Greek Hen – Funds Bytes

Want one thing simple and flavorful for dinner this week? This Greek Hen is IT. I exploit my favourite yogurt marinade to make budget-friendly hen items additional juicy and tender, with lemon, garlic, oregano, and parsley including brilliant, Greek-inspired taste all through. The oven does many of the work, roasting the hen till the sides are golden and the pan juices scent garlicky, tangy, and irresistible. I all the time make this recipe within the oven, however be at liberty to fireplace up the grill if the climate’s good! With over 200 5-star opinions and counting, it’s clear I’m not the one one who loves this simple Greek hen. 😋

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“This was SO good! I used boneless skinless thighs and it was juicy and tender. I broiled it for a couple of minutes to get a pleasant char and sprinkled some sea salt earlier than serving. Can’t wait to make once more, thanks!”

Stella

A Tried-and-True Greek Hen Marinade

In case you advised me once I first posted this Greek marinated hen recipe all the way in which again in 2013, how well-liked it could change into, I wouldn’t imagine you. It’s STILL considered one of my common dinner rotations. The marinade begins with the identical yogurt base I exploit in my hen shawarma, however this model swaps the nice and cozy spices for brilliant lemon and savory herbs. It takes just some minutes to stir collectively and creates an absolute explosion of taste. It’s unimaginable.

I solely marinated my hen on this magical combine for half-hour, however the taste was nonetheless loud and clear. As a result of there’s lemon juice within the marinade, I wouldn’t let it go longer than a day max. A brief marinating time provides you tender, flavorful hen, however too lengthy can begin to change the feel of the meat. As soon as marinated, you’ll be able to grill the hen over an electrical or charcoal grill, or bake it within the oven like I do. Both method, you’ll get a brilliant flavorful, juicy finish product! And if you find yourself with leftovers, the hen is ideal for turning into Greek hen wraps with recent veggies and hummus the following day!

Greek Hen

Value $9.71 recipe / $1.21 serving

A tangy lemon and garlic marinade makes this Greek Marinated Hen tremendous quick and flavorful. Prepare dinner it within the oven or on a grill.

• To make the marinade, mix the yogurt, olive oil, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and a few freshly cracked pepper in a bowl.

• Use a wonderful holed cheese grater or a zester to scrape the skinny layer of yellow zest from the lemon pores and skin into the bowl. Additionally add the juice from half of the lemon (about 1-2 Tbsp). Stir till the substances are properly mixed.

• Roughly chop an enormous handful, or about 1/4 bunch, of parsley and stir it into the marinade.

• Add the hen items and marinade to a gallon sized zip high bag. Take away as a lot air as potential, shut the bag tightly, and therapeutic massage the bag to combine the contents and ensure the hen is properly coated. Refrigerate the bag for half-hour.

• After marinating for half-hour, preheat the oven to 375℉ in preparation to bake the hen.

• Place the marinated hen items in a big casserole dish (9×13). Bake the hen (uncovered) within the preheated 375℉ oven for 45-60 minutes, or till golden brown on high and the interior temperature reaches 165℉.

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*I desire plain common yogurt in marinades as a result of it has extra moisture than Greek yogurt, which helps loosen the marinade and coat the hen extra evenly. Greek yogurt will work if it’s what you have got, however it’s thicker, so the marinade tends to take a seat extra on the floor of the hen.
**This recipe is additional garlicky. In case you’re not into heavy garlic, strive beginning with two cloves as a substitute of 4.
***I exploit bone-in, skin-on hen thighs and drumsticks (about 8-10 items, 3.5-4lb whole). Boneless hen thighs will work, however examine for doneness after about 20 minutes. If utilizing hen breasts, pound them to ½-¾ inch thick, marinade them, and bake for 18-20 minutes at 425°F. Hen ought to attain 165°F internally as soon as cooked.
Marinade Observe: A 30-minute fridge marinade provides loads of taste, however when you have time, a 4-12 hour marinade will make it much more flavorful! Don’t marinate longer than 24 hours, or the lemon can break down the hen and soften it an excessive amount of. Additionally, earlier than baking, don’t pour extra marinade from the bag over the hen, as this will have an effect on browning. Discard any used marinade from the bag because it touched uncooked hen.
Air Fryer Instructions: I haven’t examined this recipe within the air fryer myself, however primarily based on my air fryer hen thighs technique, this hen ought to prepare dinner properly at 400°F for about 18-22 minutes (if utilizing bone-in hen items). Shake off extra marinade first, don’t crowd the basket, flip midway by means of, and prepare dinner till the hen reaches 165°F.
Grill Instructions: I’d observe our dry rubbed grilled drumsticks and thighs recipe for grilling this Greek hen. Preheat your grill to 375°F (medium-high) and let the hen come to room temperature for 10 minutes. Grill on either side for about quarter-hour till the interior temperature reaches 165°F. Bigger thighs might have 5 extra minutes on all sides to prepare dinner by means of. Take pleasure in!

Serving: 1hen pieceEnergy: 481kcal (24%)Carbohydrates: 3g (1%)Protein: 38g (76%)Fats: 34g (52%)Sodium: 300mg (13%)Fiber: 0.3g (1%)

The diet information is robotically calculated utilizing all substances listed on the recipe card, together with any listed as optionally available. Percentages are of each day worth.

tips on how to make Greek Hen step-by-step photographs

Collect your whole substances.

Put together the marinade: Mix 1 cup plain yogurt, 2 Tbsp olive oil, ½ Tbsp dried oregano, 4 minced garlic cloves, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp freshly cracked pepper in a bowl.

Add the zest from 1 lemon and the juice from about half of it (1-2 Tbsp). Stir these substances till properly mixed.

Roughly chop a handful (about ¼ bunch) recent parsley.

Add the chopped parsley to the marinade and stir to evenly mix.

That is your completed Greek-style marinade (or a REALLY superior dip!). I like this with recent minimize veggies and chips once I’m not making this simple hen recipe!

Marinate the hen: Add 3½ to 4 lbs. hen items and the marinade to a big, gallon-sized zip high bag and blend it round to ensure the hen is properly coated. Refrigerate the bag for half-hour. Preheat your oven to 375°F.

For a fair stronger taste, you’ll be able to marinate this hen for 4-12 hours within the fridge. I’d keep away from going previous 24 hours, for the reason that lemon juice can have an effect on the feel of the hen.

Bake: Place the marinated hen items in a big casserole dish (9×13). Don’t pour any extra marinade from the bag over the hen, as this will cease it from browning properly within the oven. Throw away any leftover marinade from the bag. It will possibly’t be reused because it’s been involved with uncooked hen.

Bake the hen, uncovered, in a preheated 375℉ oven for 45-60 minutes, or till it’s golden brown. It’ll scent SO good!

Serve your Greek marinated hen with all of your favourite sides (I share my favorites under!) and luxuriate in.

Serving Options

I all the time serve this Greek marinated hen with my lemony cucumber and couscous salad, which is the proper chilly summer time aspect, and incorporates each starches and greens into the meal. Two birds with one stone! This recipe makes about 8-10 items of hen (3.5-4 lbs. whole), so it’s nice for feeding a gaggle or stretching into leftovers for the week. You’ll be able to simply halve the recipe if wanted, or plan on 1-2 items per individual, relying on the scale of the hen and what you’re serving with it. I like it with fluffy rice or creamy mashed potatoes to absorb all of these garlicky, lemony pan juices. For a crisp, colourful aspect, strive it with a Greek salad or my crisp Mediterranean coleslaw for the proper summer time dinner.

I additionally prefer to slice any leftovers and tuck them right into a Greek hen wrap, pile them over a salad, or add them to a rice bowl with veggies and feta!

Storage & Reheating

Retailer any leftover cooked Greek marinated hen in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3-4 days. To reheat, place the hen in a baking dish, cowl with foil, and heat in a 350°F oven till heated by means of. You can too reheat smaller parts within the microwave, or pull the hen off the bone and heat it in a skillet on the stovetop till sizzling.

You can too freeze the cooked hen for as much as 3 months. Thaw it in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating so it warms evenly and avoids drying out.

Attempt These Greek Hen Recipes Subsequent:

• My Sheet Pan Greek Hen and Greens is a straightforward meal prep dinner as a result of the roasted hen, veggies, and rice maintain up properly within the fridge!
• Greek Hen and Orzo makes use of boneless hen thighs, which keep juicy and add additional taste to the pasta because it simmers.
• This Greek Hen Pasta Salad is a full-meal pasta salad with garlicky marinated hen thighs, recent greens, tangy feta, and loads of lemony oregano dressing.