Mediterranean Herb Chicken

🕒 Prep: 15 min
🔥 Cook: 30 min
🍽 Serves: 4
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Say hello to the Mediterranean Herb Chicken — a dish that brings the sunny flavors of the Mediterranean right to your kitchen. With a delightful blend of herbs, tangy olives, and creamy feta cheese, this recipe is sure to become a family favorite.

Ingredients for Mediterranean Herb Chicken

The hero of this dish is the chicken breasts — a blank canvas ready to soak up all those delicious flavors. The olive oil acts as a base for the marinade, helping the chicken stay juicy while adding richness. Lemon juice brightens everything up, cutting through the richness with a bit of tang. Garlic, as always, brings its classic, hearty flavor.

Now for the herbs: rosemary, thyme, and oregano — these fresh herbs are the pillars of Mediterranean cooking, each contributing its unique aroma and flavor. Salt and black pepper season the chicken perfectly.

Kalamata olives offer a salty, briny punch, while sun-dried tomatoes add a burst of concentrated sweetness. Finally, feta cheese brings a creamy, tangy finish, and fresh parsley adds a pop of color and freshness at the end.

Tips & Tricks

  • For even more flavor, marinate the chicken for a few hours or overnight.
  • Use a meat thermometer to check doneness without cutting into the chicken.
  • Pre-chop the herbs and garlic to save time during prep.

Serving Suggestions

This Mediterranean Herb Chicken pairs wonderfully with a light couscous salad or roasted vegetables. For a heartier meal, serve it alongside buttery mashed potatoes or a simple pilaf. A glass of crisp white wine would complement the flavors beautifully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use dried herbs instead of fresh?
Yes, but use half the amount, as dried herbs are more concentrated.
Can I prepare this dish in advance?
You can marinate the chicken in advance, but it's best baked fresh to retain juiciness.
What can I use instead of feta cheese?
Try goat cheese or even a sprinkle of parmesan for a different flavor profile.

Mediterranean Herb Chicken Recipe Walkthrough

First, preheat your oven to 375°F. This will ensure it's nice and hot when you're ready to bake. While the oven is heating, grab a small bowl and whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, chopped rosemary, thyme, oregano, salt, and black pepper. This mix is where all the magic starts — it's going to infuse the chicken with incredible flavor.

Next, place the chicken breasts in a baking dish. Pour the herb mixture over the chicken, making sure each piece is well coated. Turn the chicken over a couple of times to ensure every nook and cranny is covered. This helps the chicken absorb all those flavors.

Scatter the kalamata olives and sun-dried tomatoes over the chicken breasts. These ingredients will bake alongside the chicken, creating pockets of salty and sweet goodness that complement the herbs beautifully.

Pop the dish into your preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. You'll know it's done when the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside. A kitchen thermometer is handy here; you're looking for an internal temperature of 165°F.

Once baked, remove the dish from the oven and sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese and chopped parsley over the top. This extra step adds a lovely creaminess and freshness right before serving.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Brings fresh, vibrant Mediterranean flavors to your dinner table.
  • Simple to prepare, with a cook time of just 30 minutes.
  • Uses fresh herbs for an aromatic and refreshing taste.
  • Bakes in one dish, making cleanup a breeze.
  • Perfect for a healthy meal that's rich in flavor.

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved
1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Step-by-step Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, rosemary, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper.
3. Place chicken breasts in a baking dish and pour the herb mixture over them, turning the chicken to coat evenly.
4. Scatter olives and sun-dried tomatoes over the chicken.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside.
6. Sprinkle feta cheese and parsley over the chicken before serving.

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