Greek Chicken Lemon Feta (Printable)

Lemon-marinated chicken baked with feta, cherry tomatoes and Kalamata olives; finished with parsley and lemon wedges.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Marinade

03 - Juice and zest of 1 large lemon
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
06 - ½ teaspoon dried thyme
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Baking & Garnish

09 - ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese
10 - 10 cherry tomatoes, halved
11 - ¼ cup pitted Kalamata olives, sliced
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
13 - Lemon wedges for serving

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt, black pepper, and olive oil until well combined.
03 - Add the chicken breasts to the marinade, turning to coat evenly. Allow to marinate for at least 10 minutes at room temperature, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours for deeper flavor.
04 - Transfer the marinated chicken breasts to a baking dish. Scatter the halved cherry tomatoes and sliced Kalamata olives around the chicken. Pour any remaining marinade over the top.
05 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear. The internal temperature should reach 165°F when measured with a meat thermometer.
06 - Remove the dish briefly and sprinkle the crumbled feta evenly over the chicken. Return to the oven for another 5 minutes, until the feta softens and begins to lightly brown.
07 - Remove from the oven and garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Serve hot with lemon wedges on the side.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The lemon marinade does most of the work for you and makes the chicken incredibly tender every single time.
  • Feta melting over the top in the last five minutes creates a salty golden crust that people genuinely gasp at.
02 -
  • Do not skip the resting time after baking because the juices redistribute and cutting too early means dry chicken.
  • If your chicken breasts are very thick slice them horizontally or pound them flat or the outside will overcook before the center is safe.
03 -
  • Marinate the chicken in the morning before work and dinner comes together in thirty five minutes of mostly hands off oven time that evening.
  • Use a block of feta and crumble it yourself because pre crumbled feta is coated in powder that prevents it from melting into that gorgeous golden topping.

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