Bring all the flavors of Mediterranean and Greek cuisine to your table with our favorite 4 Greek marinade recipes. Each marinade is very easy to make and requires no special equipment, and most can be whipped up in a minute or two. All of these recipes use easy-to-find pantry staple ingredients for a balanced and full-flavored marinade.
We will also cover the optimum amount of time for marinating meat (beef, lamb, pork), chicken, Seafood, and veggies, what are the best containers to marinate, plus other marinating tips and tricks.
Here are our top 4 Greek Marinade Recipes that you’ll be making on repeat!
- Greek Chicken Marinade
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup Olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dried Oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions:
- In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, red wine vinegar, oregano, thyme, salt, and black pepper.
- Pour the marinade over chicken/pork pieces in a resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish.
- Seal the bag or cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
- Grill, bake, or sauté the marinated chicken/pork as desired.
Looking for more chicken marinade recipes? Check out this awesome and super Easy 5-Ingredient Mediterranean Chicken Marinade
2. Greek Lamb Marinade
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
- 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt (we love to use fine Pink Himalayan Salt)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions:
Cook the marinated lamb by grilling, roasting, or broiling..
Combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, rosemary, oregano, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a bowl.
Place lamb (such as chops, leg, or kebabs) in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish.
Pour the marinade over the lamb, seal the bag or cover the dish, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Greek Yogurt is a great way to create tasty marinades and dressings for Greek dishes. Check out this recipe with a tangy Greek Yogurt dressing for some inspiration:
Mediterranean Chicken Meatballs with Couscous and a Tangy Greek Yogurt Dressing
3. Greek Seafood Marinade
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions:
- Mix together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, dill, parsley, oregano, salt, and black pepper in a bowl.
- Place seafood (such as shrimp, fish fillets, or squid) in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish.
- Add the marinade, seal the bag or cover the dish, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Cook the marinated seafood by grilling, baking, or pan-frying.
Looking for more tasty seafood recipes? How about this mouthwatering recipe: Baked Salmon with Lemon, Garlic, and Fresh Dill
4. Greek Vegetable Marinade
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon Dried Basil Leaves
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions:
- In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and black pepper.
- Place vegetables (such as bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, or mushrooms) in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish.
- Pour the marinade over the vegetables, seal the bag or cover the dish, and let them marinate for at least 30 minutes to 2 hours.
- Grill or roast the marinated vegetables until tender.
It is worth mentioning that many of the veggie-style marinades can also double as tasty salad dressings. If you plan to use it as a dressing instead, give the ingredients enough time to meld and make it a little thinner in consistency (more runny) by adding a splash more oil, or water.
Looking for a quick and easy salad dressing? Check out this Fresh & Healthy Horiatiki Greek Salad + Easy Dressing Recipe
