Description
Greek Chicken Bites are tender, flavorful chicken pieces marinated in a zesty lemon, garlic, and oregano blend, then pan-seared to perfection and finished with a white wine deglaze for a delicious and quick Mediterranean-inspired dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Marinade
- 1 lb. chicken breasts cut into 1″ pieces (about 2 breasts)
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- juice and zest of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons juice and 1 teaspoon zest)
- 2 cloves garlic minced (about 1 teaspoon)
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For Cooking
- 1/4 cup white wine or chicken broth, or water in a pinch
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, combine 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice and zest from 1 lemon, minced garlic, dried oregano, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to mix all ingredients.
- Marinate the chicken: Place the cut chicken pieces into a plastic bag or container with a lid. Pour the marinade over the chicken and mix or massage the bag to coat the pieces evenly. Allow to marinate for at least 20 minutes, ideally for 2 to 24 hours for best flavor. Marinating can be skipped if short on time.
- Heat the skillet: Warm a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat until very hot; this can take a few minutes if using cast iron or about 30 seconds to 1 minute with other materials.
- Cook the chicken: Add the marinated chicken pieces to the skillet, spreading them out evenly. Let them cook undisturbed for about 5 minutes until nicely seared on one side, then flip and cook on the other side for another 5 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F or no longer pink inside.
- Deglaze and finish: Pour 1/4 cup white wine into the skillet and use a spatula or wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom. Stir the chicken pieces to coat them in the flavorful drippings and continue cooking until most of the wine has evaporated and the chicken is nicely glazed. Serve immediately.
Notes
- If using a stainless steel or not well-seasoned cast iron skillet, add 1 additional tablespoon of olive oil before cooking to prevent sticking.
- This marinade and cooking technique can be applied to other proteins like chicken thighs, pork, steak tips, or shrimp, though cooking times will vary accordingly.
- For substitutions, 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar can replace lemon juice (omit zest), and 1 teaspoon garlic powder can substitute fresh garlic.
- You can also use pre-mixed Greek seasoning or 1.5 tablespoons fresh oregano instead of dried oregano for fresher flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
