## Greek-Inspired Lemon & Herb Grilled Chicken with Tzatziki and Pita Bread
Welcome back to the blog, dear reader! Today, I’ve got a delightful Mediterranean-inspired recipe to share with you—a Greek-Inspired Lemon & Herb Grilled Chicken with Tzatziki and Pita Bread. This dish is perfect for those sunny weekends when you want to bring a bit of zesty, fresh flavor to your family’s dinner table.
As you know, our household is always bustling with activity—four kids running around can certainly keep you on your toes! But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a delicious and somewhat sophisticated meal. This particular recipe is as tasty as it is easy to prepare, which is precisely what we need in our busy household.
### Why You’ll Love This Recipe
First off, let’s talk about the star of the show: the marinated chicken. With the bright, sunny tang of lemon, paired with aromatic herbs like oregano, thyme, and rosemary, this chicken brings the taste of Greece right to your backyard. The marinade is super simple, yet it packs a flavor punch that will elevate your regular grilled chicken to new heights.
Complementing our zesty chicken is a creamy, refreshing Tzatziki sauce. If you’ve never made Tzatziki before, you’re in for a treat. It’s a simple mix of Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and fresh dill. The key is to make sure you drain the cucumber well so your sauce stays thick and creamy.
Finally, we’re serving everything alongside warm, fluffy pita bread. Feel free to add some colorful, fresh veggies like sliced red onions and ripe tomatoes to add an extra burst of flavor and texture.
### Let’s Get Cooking!
**Ingredients:**
– **For the Chicken:**
– 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 600 grams)
– Juice of 2 lemons
– Zest of 1 lemon
– 4 cloves garlic, minced
– 60 ml olive oil
– 1 teaspoon dried oregano
– 1 teaspoon dried thyme
– 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
– Salt and pepper to taste
– **For the Tzatziki:**
– 1 medium cucumber, grated and drained (about 150 grams)
– 400 grams Greek yogurt
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
– 1 tablespoon olive oil
– 1 tablespoon lemon juice
– Salt and pepper to taste
– **For Serving:**
– 4 pita bread rounds
– Sliced red onion (optional)
– Sliced tomatoes (optional)
– Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
**Method:**
**1. Marinate the Chicken:**
– In a large bowl, combine the juice of 2 lemons, zest of 1 lemon, 4 cloves minced garlic, 60 ml olive oil, 1 teaspoon each of dried oregano, dried thyme, and dried rosemary, and salt and pepper to taste.
– Add the 4 chicken breasts, ensuring they are well coated in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours for better flavor penetration.
**2. Prepare the Tzatziki:**
– Grate the cucumber and place it in a sieve to drain excess liquid. Press gently to remove as much water as possible.
– In a medium bowl, mix the grated cucumber with 400 grams of Greek yogurt, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Combine well and refrigerate until ready to serve.
**3. Grill the Chicken:**
– Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (around 200°C/400°F).
– Once hot, place the marinated chicken breasts on the grill. Cook for about 6-7 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature reaches 74°C (165°F) and the chicken is no longer pink in the center.
**4. Warm the Pita Bread:**
– While the chicken is grilling, warm the pita bread rounds. You can do this on the grill for about 1-2 minutes per side or in the oven at 180°C/350°F for about 5 minutes.
**5. Assemble and Serve:**
– Slice the grilled chicken breasts into strips.
– Serve the chicken with the warm pita bread, a generous dollop of tzatziki, and optional toppings such as sliced red onion, sliced tomatoes, and chopped fresh parsley. Enjoy!
In all its simplicity and vibrancy, this dish has quickly become a favorite in our household. It’s light but satisfying, and the flavors are just so incredibly fresh. Give it a try and bring a bit of Mediterranean sunshine into your home. Until next time, happy cooking!
Ingredients
### Ingredients:
– **For the Chicken:**
– 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 600 grams)
– Juice of 2 lemons
– Zest of 1 lemon
– 4 cloves garlic, minced
– 60 ml olive oil
– 1 teaspoon dried oregano
– 1 teaspoon dried thyme
– 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
– Salt and pepper to taste
– **For the Tzatziki:**
– 1 medium cucumber, grated and drained (about 150 grams)
– 400 grams Greek yogurt
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
– 1 tablespoon olive oil
– 1 tablespoon lemon juice
– Salt and pepper to taste
– **For Serving:**
– 4 pita bread rounds
– Sliced red onion (optional)
– Sliced tomatoes (optional)
– Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Method
### Method:
**1. Marinate the Chicken:**
– In a large bowl, combine the juice of 2 lemons, zest of 1 lemon, 4 cloves minced garlic, 60 ml olive oil, 1 teaspoon each of dried oregano, dried thyme, and dried rosemary, and salt and pepper to taste.
– Add the 4 chicken breasts, ensuring they are well coated in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours for better flavor penetration.
**2. Prepare the Tzatziki:**
– Grate the cucumber and place it in a sieve to drain excess liquid. Press gently to remove as much water as possible.
– In a medium bowl, mix the grated cucumber with 400 grams of Greek yogurt, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Combine well and refrigerate until ready to serve.
**3. Grill the Chicken:**
– Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (around 200°C/400°F).
– Once hot, place the marinated chicken breasts on the grill. Cook for about 6-7 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature reaches 74°C (165°F) and the chicken is no longer pink in the center.
**4. Warm the Pita Bread:**
– While the chicken is grilling, warm the pita bread rounds. You can do this on the grill for about 1-2 minutes per side or in the oven at 180°C/350°F for about 5 minutes.
**5. Assemble and Serve:**
– Slice the grilled chicken breasts into strips.
– Serve the chicken with the warm pita bread, a generous dollop of tzatziki, and optional toppings such as sliced red onion, sliced tomatoes, and chopped fresh parsley. Enjoy!
