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Juicy Middle Eastern grilled chicken thighs served with grilled corn and broccoli.

Middle Eastern Grilled Chicken Thighs Recipe

Juicy, smoky, and packed with warm spices, this Middle Eastern Grilled Chicken Thighs recipe is made with a flavorful yogurt marinade that keeps the chicken tender and delicious. These grilled chicken thighs are easy to make and perfect for BBQs, family dinners, or meal prep. Serve this easy Middle Eastern grilled chicken with rice, pita bread, fresh salad, or creamy garlic sauce for a restaurant-style meal at home.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Marinating Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Calories: 390
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs - about 6 pieces
  • 3 tbsp plain yogurt
  • 3 tbsp white vinegar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 large onion - thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 2 tbsp Middle Eastern chicken spices - or (white pepper, coriander, ginger, cloves, cardamom)
  • Chopped fresh parsley - for garnish

Method
 

Prepare Middle Eastern Chicken Marinade
  1. In a large bowl, add the sliced onion, yogurt, white vinegar, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, coriander powder, paprika, and Middle Eastern chicken spices. Mix until well combined.
    Mixing yogurt marinade with Middle Eastern spices for grilled chicken thighs.
Add Chicken and Marinate
  1. Add the chicken thighs to the bowl.
    Raw chicken thighs for Middle Eastern grilled chicken.
  2. Toss everything together until the chicken is fully coated in the marinade.
    Chicken thighs coated in Middle Eastern yogurt marinade with onions and spices.
  3. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight for the best flavor and tenderness.
    Covered bowl with Chicken thighs marinating in yogurt and Middle Eastern spices before grilling
Grill the Chicken
  1. Preheat your grill to medium heat and lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
    Preheating grill and lightly oiling grill grates before cooking chicken thighs.
  2. Place the chicken thighs skin-side down on the grill. Cook for about 6–8 minutes per side, turning occasionally, until the chicken develops a nice char and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
    Raw chicken thighs skin-side down on a hot grill before cooking.
Rest and Garnish
  1. Let the grilled chicken rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
    Juicy Middle Eastern grilled chicken thighs with crispy skin and fresh parsley garnish.

Notes

  • Marinating overnight gives the chicken a deeper flavor and extra tenderness.
  • You can use boneless chicken thighs, but reduce the cooking time slightly.
  • If the chicken starts browning too quickly, move it to indirect heat to finish cooking.