Oven Roasted Chicken Thighs are juicy, tender and absolutely delicious! Chicken thighs are tossed in a simple lemon marinade and oven baked with tomatoes, Kalamata olives and Feta cheese. This easy one pan baked chicken recipe is easy and always a family favorite!
Take a look at these chicken thigh recipes Roasted Chicken Thighs and Creamy Chicken and Mushrooms.
This post first appeared over at The Salty Marshmallow where I am a contributor.
Chicken thighs are so flavorful and one of the most succulent and tender parts of the chicken. Chicken thighs are hard to over cook which is always a plus!
This baked chicken recipe starts with bone-in chicken thighs that are tossed in a simple 5-ingredient marinade. You can marinate the chicken for 15 minutes or up to 24 hours. I like to place the chicken thighs in a zip top bag and add the tasty lemon marinade ingredients into the bag for easy clean up.
After marinating, I place the chicken skin side up and oven roast it. Before the chicken thighs are completely cooked through, I add the tomatoes, olives and Feta cheese and bake until the oven roasted chicken thighs are tender and the skin is golden brown. The tomatoes blister to juicy perfection and the feta cheese gets warm, creamy and soft. Definitely pure deliciousness!!!
Greek Lemon Oven Roasted Chicken Thighs is one of those chicken recipes I make over and over again. This baked chicken recipe is such a wonderful dinner option during busy days.
How Long To Cook Chicken Thighs in the Oven
- I bake skin on, bone in chicken thighs, uncovered at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 35 – 40 minutes.
- As per safety guidelines, bone in chicken thighs should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
How To Make Greek Lemon Oven Roasted Chicken Thighs
- Place the chicken thighs in a bowl or a large zip top bag.
- Make the marinade by tossing olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, plain yogurt and salt and pepper. The yogurt, although it is a very small quantity – with the rest of the ingredients produces the most delicious pan sauce. Trust me you will want to drink the sauce with a spoon!
- Marinate the chicken at room temperature for 15 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator.
- Place the chicken thighs skin side up on a baking dish or on a cast iron skillet. Pour the marinade over the chicken.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove the baking dish from the oven and top the chicken with the Kalamata olives, Feta cheese and tomatoes. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Remove from the oven and enjoy!
Greek Chicken Thighs Recipe Tips
- You can use boneless chicken thighs for this roasted chicken thigh recipe. Bake the chicken for about 30 to 35 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
- You can use any small tomato variety like cherry tomatoes.
Take A Look At These Other Greek Recipes:
- Baked Greek Meatballs
- Tzatziki Sauce
- Ultimate Greek Chopped Salad
- Roasted Greek Potatoes
- Greek Spanakopita Recipe
- Greek Baklava Recipe
- Greek Style Lamb Chop Recipe
- Easy Flatbread Recipe
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Greek Lemon Oven Roasted Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 4 ounces Feta cheese, cut into small cubes
- 1/2 cup small tomatoes (cherry or grape tomatoes)
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives
- Lemon slices for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- To make the marinade, place the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, yogurt, oregano, 1 teaspoon of salt and ground black pepper in a zip-top bag or a non-reactive bowl.
- Lightly season the chicken thighs with salt. Place the chicken into the marinade and mix to combine making sure the chicken is evenly coated. Marinate for 15 minutes or up to 24 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the chicken, skin side up in a cast iron skillet or baking dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the skillet/baking dish from the oven and add the Feta cheese, tomatoes and Kalamata olives on top and in between the chicken pieces.
- Return to the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and golden brown. Remove from the oven, garnish with lemon slices (optional) and serve.
Video
Chef’s Tips
- As per safety guidelines, bone in chicken thighs should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Amy says
Can you freeze the chicken after marinating it? Or will it not freeze well because of the yogurt?
Kathy says
Hi Amy, No. I would not recommend that.Marinades with acidic components change the texture of poultry after certain amount of hours. Definitely not.