Lemon Yogurt Chicken Tenders {Five-Ingredient Recipe} - Cookin Canuck (2024)

FAQs

What does soaking chicken in yogurt do? ›

Greek yogurt marinades slowly tenderize the chicken to make it juicy. Yogurt is a gentle and effective way to tenderize meat. While acidic chicken marinades can toughen the meat and make it rubbery, yogurt slowly breaks down the proteins in the meat resulting in the most tender texture.

Don't Rinse

You should not need to do more than shake the excess marinade from your chicken, or if you want to be very thorough, pat it down with towels lightly. If you rinsed, you would be washing away from of the flavor developed by your marinade, and the seasoning at the surface of the chicken.

And if you're wondering what yogurt to use, we can help. Plain, unstrained yogurt is best (You definitely do not want any vanilla in there.). You can use Greek yogurt, but since it contains less moisture, you'll need to loosen it with a little lemon juice or vinegar to properly coat your protein.

You can marinate chicken and other meats overnight in yogurt, or as long as 12 hours, because the tenderizing happens so gradually. However, acid-based marinades usually can only be used for a few hours.

No, do not rinse off the yogurt marinade, as it will create a delicious crust on the outside of the chicken.

It is safe to keep the food in the marinade longer, but after two days it is possible that the marinade can start to break down the fibers of the meat, causing it to become mushy.

The longest you can marinate chicken in yogurt is 24 hours. If you marinate it longer than that, the chicken will get too soft and take on a mushy texture. The shortest amount of time to marinate chicken in yogurt is 20 minutes, though personally, I recommend at least 2 hours for the best flavor.

Marinating Time: Allow the chicken to marinate in the yogurt mixture for an adequate amount of time. Marinating times can vary depending on the recipe, but typically, a few hours to overnight in the refrigerator is sufficient.

Lemon is acidic and helps balance the stronger flavor of the dark meat in thighs and legs, and the fat from the chicken skin.

How do you keep yogurt marinated chicken from sticking to the grill? ›

Add olive oil.

The yogurt marinates the chicken really well without the need for oil. But you can still add 1-2 tablespoons of oil to add more flavor and help prevent the chicken from sticking to the grill.

Greek Yogurt has active bacteria and lactic acid which slowly break down the protein, making the chicken moist and tender. Substitute with plain full-fat yogurt, buttermilk, or sour cream. Lemon is added for a classic Greek flavor and also adds more acid which helps to tenderize the meat.

Acids, whether you're using fruit juice or vinegar, help break down the dense protein, tenderizing the meat. Seasonings, as with any food, boost flavor.

Place chicken in glass or ceramic bowl; pour yogurt mixture on top, turn to coat; cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight. In a medium bowl, combine flour, paprika, mint, salt and pepper. Heat a generous half-inch oil in a deep skillet over medium heat.

If you're going to marinate overnight, you should do it in the fridge. But if it's an hour-long marinade, then the meat should come to room-temperature, suggesting that a counter-top is preferable. Still, with stuff like pico de gallo, where one “lets the flavors blend”, I usually shove it in the fridge.

You can marinate for 30 minutes and still have amazing results. I left mine in the fridge for 2 hours and was extremely happy with the outcome. Greek yogurt is similar to when we use buttermilk to soak our chicken drumsticks. Makes them SO juicy.

Yogurt has two things working for it as a marinade: microbes and lactic acid. Dr. Justin Sonnenburg, a professor of microbiology at Stanford and author of The Good Gut, says that the active bacteria in yogurt breaks down protein, making chicken breasts and steaks moist and tender.

It's not necessary to rinse the chicken after marinating it in milk. Simply pat the chicken dry with paper towels before cooking it. This will help to ensure that the milk and any added flavors from the marinade are absorbed into the chicken during the cooking process.