Description
Grilled Chicken Thighs with Chimichurri is a flavorful and juicy main dish featuring tender, smoky chicken thighs paired with a vibrant, garlicky herb sauce. This easy-to-make recipe is perfect for a high-protein dinner and complements well with grilled vegetables, rice, or fresh salad, making it an excellent choice for a healthy and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 1/2 lbs (680 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For the Chimichurri
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a medium bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to create the marinade.
- Marinate the Chicken: Coat the boneless, skinless chicken thighs thoroughly with the marinade. Cover and let them sit for 20 to 30 minutes to absorb the flavors.
- Make the Chimichurri Sauce: While the chicken is marinating, mix together the chopped parsley, cilantro, minced garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper in a bowl.
- Preheat the Grill: Heat your grill to medium-high heat, ensuring it’s hot and ready for cooking.
- Grill the Chicken: Place the marinated chicken thighs on the grill and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes on each side or until they are nicely browned and cooked through.
- Let it Rest: Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes to retain its juices.
- Serve with Chimichurri: Spoon the fresh chimichurri sauce over the grilled chicken thighs and serve immediately with grilled vegetables, rice, or a crisp salad.
Notes
- Chicken thighs stay especially juicy when grilled, making them a perfect choice for this recipe.
- Prepare the chimichurri sauce a few hours ahead of time to allow the flavors to deepen.
- For extra heat, increase the amount of red pepper flakes in the chimichurri.
- Leftover grilled chicken thighs are excellent in wraps or salads for a quick meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Argentinian-Inspired
