Easy 5-Ingredient Mediterranean Chicken Marinade!
This easy 5-Ingredient Mediterranean Chicken Marinade is exactly what you’re looking for come time to fire up the grill or BBQ! This has quickly become my go-to chicken marinade this summer. As the name suggests, it uses just 5 easy-to-find ingredients: Olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, rosemary, and seasoning, plus it only takes half a minute to prepare.
Equipment
- 1 large glass bowl
- Sharp kitchen knife and cutting board
- Fork or cooking tongs
- Kitchen wrap
- 1 skillet (For cooking the chicken)
Ingredients
For the marinade:
- 3 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Chicken:
- 17 oz. 500g of chicken breast meat (around 2 breasts)
Optional ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
Step 1 - Prepare Marinade
- Add the olive oil, juice from 1 lemon, garlic powder, dried rosemary, and seasoning to a large bowl. Mix with a fork to combine ingredients.3 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 1 lemon, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary, Salt and pepper
Step 2 - Prepare and Marinate Chicken
- Score the tops of the breast meat with slices around half an inch (1cm) deep, and one inch (2.5cm) apart (this helps the chicken absorb more of the marinade and cook faster).17 oz. 500g of chicken breast meat (around 2 breasts)
- Add scored chicken breasts to the marinade and coat evenly.
- Cover bowl/dish with kitchen wrap and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes (the longer the better - See notes in the article on ideal marinating time for chicken breast meat).
Step 3 - Cook Chicken
- Skillet or grill method - Cook time around 8-10 minutes
- Heat a large skillet on medium-high heat. Once hot, add a spoonful of the marinade (it should sizzle when it hits the pan) and then add the chicken. Cook chicken for 4-5 minutes per side or until golden.
- The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) when using a meat thermometer.
Oven roasted method - Cook time around 20-25 minutes
- Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F
- Add chicken breast meat to an oven tray and drizzle with any remaining marinade from the bowl.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until you see the tops of the breast meat become golden.
- The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) when using a meat thermometer.2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Video
Notes
Cooking Tips
- Use a 3:1 ratio of oil to acid as it balances flavors and ensures proper marination.
- Use good quality olive oil (in particular extra virgin olive oil) for best results.
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice, not constituted lemon juice.
- Today I used skinless chicken breast for this recipe. But chicken thigh or any other cut of chicken also works just fine.
- Chicken breast marinating times: Quick (15 minutes to 30 minutes), standard (2 to 4 hours), extended (8 to 12 hours).