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Home » Recipes » Main Courses » Yogurt Marinated Chicken

Yogurt Marinated Chicken

March 5, 2019 By Katie Moseman 8 Comments

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This post is sponsored by FAGE; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Yogurt marinated chicken uses just 2 magic ingredients to make chicken tender, flavorful, and juicy.

Yogurt marinated chicken breast cooking in a nonstick grill pan with grill marks

Yogurt Marinated Chicken

Are you tired of asking yourself “What’s for dinner?” and drawing a blank?  Would you like for someone to hand you a ridiculously simple solution?  When I say this yogurt marinade for chicken has just 2 magic ingredients (plus some olive oil for cooking), I’m not kidding.  Let’s break it down.


Yogurt Marinated Chicken Ingredients

1. Yogurt

Yogurt is the key!  Yogurt is the powerful magic maker that gently transforms tough protein (i.e. chicken) into tender, juicy perfection.  I used FAGE Total 2% Greek Yogurt for this marinade. 

Yogurt marinated chicken breast in a grill pan next to FAGE Total Greek Yogurt container

In fact, I use it all day long, from breakfast to dessert, because FAGE Total 2% Greek Yogurt is all-natural with a distinctive rich, creamy and delicious taste that works great in meals, snacks, and beverages.

I start my day with a strawberry lassi (a light Indian drink similar to a smoothie, made with milk, yogurt, frozen strawberries, and a touch of honey to sweeten).  FAGE Total 2% Greek Yogurt is so protein-rich that adding it into beverages helps me meet my protein goal every day.

Strawberry lassi in a footed glass, FAGE Total Greek Yogurt, frozen strawberries in a white bowl, and a wooden honey dipper

Strawberry Lassi

Of course, there’s yogurt marinated chicken for lunch or dinner… and dessert is a breeze when you build a yogurt bowl from FAGE Total 2% Greek Yogurt—which is made with only milk and live active yogurt cultures, and has no added sugar—then top it with mango, cardamom, pistachios, and honey.  

Mango Pistachio Cardamom Yogurt Bowl in a dark brown bowl with vintage spoon

Mango Pistachio Cardamom Yogurt Bowl with Honey

Let’s take a look at the other magic ingredient in yogurt marinated chicken.

2. Garam Masala

If you don’t already have garam masala in your pantry, it’s time to get you some.  Garam means “hot” and masala means “spice mix.”  Garam masala is not spicy hot like a chili pepper; it’s warm, like cinnamon. 

This spice mix originates from northern India, where it varies in content from region to region, but often includes black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, nutmeg, and cumin.  With its rich blend of flavors, garam masala adds warm complexity of flavor like no other spice blend.  Plus, it’s easy to buy pre-mixed in most grocery stores; if you can’t find it, I’ve included a simple garam masala recipe in the main recipe below.

I recommend that you use thin sliced chicken breasts (or “butterflied” chicken breasts), so the surface area of the chicken will absorb maximum flavor from the spiced FAGE Total 2% Greek Yogurt marinade.  If you don’t have thin sliced chicken breasts, you can butterfly them yourself by slicing through the middle to make two thinner pieces of chicken.

Chicken marinating in Greek yogurt in a baking pan lined with aluminum foil

Chicken marinating in FAGE Total 2% Greek Yogurt and garam masala


Be sure to stock up on FAGE Total 2% Greek Yogurt and make healthier living enjoyable.  You’ll be surprised by just how versatile it is as an ingredient for all kinds of recipes made with yogurt.

Woman eating FAGE Total Greek Yogurt with a spoon outside

Yogurt marinated chicken breast cooking in a nonstick grill pan with grill marks
5 from 1 vote
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Yogurt Marinated Chicken

Yogurt marinated chicken uses just 2 magic ingredients to make chicken tender, flavorful, and juicy.

Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian
Keyword chicken, dinner, easy, family dinner, garam masala, gluten free, indian, marinated, protein, spiced, weeknight, yogurt
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Marinating Time 12 hours
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 384 kcal
Author Katie Moseman

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons garam masala see note
  • 1 cup FAGE Total 2% Greek Yogurt
  • 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts butterflied or thin sliced
  • 1/4 cup olive oil

Instructions

  1. Stir the garam masala into the yogurt until smooth and well combined.  Coat the chicken all over with the spiced yogurt (it is easy to spread it on the chicken with the back of a spoon) and place it in a covered pan in the refrigerator.  Discard any remaining spiced yogurt.  Marinate for at least one hour, or overnight if possible.

  2. Scrape excess yogurt off the chicken.  Brush olive oil all over each piece of chicken.  Preheat a skillet or grill pan over medium heat.  Cook the chicken on one side for 5 to 6 minutes, then turn and cook on the other side for another 5 to 6 minutes.

Recipe Notes

If you can't find pre-made garam masala, make your own.  Combine 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin, 1 1/2 tablespoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom.

Nutrition Facts
Yogurt Marinated Chicken
Amount Per Serving
Calories 384 Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 112mg37%
Sodium 220mg10%
Potassium 629mg18%
Carbohydrates 4g1%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 42g84%
Vitamin A 85IU2%
Vitamin C 2.1mg3%
Calcium 75mg8%
Iron 0.7mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Container of FAGE Total Greek Yogurt next to pistachios with a yogurt bowl

FAGE Total 2% Greek Yogurt

Yogurt Marinated Chicken
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Vegetable Cookbook

Filed Under: Gluten Free, Main Courses, Recipes

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Comments

  1. Michelle Paige

    March 14, 2019 at 7:42 am

    Wait! How did I not know this was a thing?! Totally going to be trying this! Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
  2. JK Darling

    March 14, 2019 at 10:34 am

    This looks absolutely delicious. I should try this. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Nadia Hasan

    March 14, 2019 at 3:25 pm

    Thanks for sharing this recipe! I haven’t tried greek yogurt for marination, just the full fat dairy one, but will be sure to give it a try!

    Reply
  4. Diana

    March 15, 2019 at 12:10 pm

    I would have never thought to marinate the chicken in yogurt! It looks really yummy. I’ll have to try it!

    Reply
  5. Dalene Ekirapa

    March 16, 2019 at 9:46 am

    5 stars
    This must be one of the yummiest chicken recipes, right? Honestly, I’ve never thought of using yogurt in my cooking but if it’s strawberry for my chicken, I wouldn’t mind. I also use garam masala.

    Reply
  6. Katherine Gamble

    March 17, 2019 at 10:21 am

    Thank you so much for these instructions. This chicken marinated in yogurt looks absolutely delicious. I will be browsing restaurants that may sell this meal + trying it on my own. Thanks!

    Reply
  7. Laura Dove

    March 17, 2019 at 5:16 pm

    Ooh this sounds like a great yoghurt and I never thought about doing chicken that way! What a fab idea!

    Reply
  8. Melanie williams

    March 18, 2019 at 9:47 am

    My other half loves chicken, so this would be right up his street xx

    Reply

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