Yogurt Chicken Marinade

Yogurt marinaded chicken grilled on skewers.

5 from 6 votes

Yogurt Chicken Marinade

Tangy and smooth, this Middle Eastern style Yogurt Chicken Marinade can be made in minutes. Resulting in extremely tender chicken whether you grill it, pan-fry it, or bake it. This is one easy weeknight meal.

Prep Time5

Cook Time35

Marinating Time20

Total Time1

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: Servings

Calories: 495kcal

Author: Aimee Mars

Equipment

1 Gallon-Size Resealable Bag or baking dish and plastic wrap
Mixing Bowl
Whisk

Ingredients

2½ lbs Boneless, Skinless, Chicken Thighs or other type of chicken
1 cup Greek Yogurt
1/4 cup Olive Oil
2 tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice add zest for more flavor
3 Garlic Cloves minced
1 teaspoon Paprika
1 teaspoon Cumin
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
2 teaspoons Salt

Instructions

Place all the ingredients, except the chicken, in a medium-sized bowl and whisk together until smooth and fully combined.
Place the chicken in a resealable bag or in a baking dish and pour the marinade on top. Seal the bag or cover the dish with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge to marinate for a minimum of 20 minutes and up to 4 hours, but no more than 4 hours.
Oven-Baked: Preheat the oven to 425º F and cover a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a baking rack on top. Remove the chicken from the marinade (discard the marinade) and arrange it in a single layer. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165º F. Broil for 2 to 3 minutes to get a crispy outer layer.
Grilled: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and add the chicken thighs. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes per side or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165º F. Let the chicken rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Do not reuse the marinade from the raw chicken. If you'd like to use the marinade to baste the chicken as it cooks, then either set some aside prior to cooking the chicken or make extra.
Don't marinate the chicken for too long. It only takes 20 minutes for this chicken to marinate and the best timeframe for the best flavor is between 2 and 4 hours. Don't go over 4 hours though because the chicken will start to get mealy.
Use an instant-read meat thermometer to determine when the meat is done. This is the easiest and quickest way to determine when your chicken is cooked.
To keep the chicken from drying out during the cooking process brush it with oil on all sides.

How Long to Cook Marinated Chicken

Grilled: allow the grill to reach 350º F or medium-high heat. Grill the chicken for 15 to 20 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through cooking.
Baked: heat your oven to 400º F and cook the chicken on a foil-lined baking sheet or in an iron skillet for 18 to 22 minutes. If using thin-cut chicken breast check the temperature of the meat for around 18 minutes and if using a bone-in type of chicken check it around 22 minutes.
Pan-Fried: coat the bottom of your pan in oil and heat over medium-high heat. Cook chicken, flipping halfway through, for about 18 to 22 minutes.
Grill Pan: cover the grill pan in oil and heat over medium-high heat. Place the chicken top-side down. Cook, rotating the pan on the burner several times to ensure even browning until the skin has grill marks, about 10 to 12 minutes. Rotate each chicken thigh about 90 degrees and continue grilling until crosshatch marks are visible and the skin is quite brown all over about 5 minutes.

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