Greek Lemon-Herb Chicken Thighs

Looking for a flavorful and easy weeknight dinner? These Greek Lemon-Herb Chicken Thighs are the perfect choice. Juicy bone-in chicken thighs are marinated in a bright blend of fresh lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, oregano, and thyme, then baked until golden and tender. 

Whether you serve them with fluffy rice, roasted potatoes, or warm crusty bread to soak up the sauce, this Greek chicken recipe brings a burst of sunshine to your dinner table.

This recipe makes a tasty main meal that serves 4. Serve with fluffy rice, roasted potatoes, or crusty bread to soak up every drop of the tangy lemon-herb sauce.

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How to Make Greek Lemon-Herb Chicken

Ingredients

Equipment

A large dish of Greek lemon and herb chicken thighs sits waiting to be served

Instructions

Step 1 – Prepare the marinade 

  • In a small bowl, stir together the lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, thyme, Dijon mustard, and season to taste with some salt and cracked black pepper.
  • MIx for 30 seconds.

Step 2 – Marinate the chicken 

  • Add the chicken thighs to a large bowl and pour the marinade over the thighs. 
  • Use some kitchen tongs to mix the thighs to give them an even coating of the marinade. 
  • Cover the bowl with kitchen wrap and marinate for at least 30 minutes ( up to 8 hours) in the fridge.

Step 3 – Transfer to baking dish

  • Preheat the oven to 200°C / 400°F. 
  • Place the chicken in a baking dish and pour the remaining marinade on top.
  • Add a few lemon rounds for color and flavor and garnish with a few giant caper berries (you can use small capers if you don’t have giant ones). 

Step 4 – Bake

  • Bake for around 30 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and reaches an internal temperature of 74°C /165°F with a Meat thermometer
  • Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes (uncovered) before serving.
  • Best served alongside lots of steamed white rice or plenty of fresh crusty bread to help mop up the delicious lemony sauce.

Cooking tips

🍋 Preparation Tips

  • Zest the lemons before juicing – a teaspoon of zest adds extra citrusy brightness to the marinade.
  • Fresh vs. dried herbs: If you have fresh oregano or thyme, use about 3x the dried amount for a more vibrant flavor.

🍗 Marinating Tips

  • Overnight marination: While 30 minutes works, marinating for several hours (up to 8) will make the chicken juicier and more flavorful.
  • Room temperature before baking: Let the chicken sit out for 15 minutes after marinating so it cooks more evenly.

🔥 Cooking Tips

  • Use a hot oven: Starting at 200°C / 400°F helps crisp the skin (if using skin on chicken thighs). For even crispier skin, finish under the broiler for 2–3 minutes.
  • Don’t crowd the pan: Leave space between thighs so they roast instead of steaming.
  • Internal temperature check: When checking the chicken is done, be sure to insert the meat thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh (but not touching bone) for accuracy.

One Pan Chicken Recipes

When it comes to an easy-to-make yet flavorful dinner option, you can’t go past one-pan chicken recipes, and this Greek Lemon-Herb Chicken thighs is one of the best we have tried. 

With literally, 5 minutes of prep and using a few pantry staples, this recipe is packed with flavor and is ideal as a weeknight dinner option, coming together in around an hour. 

Of course, the absolute best thing is that this recipe can easily be made in the one casserole dish. Sure in the video, we added it to a bowl to mix the ingredients, but hey, if you’re short on time for doing dishes, just make it in the casserole dish and you’re good to go! 


A large dish of Greek lemon and herb chicken thighs sits waiting to be served

Nutrition Facts

NutrientPer Serving% Daily Value (DV)
Calories166 kcal8%
Protein4.2 g8%
Total Fat15.1 g19%
Carbohydrates4.8 g2%
Dietary Fiber0.8 g3%
Total Sugars1.0 g2%
Sodium351 mg15%

⚠️ Note: Values are estimated using USDA data and common food databases. Actual nutrition may vary depending on chicken size, olive oil absorption, caper brand, and portioning.

5 Awesome Chicken Recipes We Love 

🔸30-Second Mediterranean Chicken Marinade 

🔸Sweet and Spicy Harissa Honey Chicken Thighs 

🔸Mediterranean Chicken & Rice 

🔸Za’atar Chicken Thighs with Olives and Prunes 

🔸Spicy Paprika Chicken Thighs


A large dish of Greek lemon and herb chicken thighs sits waiting to be served

Greek Lemon-Herb Chicken Thighs

Byron
Juicy and flavorful, these Greek Lemon-Herb Chicken Thighs are marinated in lemon, garlic, and herbs, then baked to golden perfection for an easy Mediterranean dinner.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Marinating time: 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Chicken, dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Greek, Mediterranean
Servings 4 Main
Calories 166 kcal

Equipment

  • Large casserole dish
  • Large bowl (optional)
  • Wooden Cutting Board
  • Ceramic Garlic Grater Plate
  • Chef Knife
  • Lemon Juicer (optional)

Ingredients
  

  • 6 bone-in chicken thighs
  • cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Juice from 2 lemons
  • 1 lemon sliced into rounds
  • 4 garlic gloves minced
  • 1 heaped tablespoon Dried Oregano organic
  • 1 tsp Organic Greek Thyme
  • 1 ts Dijon Mustard
  • 1.7 oz. / 50g Gaint Caperberries
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions
 

Step 1 – Prepare the marinade

  • In a small bowl, stir together the lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, thyme, Dijon mustard, and season to taste with some salt and cracked black pepper.
    ⅓ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Juice from 2 lemons, 4 garlic gloves minced, 1 heaped tablespoon Dried Oregano, 1 tsp Organic Greek Thyme, 1 ts Dijon Mustard
  • MIx for 30 seconds.

Step 2 – Marinate the chicken

  • Add the chicken thighs to a large bowl and pour the marinade over the thighs.
    6 bone-in chicken thighs
  • Use some kitchen tongs to mix the thighs to give them an even coating of the marinade.
  • Cover the bowl with kitchen wrap and marinate for at least 30 minutes ( up to 8 hours) in the fridge.

Step 3 – Transfer to baking dish

  • Preheat the oven to 200°C / 400°F.
  • Place the chicken in a baking dish and pour the remaining marinade on top.
  • Add a few lemon rounds for color and flavor and garnish with a few giant caper berries (you can use small capers if you don’t have giant ones).
    1 lemon, 1.7 oz. / 50g Gaint Caperberries, Salt and Pepper to taste

Step 4 – Bake

  • Bake for around 30 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and reaches an internal temperature of 74°C /165°F with a Meat thermometer.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes (uncovered) before serving.
  • Best served alongside lots of steamed white rice or plenty of fresh crusty bread to help mop up the delicious lemony sauce.

Notes

Cooking tips

🍋 Preparation Tips
  • Zest the lemons before juicing – a teaspoon of zest adds extra citrusy brightness to the marinade.
  • Fresh vs. dried herbs: If you have fresh oregano or thyme, use about 3x the dried amount for a more vibrant flavor.
 
🍗 Marinating Tips
  • Overnight marination: While 30 minutes works, marinating for several hours (up to 8) will make the chicken juicier and more flavorful.
  • Room temperature before baking: Let the chicken sit out for 15 minutes after marinating so it cooks more evenly.
 
🔥 Cooking Tips
  • Use a hot oven: Starting at 200°C / 400°F helps crisp the skin (if using skin on chicken thighs). For even crispier skin, finish under the broiler for 2–3 minutes.
  • Don’t crowd the pan: Leave space between thighs so they roast instead of steaming.
  • Internal temperature check: When checking the chicken is done, be sure to insert the meat thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh (but not touching bone) for accuracy.
Keyword 1 Hour recipe, baked chicken, Baked chicken thighs, Chicken thighs, Dijon Mustard, lemon, lemon herb marinade, lemons, Oregano, Thyme, weeknight dinner
A large dish of Greek lemon and herb chicken thighs sits waiting to be served

2 responses to “Greek Lemon-Herb Chicken Thighs”

  1. Randy avatar
    Randy

    Looks fantastic. I prefer chicken thighs cooked to 180+ they can take it, breasts 165 for sure. Have to try this recipe out. Thanks

    1. Byron avatar

      Thank you for your comment. Do you mean you cook the thighs so they reach an internal temp of 180+ F ? or you prefer to cook them at 180 C?

What are some useful cooking tips for this recipe?

Zest the lemons before juicing for extra citrus flavor, use fresh herbs if available, let the chicken sit at room temperature for 15 minutes after marinating, and check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure perfect doneness.

How should I cook the chicken after marinating?

Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F, place the chicken in a baking dish, pour remaining marinade over it, add lemon slices and capers, then bake for about 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 74°C/165°F. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

What is the best way to marinate the chicken for maximum flavor?

Add the chicken thighs to a large bowl, pour the marinade over them, use tongs to coat evenly, cover with plastic wrap, and marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, or up to 8 hours for more flavor and juiciness.

How do I prepare the marinade for this chicken recipe?

To prepare the marinade, combine lemon juice, olive oil, dried oregano, thyme, Dijon mustard, salt, and cracked black pepper in a small bowl, then mix for about 30 seconds until well combined.

What are Greek Lemon-Herb Chicken Thighs and why are they a good choice for a quick dinner?

Greek Lemon-Herb Chicken Thighs are juicy, flavorful chicken cooked with lemon juice, herbs, and other seasonings, baked until golden. They are a great quick dinner because they use simple pantry ingredients, cook in just about 30 minutes, and are versatile enough to serve with rice, potatoes, or bread.

2 thoughts on “Greek Lemon-Herb Chicken Thighs”

  1. Looks fantastic. I prefer chicken thighs cooked to 180+ they can take it, breasts 165 for sure. Have to try this recipe out. Thanks

    Reply
    • Thank you for your comment. Do you mean you cook the thighs so they reach an internal temp of 180+ F ? or you prefer to cook them at 180 C?

      Reply

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