You are going to be delighted to make this internationally-inspired Mediterranean Chicken Breasts recipe full of lemon, oregano, and garlic. The bright, bold flavors are perfect for your weekday sandwiches, salads, and rice bowls.
Chicken breasts versus chicken thighs? Which is your chicken meat of choice? For years I was only a chicken breast gal. Could not even fathom going near chicken thighs. Chicken breasts were classic, and safe; they never let you down. Then one day my mind did a 180 and I only wanted to eat the darker, meatier chicken thighs. Years later, I am back to my safe and comforting favorite – chicken breasts. My only issue with chicken breasts is that frequently they can be very dry and tough. Dry, tough meat is simply no good and not to be tolerated.
I came up with this oregano lemon garlic chicken marinade to make sure those chicken breasts are always moist, tender, and succulent. I mean, every single time. This marinade truly transforms chicken breasts and is my current go-to marinade.
Mediterranean Chicken Breasts Recipe
The key to this Mediterranean Chicken Breasts recipe is to let the chicken marinate overnight and truly absorb all those delicious flavors. You only need a few key ingredients for this recipe including lemon zest and juice, plenty of fresh garlic, dried oregano, and quality olive oil. Those are the four magical ingredients that truly bring this recipe to life. Mix everything together and toss in the fridge for at least eight hours, but preferably overnight.
To get a nice sear on the chicken, make sure to heat the pan on medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, letting it heat up nicely before adding in the chicken breasts. You know you added them to the pan at the right time when you hear a sizzle as soon as the meat hits the hot oil. That’s exactly the sound effect you want for this recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds thin chicken breasts
- 4-6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 lemon, zest and juice (4 tbsp juice)
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
- Salt/pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine chicken breasts with garlic, oregano, lemon juice and zest, 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Mix together. Cover and marinate in the fridge overnight.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat and add chicken once oil it hot.
- Sear on both sides until chicken is cooked through and browned.
Notes
Home Chef Tip: When searing meat, do not crowd your skillet. Leave room between pieces so meat gets brown and crusty, rather than steaming.
Sear on both sides until cooked through and then serve these Mediterranean Chicken Breasts over rice, a nice salad, or in a pita to go! Make a large batch as part of your meal prep routine. This chicken makes lunch that much more delicious and the leftovers are always welcome too! To make this recipe even more summer themed, after marinating, grill the chicken breasts instead of pan frying them.
We hope you love this Mediterranean Chicken Breasts recipe from SoFabFood Contributor, Victoria from Avocado Pesto, as much as we do. If you enjoyed this recipe, you can find more like it by visiting our Lunch section. For daily recipe inspiration, subscribe to our newsletter, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Pinterest. Enjoy!
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