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Lebanese Lemon Garlic Chicken – Al Aseel Copycat

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  • Author: Amy
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes (plus marinating time)
  • Yield: 3–4 servings
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Pan-Fried
  • Cuisine: Lebanese
  • Diet: Halal

Description

This Lebanese Lemon Garlic Chicken is a restaurant-style dish made at home — tender chicken marinated in a lemon-garlic yogurt blend, then served with a creamy, tangy warm yogurt sauce. It’s zesty, flavorful, and authentically Lebanese, perfect with bread or rice for a fresh, satisfying meal.


Ingredients

500 g chicken tenderloin (or breast), cut into 4 cm squares

For the lemon garlic marinade:

4 tbsp Greek or plain yogurt

3 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp garlic, finely grated or crushed

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt

For the lemon garlic yogurt sauce:

1 cup Greek or plain yogurt (full fat)

¾ tsp garlic, finely grated or crushed

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp tahini (or 1 extra tbsp olive oil)

1 tbsp+ water (to loosen consistency)

1 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt

For cooking and serving:

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp parsley, roughly chopped (or mix of mint and parsley)

Lemon wedges and extra virgin olive oil, for garnish

Lebanese bread, for serving


Instructions

  1. Combine all marinade ingredients in a bowl. Add chicken and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight.
  2. To make the sauce, whisk yogurt, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, tahini, water, and salt until smooth. Let it rest for at least 1 hour to mellow the garlic.
  3. When ready to cook, drain excess marinade from chicken. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large non-stick pan over high heat and cook half the chicken for 1½–2 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Repeat with remaining oil and chicken.
  4. Warm the sauce gently in the microwave for about 40 seconds (do not overheat). Whisk until silky, adding more water if needed to reach a pourable consistency.
  5. Spread half the warm sauce on a serving platter, top with chicken, and drizzle remaining sauce over. Garnish with olive oil, parsley, and lemon wedges. Serve with Lebanese bread.

Notes

Marinate chicken overnight for the best flavor and tenderness.

Use boneless chicken thighs for a juicier option.

For a dairy-free version, substitute coconut yogurt and olive oil for the yogurt and tahini.

Grill the chicken instead of pan-frying for a smoky finish.

The sauce can be made ahead and reheated gently before serving.


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 portion
  • Calories: 480
  • Sugar: 3 g
  • Sodium: 780 mg
  • Fat: 32 g
  • Saturated Fat: 8 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 6 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 43 g
  • Cholesterol: 115 mg