Garlic Greek Chicken with Lemon and Oregano

This easy Greek Garlic Chicken is a great way to serve chicken to your family and friends. The lemon and oregano marinade/brine is simple to make and adds so much flavor to the chicken breasts, plus it keeps then tender and juicy.

If you are looking for hot buffet food ideas this holiday season then this low carb, naturally gluten free Greek chicken is perfect for serving a crowd!

How to Make Greek Chicken Breasts

The key to using chicken breasts is to brine them well so they stay juicy and tender even after cooking.

A simple brine is salt water, but here we are adding extra ingredients to really boost the flavors in the chicken. This brine is almost a greek chicken marinade as it is packed with greek flavors and keeps the meat tender, just like a marinade!

To Brine Chicken you will need:

• water
• salt
• sugar
• lemon
• garlic
• oregano
• peppercorns

This flavor packed bath is used to soak the chicken for 3-5 hours. Don’t brine them for any longer than that as they will get too salty and go mushy.

You will be amazed at the difference it makes to your chicken. The meat stays juicy and moist when it cooks, it is perfectly seasoned throughout and the subtle flavour of lemon and oregano is present even before you drizzle over the quick and easy pan sauce!

Can I make this Greek Chicken for a crowd?

This easy greek chicken dinner is great as part of a hot buffet! The brine has kept the chicken juicy, so even as your chicken cools it will still be a delicious addition to dinner.

Plus the recipe calls for the chicken to be filleted….that is to say cut in half lengthways to produce two smaller chicken fillets. This makes your chicken breasts go further and also allows guest to try other food on the buffet table without getting too full!

What to serve with this Greek Garlic Chicken

If you are serving this as part of a greek inspired buffet or dinner then I would suggest:

• 10 Minute Greek Couscous
• Smashed Potatoes (maybe add oregano instead of thyme)
• Greek Green Bean Salad – The Mediterranean Dish
• Greek Rice – A Family Feast
• Greek Lamb Chops – Cafe Delite
• Mini Greek Halloumi and Veg Kebabs
• Salted Watermelon with Olive Oil and Mint

Enjoy x

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Greek Garlic Chicken with Lemon and Oregano

This easy Greek Garlic Chicken is a great way to serve chicken to your family and friends. The lemon and oregano marinade/brine is simple to make and adds so much flavor to the chicken breasts, plus it keeps then tender and juicy. If you are looking for hot buffet food ideas this holiday season then this low carb, naturally gluten free Greek chicken is perfect for serving a crowd!

Course Main

Cuisine Greek

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Brine 3 hours

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 12

Calories 211 kcal

Author Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts

Ingredients

For the brine

• 1/2 gallon water
• 1/2 cup salt
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp whole black peppercorns
• 8 cloves garlic peeled
• 2 lemons

For the chicken

• 6 chicken breasts skinless and boneless
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
• 1 lemon
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp dried oregano

To finish

• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• fresh parsley for garnish

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

To fillet the chicken

1. Lay your first chicken breast flat on a chopping board.
2. Use a large sharp knife to cut sideways through the breast.
3. Continue to cut through the chicken breast, keeping the knife flat and parallel to the chopping board, until you have two chicken fillets.
4. Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts.

To brine the chicken

1. Pour about half of the water into a saucepan and add the salt, sugar, dried oregano, peppercorns and peeled garlic. Heat over a medium heat until the salt and sugar have dissolved.
2. Remove from the heat, squeeze the juice from the lemons into the brine, then add in the used skins.
3. Add the remaining water to the brine and allow the mixture to fully cool.
4. Once the mixture is cold, add the filleted chicken breasts and brine them for 3-5 hours.

To cook the chicken

1. Pre-heat the oven to 400ºF/200ºC

2. Heat the 2 tbsp of the olive oil in a large skillet.
3. Add in 6 of the chicken breast fillets and cook over a high heat for 1-2 minutes until golden. Turn and repeat on the other side. Remove them from the pan and transfer to a large baking dish.

4. Add the remaining oil to the skillet and cook the remaining 6 fillets in the same way. Transfer them to the baking dish.

5. Thinly slice the garlic and scatter it around the chicken.
6. Cut the lemon into small chunks and arrange it around the chicken.

7. Sprinkle over the dried oregano and then pour over the chicken broth.

8. Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. (see note 1)

9. Remove the chicken and lemon pieces to a serving platter and mix the extra virgin olive oil with any juices that are left in the bottom of the pan.
10. Serve drizzled the extra virgin olive oil dressing and chopped fresh parsley.
11. Can be served hot or at room temperature.

Recipe Notes

1. Brined chicken tends to stay a much rosier colour when cooked. The best way to check your chicken is to use a instant read meat thermometer. Cooked chicken should be at 150ºF/65ºC.

Nutrition Facts

Greek Garlic Chicken with Lemon and Oregano

Amount Per Serving

Calories 211 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 9g 14%

Saturated Fat 1g 5%

Cholesterol 72mg 24%

Total Carbohydrates 7g 2%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 3g

Protein 25g 50%

Vitamin A 1.1%

Vitamin C 20%

Calcium 4.4%

Iron 6.3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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