Whole Lemon Chicken

5 from 4 reviews

This Whole Lemon Chicken recipe features a whole chicken marinated in yogurt and infused with the bright citrus flavor of one whole lemon, resulting in exceptionally tender, juicy, and flavorful Mediterranean-style poultry.

Prep Time10

Cook Time17

Total Time27

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Keyword: greek lemon chicken, juicy chicken recipe, kiwi chicken marinade, whole lemon chicken

Servings:

Author: The Modern Nonna

Equipment

Ingredients

2 lbs chicken thighs (12 small thighs) boneless, skinless, and cut
1 whole lemon sliced
1 small onion quartered
3 garlic cloves whole
1 jalapeno optional
⅓ cup yogurt plain
1.5 teaspoons salt to taste
1.5 teaspoons oregano to taste

Instructions

Cut each chicken thigh in half and cut those halves in half. Place it in a bowl and set aside.
To a food processor (or blender), add the chopped onion, whole garlic, and cut jalapeno. If using a food processor, pulse it until finely diced.
Open the food processor and add in the yogurt, sliced lemon, and the spices.
Blend until you have a smooth and creamy marinade. Be careful not to over-blend as the lemon can become bitter.
Pour the marinade over the chicken thighs and let it sit covered in the fridge for at least one hour.
Once the chicken is tender, take each piece and thread it onto the metal skewers.
Get the BBQ hot and ready, place the skewers on the grill making sure to check on them every few minutes. I like to flip mine every 5 minutes on each side until the chicken is fully cooked or reaches an internal temperature of 165F (75C).
Serve over rice, on pita, with tzatziki, vegetables, or a nice salad! Enjoy!

Video

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id="iIDU71mi" upload-date="2025-01-29T00:00:00.000Z" name="Whole Lemon Chicken" description="Introducing the whole lemon grilled chicken dish of the summer. ? A zesty marinade comes together in seconds in a food processor, and superstar ingredients like yogurt and lemon, yield incredibly tender, succulent chicken. This recipe is inspired by the souvlaki (small pieces of grilled, skewered meat) I grew up eating during my childhood in Greece. ?? Go ahead and double this recipe; everyone will want second helpings, and leftovers are fantastic. ⭐️"]

Nutrition