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Greek Chicken Saganaki with feta and tomato sauce in a rustic bowl

Greek Chicken Saganaki Recipe

Golden-seared chicken breasts simmered in a rich tomato and garlic sauce, then finished with crumbled feta and fresh parsley for an easy Greek-inspired Mediterranean dinner.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Greek
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken:
  • - 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
Seasoning:
  • - 1 tsp dried oregano
  • - ½ tsp dried thyme
  • - ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • - ½ tsp salt
  • - ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
Aromatics:
  • - 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • - ½ yellow onion finely diced
  • - 3 garlic cloves minced
Tomato Sauce:
  • - 14 oz canned crushed tomatoes
  • - ¼ cup chicken broth
  • - 1 tsp lemon
Finishing:
  • - ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
  • - ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley chopped

Method
 

Season the Chicken:
  1. Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. In a small dish, mix oregano, thyme, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Season both sides of chicken evenly.
Sear the Chicken:
  1. Heat extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for approximately 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown (time is approximate; focus on deep color). Remove chicken and set aside on a plate.
Sauté Aromatics:
  1. Reduce heat to medium. Add diced yellow onion to the same skillet and cook for 3 minutes until translucent. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Build Tomato Sauce:
  1. Pour in crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, and lemon juice. Scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Bring sauce to a gentle simmer.
Simmer Chicken:
  1. Return chicken breasts and resting juices to the skillet. Cover with a lid, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10–12 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Finish & Serve:
  1. Uncover and spoon tomato sauce over the chicken breasts. Turn off heat. Scatter crumbled feta cheese and fresh parsley over top. Let sit 2 minutes for feta to soften before serving warm.

Notes

- For uniform cooking, pound thick chicken breasts to an even thickness before seasoning.
- Add feta after turning off stovetop heat to keep cheese crumbles soft yet visually intact.