Description
A delightful Mediterranean dish featuring succulent chicken marinated in lemon juice, garlic, and oregano, topped with creamy feta cheese.
Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- Fresh lemons (for zest and juice)
- Authentic Greek feta cheese
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Dried Greek oregano
- Minced garlic
- Sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Optional: cherry tomatoes
- Optional: Kalamata olives
- Optional: thinly sliced red onion
- Optional: bell peppers
- Optional: chicken broth or vegetable broth
Instructions
- Pat the boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts) dry with paper towels and trim off any excess fat. Place the chicken in a large bowl or a resealable bag. Season generously with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Whisk together the juice of two lemons, a few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 3-4 cloves of minced garlic, and 2 teaspoons of dried Greek oregano. Add the zest of one lemon to the marinade.
- Pour this mixture over the chicken, ensuring each piece is well coated. Massage the chicken to work in the flavors.
- Cover the bowl or seal the bag and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, ideally 2-4 hours, or overnight for best results.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Remove the chicken from the marinade and let any excess drip off.
- Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat with a tablespoon of olive oil. Sear the chicken pieces for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Arrange optional vegetables around the seared chicken in the skillet or place the marinated chicken and vegetables directly into a large baking dish.
- Pour any remaining marinade or a splash of chicken broth over the chicken and vegetables. Transfer to the preheated oven.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes for chicken breasts, or 20-25 minutes for chicken thighs, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Remove the dish from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley or dill and an extra squeeze of lemon juice. Serve warm with pan juices spooned over.
Notes
For optimal texture, avoid marinating the chicken for over 12 hours. Use high-quality olive oil for the best flavor.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 100mg