Looking to easily bake tender, juicy chicken breasts? Use this simple, healthy, and delicious greek yogurt chicken marinade with lemon, olive oil, garlic, and parsley. The flavours are fresh and the result is mouthwatering! And the baked chicken breasts pair beautifully with a variety of sides.

baked chicken breasts with lemon wedges and fresh parsley in a baking dish

The Proof is in The Greek Yogurt Marinade:

I’ve done it! After many attempts, I’ve finally mastered a perfectly juicy baked chicken breast. The trick? Using this greek yogurt chicken marinade. Why does it work so well? Because the greek yogurt helps to lock in moisture while the chicken breasts are baking.

In addition to producing a drool-worthy tender chicken breast, the marinade lends the chicken the delicious flavours of fresh lemon (juice AND zest), garlic, and parsley leaves. Yum, yum, yum!

If you’re new here, I make a ton of healthy recipes with greek yogurt – it’s so versatile and such a great protein booster. Serve the greek yogurt marinated chicken with my 5-Minute Greek Yogurt Tzatziki Sauce for an even MORE flavourful meal!

four baked chicken breasts garnish with lemon slices and fresh parsley in a baking dish

Keys to a Juicy Baked Chicken Breast:

Besides the star of the show (our marinade), there are a few other things I found that had an impact on the texture and moisture level of the baked chicken when I was testing this recipe:

  • Pounding the chicken: If your chicken breasts are larger or uneven in thickness, pounding them down with a mallet or rolling pin to the same thickness ensures that the meat cooks evenly, so it’s juicy allllll the way through. Oh yeah!
  • A meat thermometer: If you’re not yet using a meat thermometer, this is a must! This is the only way to ensure your meat is safely and *perfectly* cooked without overcooking it.
  • Baking temperature: I have found that baking the chicken breasts at a higher temperature (425F) for a shorter duration produced a juicier chicken breast than when I tried baking them at a lower temperature (like 350F) for longer.
hand using a rolling pin to pound a chicken breast on a cutting board
Start by patting the breasts dry and pounding as needed.
raw chicken breasts in a bowl with marinade ingredients on top
Add to a large bowl with all of the greek yogurt marinade ingredients.
raw chicken breasts in a bowl coated with greek yogurt marinade
Toss to coat, then let marinate 30 minutes to 24 hours.
greek yogurt marinated chicken breasts in a baking dish before baking
Arrange the marinated chicken breasts in a baking dish, evenly spaced apart.
greek yogurt marinated baked chicken breasts garnished with lemon slices and fresh parsley
Bake at 425F until an internal temperature of 165F is reached (approx. 20 minutes!)

What Will I Serve Them With?

The possibilities are endless! Being a dietitian, I encourage you to include a quality source of protein (this greek yogurt chicken!) with a serving of fibre-rich carbohydrates, and about half your plate (if you can!) veggies or fruits to create a balanced and filling meal.

Might I suggest pairing the baked chicken breast with some 15-minute garlic green beans, or rosemary roasted carrots and potatoes? Or go for a side salad like my popular lemony kale, quinoa, and chickpea salad!

greek yogurt marinated baked chicken breasts on a serving platter
fork and knife cutting into a greek yogurt marinated baked chicken breast
baked chicken breasts with lemon wedges and fresh parsley in a baking dish

Baked Greek Yogurt Marinated Chicken Breasts (Super Juicy!)

Servings: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Resting Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Looking to easily bake tender, juicy chicken breasts? Use this simple, healthy, and delicious greek yogurt chicken marinade with lemon, olive oil, garlic, and parsley. The flavours are fresh and the result is mouthwatering! And the baked chicken breasts pair beautifully with a variety of sides.
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Ingredients

  • 4 medium chicken breasts, (approx. 2 lbs)
  • 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt, I use 5% M.F.
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice, (approx. 1/2 lemon)
  • 1/2 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped, plus more for serving (can sub. with 1 tsp dried parsley leaves)
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes, optional

Instructions 

  • Pat the chicken breasts with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. If needed, pound the thicker end of the chicken (you can use a mallet or rolling pin) to even out the sides for even cooking.
    hand using a rolling pin to pound a chicken breast on a cutting board
  • Place chicken breasts in a large mixing bowl. Add Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest and garlic on top of the chicken and season with the parsley, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
    raw chicken breasts in a bowl with marinade ingredients on top
  • Using tongs, toss the chicken breasts with the mixture and coat well. Allow the chicken to marinade for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
    raw chicken breasts in a bowl coated with greek yogurt marinade
  • Preheat your oven to 425 F. Grease a baking dish with oil or line with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Arrange the chicken breasts in the dish with even spacing between each breast.
    greek yogurt marinated chicken breasts in a baking dish before baking
  • Bake for 18-22 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Optional: Serve garnished with finely chopped fresh parsley and lemon slices.
    greek yogurt marinated baked chicken breasts garnished with lemon slices and fresh parsley
Cuisine: Gluten-Free
Course: Main Course
Author: Hannah Magee, RD
Did you make this recipe?Be sure to take a photo and tag me at @hannahmagee_rd so I can see!