Greek Lemon Garlic Chicken: Flavorful and Easy Recipe!

Chicken thighs are the best part of the chicken in my opinion, they can’t go wrong! This boneless and skinless chicken thighs recipe is quick and easy to make. I will share with you the secrets of cooking lemon Lemon Garlic Chicken in an air fryer. In Mediterranean countries, the main ingredient for marinating meat is most often natural yogurt.

Lemon zest and juice combined with aromatic herbs and garlic will leave no one indifferent. This is the best all-purpose chicken recipe that is perfect for a family dinner, a healthy sandwich or a tortilla wrap. This lemon Greek chicken is perfect served over rice or grilled vegetables, and can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for sandwiches and salads. In just 20 minutes you can get grilled chicken without even firing up the grill.

Greek Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs Ingredients and Substitutions:

Chicken thighs – in this recipe I use skinless and boneless chicken thighs, it is very tasty and healthy for your body, you can use this recipe for children meal prep. Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs are also great for those on a paleo diet, keto diet, or heart-healthy diet(DASH-diet). Choose chilled chicken thighs, they are more juicy than frozen ones.

If you have frozen thighs, leave them overnight on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator to defrost slowly. In some stores you can buy ready-made chicken thigh meat, but if you can’t find it, then trim off the chicken thighs from skin, fat and bones by yourself. You can cook any part of the chicken and even red meat using this recipe.

More chicken recipes:

• Parmesan Chicken Alfredo: Easy Air Fried Recipe!
• Smoky Ranch Chicken Bites: Easy and Flavorful Recipe!
• Mango Chicken Stuffed Peppers: Healthy Sweet and Savory Recipe

Natural yogurt – I use natural unsweetened yogurt, most often Greek, and if I can find it, lactose-free.Thanks to the lactobacilli in yogurt, the meat turns out very juicy and soft, as the lactobacilli soften the meat fibers. Natural lactose-free Greek yoghurt can be replaced with kefir, it also works well.The meat marinated in yogurt with herbs can be stored in the refrigerator before cooking for about 3 days. Long marinating will only make it tastier.

Balsamic cream – I can’t imagine my life without this wonderful sauce. I use it for bruschetta, salad dressings and of course for marinating meat. Balsamic cream softens meat fibers, emphasizes the taste and gives a caramelization effect, it also has a preservative effect during long marinating, which reduces the likelihood of bacterial growth. The best quality balsamic cream contains more than 35% balsamic vinegar in its composition. I use -Kuhne or Monari Federzoni Balsamic Glaze.

Lemon – For the marinade we will use lemon juice and zest. Zesting the lemon carefully, without touching the white part under the skin, because it is too bitter.

Greek seasoning and sweet paprika – I use a ready-made seasoning, which I mix myself according to this RECIPE. You can also buy a ready-made mixture in the supermarket Costco or Trader Joes. Sweet paprika improves the color and taste, it can be replaced with hot paprika according to your desire, or smoked paprika.

Fresh garlic – Garlic for the marinade should be minced through a garlic press or finely chopped. If you do not have fresh garlic, you can replace it with 1/2 teaspoons of garlic powder.

Salt – I use only sea salt, kosher salt, or pink Himalayan salt in my kitchen. If you are replacing these types of salt with regular salt, you should use 30-50% less of it, because regular salt has a saltier taste.

How to cook Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Chicken:

1.Remove skin and bones from chicken thighs, or use already peeled ones.

2. Place boneless and skinless chicken thighs in a mixing bowl. Add the Greek yogurt, balsamic cream, lemon juice and zest, minced garlic, Greek Seasoning, sweet paprika and salt.

3.Stir well that the meat is evenly coated with the marinade. Leave to marinate for at least 20 minutes. I leave it overnight or for a few days in the refrigerator.

4.Preheat air fryer to 400F(200C)Place the chicken thighs in the basket in a single layer and cook without oil for 15 minutes. Turn over the meat once during cooking. Serve the finished Lemon Garlic Chicken with fluffy rice and fresh vegetables.