These juicy Grilled Greek Chicken Thighs are summertime grilling perfection! The boneless thighs are marinated in easy garlic, lemon and herb marinade which gives them an utterly irresistible Mediterranean flavor. Then all that’s left to do is fire up the grill for a simple summertime dinner recipe.

chicken thighs on a white platter with parsley and lemon

This post contains affiliate links.

Table of contents

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Why We Love This Recipe For Grilled Greek Boneless Chicken Thighs

When the weather is too hot to be indoors in a steamy kitchen, the place to be is on the patio, a cool drink in hand, tending the grill. That’s where you’ll find me this summer, and in all likelihood, I’ll be making another batch of this Grilled Greek Chicken.

I have tons of grilled chicken recipes here on Healthy Seasonal Recipes, from Lemon Garlic Grilled Chicken, the Best Grilled Island Marinated Chicken, Garlic Herb Marinated Chicken to my Chipotle Maple Barbecued Chicken Thighs, you know I love a good grilled chicken recipe! And my guess is that’s why you’re here today too! Chicken is almost everyone’s favorite protein!

And, friends, this one is a new favorite! I love how simple the ingredient list is (no special trip to the store to mix up a batch.) And it takes only a few minutes to whisk the garlic, lemon and oregano-based marinade together.

The chicken can marinate for just a couple of hours, or you can leave it in the marinade longer for even more juicy flavor! The results are tender succulent chicken thighs, perfect for a simple dinner with friends and family, or just an easy weeknight dinner idea. Serve them with our easy Orzo Greek Pasta Salad for a complete healthy seasonal meal. Or you could also, slice the grilled chicken and make Greek Gyros with yogurt sauce in pita pockets.

Plus the Greek flavors and seasoning go with so many of my favorite side dishes, like this Chopped Cucumber Greek Salad, this Mediterranean Barley Salad or this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad. The list goes on! See more tips and pairing suggestions here.

Key Ingredients For This Grilled Boneless Chicken Thigh Recipe

the chicken thighs and other ingredients on a white table with labels

Boneless Chicken Thighs

We love chicken thighs for a number of reasons, first and foremost of which is that they stay nice and juicy and don’t dry out as easily as white meat chicken breast. They are great in oven-roasted recipes like these Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs They are perfect for grilling recipes because they are thin and cook through in only a few minutes.

For this recipe, we used 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs, which depending on how big they are weighed anywhere from 1 1/2 to 2 pounds.

Lemon

Lemon is a commonly used acidic ingredient in Greek and Mediterranean cuisine and so it is the acid of choice today for the chicken marinade. If you do not have lemon juice you could use red wine vinegar instead. The acidity of the lemon juice helps to penetrate the meat and give it flavor. I also like to serve the grilled chicken with lemon wedges too for a burst of tart acidity!

Seasonings

The big bold garlic flavor and earthy dried oregano in this marinade is key to this recipe. I also added in dried thyme in a supporting role. And of course salt and ground black pepper. If you can find Greek oregano it has a distinct and strong flavor. I also added on chopped fresh parsley at the end to garnish the grilled thighs. All of the above contribute to the most flavorful chicken!

Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

It’s not much of a stretch to say that most Greek recipes include olive oil, so I used a good dose of it for this recipe. Here it acts as a carrying medium for the other flavorful ingredients and helps to coat the chicken. You may like to drizzle a little more olive oil over the grilled chicken thighs to highlight the fruity olive oil flavor.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Find full details and measurements in the printable recipe card below.

make marinade then add the chicken

Step 1: Make the Marinade

Whisk garlic, lemon, olive oil, oregano, salt, thyme and pepper in a shallow baking dish or medium bowl. {If you like, you can mix and marinate in a large ziplock bag for easy clean-up.}

Step 2: Add the Chicken To The Marinade

Add the raw chicken and turn to coat in the marinade. Marinate for 2 to 8 hours.

pat the chicken dry, then grill it

Step 3: Pat The Chicken Dry

Preheat grill to high heat. Drain the chicken and discard the marinade. Pat dry with paper towels. This helps to prevent flare-ups on the grill. If the olive oil has solidified, simply brush it off the chicken with the towels.

Step 4: Grill The Chicken

Grill, turning occasionally until the chicken registers 165 degrees F when tested with an instant-read thermometer, 10 to 13 minutes. The timing will vary depending on how hot your grill is, and how big your chicken thighs are. For a gas grill, keep the lid down while grilling, for a charcoal grill keep the lid off.

TIMING TIP: I find that not all of the thighs cook at the same rate because there are often hot spots on the grill. It is important to make sure to take the internal temperature of each grilled thigh and insert the probe into the thickest part to get an accurate reading.

chicken thighs on a white platter with parsley and lemon

Step 5: Serve With Lemon and Parsley

Let the chicken rest, loosely covered with foil for about 5 minutes. Serve the grilled chicken sprinkled with freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley and lemon wedges on the side. You can also drizzle on a little bit of high-quality extra-virgin olive oil for a burst of fresh olive oil flavor.

Serve this grilled boneless chicken thighs recipe with side dishes. Or slice them and make into Greek Gyros with our Tzatziki dip, cucumbers, red onions and warm pita bread.

FAQs and Expert Tips

Can I use bone-in chicken thighs instead of boneless?

You can use bone-in chicken thighs to make this recipe too. Make sure to remove the chicken skin first before marinating the chicken in the Greek marinade. Then follow the same instructions but make sure to cook the chicken longer. It will take about 20 minutes (or more) to cook the chicken through. Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the chicken is at least 165 degrees near the bone.

How long does it take to grill thighs on the grill?

It takes about 10 to 15 minutes but the timing will vary depending on how large your chicken thighs are, and how hot the grill is. If your grill is hot, 350 to 400 degrees with the lid down, it will take about 12 minutes (or 5 to 6 minutes per side) on average. The key is to use a digital thermometer so you do not have to guess if your chicken thighs are done.

Can I marinate longer than 8 hours?

This marinade is high in acid, so it is not good for longer marinating times. Doing so will yield chicken with dried and tough outer surface. Do not marinate longer than 8 hours. If you need to make it further in advance, you can marinate the chicken for eight hours, drain it and pat it dry. Cover and refrigerate until ready to grill.

What goes with Greek Chicken?

The garlic, lemon and herbs in this recipe pair with Greek foods and a wide variety of other Mediterranean cuisines. We love to pair this recipe with grilled zucchini, roasted eggplant and chickpea salad, pasta salad or potato salad. It can also be used to top off a green salad like this Tuscan Kale Caesar or Garden Salad. Our simple Steamed Potatoes with yogurt with herbs and roasted asparagus with lemon would make a lovely meal too. For a low-calorie option try our Simple Skinny Cucumber Sala. Make it a Mediterranean feast with warm pita, this Simple Tabbouleh and Garlic Hummus or my favorite from when I was in Greece: Fava Puree. And finally, this Chickpea Salad with creamy avocado dressing is an appetizing option too.

Can you use this marinade for boneless chicken breast?

I know not everyone is a fan of dark meat chicken, so I wanted to assure you that this Greek marinade can be used for chicken breast and other proteins as well. I find that the best way to grill chicken breast is to pound the chicken to an even thickness before putting it in the marinade. This will help it grill evenly and quickly so that it doesn’t dry out.

Can this be made in a grill pan or in the oven?

Yes to both! Follow instructions in the recipe card to grill with the grill pan, using high heat, but make sure to coat the pan with a little cooking spray before adding the thighs. Note that the cooking time will vary on an indoor grill pan, and will take about 2 additional minutes per side. This recipe can also be made in the oven under the broiler in the upper third of the oven. Place the thighs on a broiler pan and broil until browned on one side, about 5 minutes. Flip them and broil them until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Check the thickest part of the meat with a digital meat thermometer to see if they are cooked through. Keep an eye on them, and rotate the pan to ensure that they cook evenly. Timing will vary depending on how thick the thighs are and how close the pan is to the broiler.

Can this marinated chicken be made into kabobs?

Yes! To do so, cut the chicken into cubes before adding it to the marinade. Stir it really well to make sure that all the pieces are coated. After marinating, thread the chicken onto metal skewers and grill them, rotating occasionally until browned on all sides and the chicken is cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes.

a grilled chicken thigh on a plate with orzo salad

More Marinades, Greek Recipes and Chicken Recipes To Try

Thanks so much for reading! If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free weekly menu plan and the latest recipes right to your inbox. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought!

Happy Cooking! ~Katie

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
chicken thighs on a white platter with parsley and lemon

Grilled Greek Boneless Chicken Thighs

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 9 reviews

  • Author: Katie Webster
  • Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
Print Recipe

Description

These juicy Grilled Greek Chicken Thighs are summertime grilling perfection! The boneless thighs are marinated in easy garlic, lemon and herb marinade which gives them an utterly irresistible Meditteranean flavor. Then all that’s left to do is fire up the grill for a simple summertime dinner recipe.

Ingredients

Scale

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 lemon, juiced plus lemon wedges for serving

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving

2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

6 boneless skinless chicken thighs (1 1/2 to 2 pounds)

Freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Whisk garlic, lemon, olive oil, oregano, salt, thyme and pepper in a shallow baking dish.
  2. Add the chicken and turn to coat in the marinade. Marinate for 2 to 8 hours.
  3. Preheat grill to high heat. Drain the chicken and discard the marinade. Pat dry with paper towels.
  4. Grill, turning occasionally until the chicken registers 165 degrees F when tested with an instant-read thermometer, 10 to 13 minutes.
  5. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, loosely tented with foil. Serve with parsley and lemon wedges and drizzle with additional olive oil if desired.

Notes

Make-Ahead:

Do not marinate longer than 8 hours or the outer surface of the chicken will be dried out and tough. If you need to make it in further in advance, you can marinate it for eight hours, drain it and pat it dry. Cover and refrigerate until ready to grill.

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Grilling
  • Cuisine: Greek

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 thigh
  • Calories: 259
  • Sugar: 1 g
  • Fat: 13 g
  • Carbohydrates: 5 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 31 g

Did you make this recipe?

Make sure you come back to the recipe post to leave a star rating and review.