate beyond 4 hours as the lemon juice can change the texture of the chicken.